😐A single person spends $1,202 per month in Jeddah vs $969 in AL Kharj, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,858 per month in Jeddah vs $1,519 in AL Kharj, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,514 per month in Jeddah vs $2,068 in AL Kharj, rent included.
😐Jeddah costs about 24% more than AL Kharj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Jeddah and AL Kharj are more affordable than the global median – Jeddah10% lower, AL Kharj28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jeddah
AL Kharj
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.54SAR 24.53
$6.47SAR 24.27
1.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.72SAR 153
$26.35SAR 98.9
54.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.21SAR 30.82
$7.97SAR 29.91
3.01%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.19SAR 8.23
$1.77SAR 6.64
23.73%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10SAR 7.89
$1.37SAR 5.13
53.28%
Cappuccino
$3.58SAR 13.44
$2.48SAR 9.31
44.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70SAR 2.64
$0.75SAR 2.83
-6.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25SAR 0.94
$0.13SAR 0.47
92.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jeddah
AL Kharj
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74SAR 6.51
$1.63SAR 6.10
6.75%
White Bread(500g)
$0.96SAR 3.58
$0.28SAR 1.06
242.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.30SAR 8.61
$2.37SAR 8.89
-2.95%
Eggs
$2.75SAR 10.34
$2.03SAR 7.62
35.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.41SAR 27.82
$8.31SAR 31.20
-10.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.64SAR 28.69
$4.92SAR 18.46
55.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.34SAR 46.33
$13.46SAR 50.5
-8.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.16SAR 8.12
$1.98SAR 7.43
9.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57SAR 5.90
$1.23SAR 4.60
27.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55SAR 5.82
$0.89SAR 3.33
74.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54SAR 5.78
$1.37SAR 5.13
12.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32SAR 4.94
$0.96SAR 3.60
37.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21SAR 4.54
$0.88SAR 3.32
37.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05SAR 3.96
$0.82SAR 3.10
28.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60SAR 2.23
$0.56SAR 2.10
7.14%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.08SAR 15.31
$2.19SAR 8.22
86.30%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95SAR 7.33
$1.37SAR 5.14
42.34%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48SAR 9.32
$2.38SAR 8.93
4.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76SAR 25.36
$6.42SAR 24.09
5.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Jeddah
AL Kharj
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36SAR 5.12
$1.06SAR 3.96
28.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.64SAR 149
$40.41SAR 152
-1.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23SAR 12.13
$2.69SAR 10.11
20.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.88SAR 7.06
$0.55SAR 2.08
241.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.36SAR 57.7
$13.39SAR 50.3
14.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63SAR 2.37
$0.59SAR 2.20
6.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9KSAR 101.0K
$33.9KSAR 127.4K
-20.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4KSAR 80.4K
$23.2KSAR 87.2K
-7.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jeddah
AL Kharj
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105SAR 393
$106SAR 398
-1.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.31SAR 121
$26.15SAR 98.2
23.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.1SAR 263
$51.2SAR 192
36.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jeddah
AL Kharj
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$90.9SAR 341
$65.7SAR 247
38.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.17SAR 170
$40.52SAR 152
11.48%
Cinema Ticket
$13.12SAR 49.25
$15.68SAR 58.9
-16.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jeddah
AL Kharj
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$400SAR 1,500
$178SAR 668
124.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,414SAR 24.1K
$3,778SAR 14.2K
69.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jeddah
AL Kharj
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.6SAR 242
$59.6SAR 224
8.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.1SAR 218
$53.7SAR 202
8.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.5SAR 347
$53.3SAR 200
73.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.4SAR 317
$78.6SAR 295
7.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jeddah
AL Kharj
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$501SAR 1,881
$637SAR 2,391
-21.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390SAR 1,464
$229SAR 861
70.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$899SAR 3,374
$488SAR 1,833
84.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$618SAR 2,321
$501SAR 1,879
23.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,625SAR 6,100
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,014SAR 3,805
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jeddah
AL Kharj
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,657SAR 6,218
$2,845SAR 10.7K
-41.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.5
5.31
-15.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jeddah: May 30, 2026
Last update for AL Kharj: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $501 in Jeddah versus $637 in AL Kharj. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 72% higher in AL Kharj, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Jeddah versus $26.00 in AL Kharj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $169 – making AL Kharj the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Jeddah vs AL Kharj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Jeddah and AL Kharj compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,202 in Jeddah, $969 in AL Kharj – roughly 24% apart. Jeddah costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Jeddah compared to AL Kharj?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,803 per month in Jeddah and $1,454 in AL Kharj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Jeddah and AL Kharj?
Rent is clearly cheaper in AL Kharj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Jeddah and AL Kharj?
Kindergarten costs $400 per month in Jeddah and $178 in AL Kharj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 16% more in Jeddah, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in AL Kharj, where all-in costs run around $969, than in Jeddah at $1,202. In AL Kharj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jeddah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Jeddah or AL Kharj?
Families tend to lean toward AL Kharj – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Jeddah or AL Kharj safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Jeddah and AL Kharj?
If budget matters most, go with AL Kharj. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jeddah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.