😐A single person spends $1,392 per month in Jeddah vs $951 in AL Kharj, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,099 per month in Jeddah vs $1,473 in AL Kharj, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,805 per month in Jeddah vs $1,996 in AL Kharj, rent included.
😐Jeddah costs about 46% more than AL Kharj, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Jeddah sits 2% above the global median, while AL Kharj is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jeddah
AL Kharj
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.67SAR 25.06
$4.68SAR 17.59
42.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.6SAR 201
$26.80SAR 101
100.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.24SAR 30.94
$7.91SAR 29.71
4.17%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.57SAR 9.65
$2.07SAR 7.79
24.15%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59SAR 9.72
$1.35SAR 5.08
91.85%
Cappuccino
$3.56SAR 13.38
$3.07SAR 11.53
15.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99SAR 3.71
$0.84SAR 3.15
17.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24SAR 0.90
$0.13SAR 0.48
84.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jeddah
AL Kharj
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77SAR 6.63
$1.44SAR 5.42
22.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26SAR 4.74
$0.26SAR 0.97
384.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.36SAR 8.87
$2.32SAR 8.73
1.72%
Eggs
$2.32SAR 8.72
$2.07SAR 7.78
12.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.54SAR 24.58
$9.96SAR 37.40
-34.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.36SAR 31.38
$4.97SAR 18.66
68.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.14SAR 49.36
$13.58SAR 51.0
-3.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.11SAR 7.94
$1.76SAR 6.59
19.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78SAR 6.68
$1.30SAR 4.90
36.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62SAR 6.07
$1.22SAR 4.59
32.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.68SAR 6.33
$1.34SAR 5.03
25.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14SAR 4.27
$1.04SAR 3.91
9.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.24SAR 4.66
$1.10SAR 4.12
12.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13SAR 4.24
$0.55SAR 2.05
105.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54SAR 2.03
$0.59SAR 2.21
-8.47%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.24SAR 15.93
$2.15SAR 8.09
97.21%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85SAR 6.96
$1.10SAR 4.12
68.18%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48SAR 9.33
$2.46SAR 9.24
0.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.68SAR 25.09
$6.59SAR 24.74
1.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Jeddah
AL Kharj
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89SAR 3.34
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.3SAR 208
$22.75SAR 85.4
142.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.16SAR 11.87
$2.70SAR 10.15
17.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.77SAR 6.65
$0.55SAR 2.05
221.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.72SAR 51.5
$13.40SAR 50.3
2.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.61SAR 2.29
$0.59SAR 2.22
3.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.8KSAR 179.7K
$35.3KSAR 132.6K
35.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6KSAR 81.2K
$21.9KSAR 82.2K
-1.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jeddah
AL Kharj
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104SAR 392
$102SAR 384
1.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.73SAR 145
$27.14SAR 102
42.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.1SAR 248
$51.5SAR 193
28.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jeddah
AL Kharj
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$86.3SAR 324
$73.8SAR 277
16.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.48SAR 156
$40.56SAR 152
2.27%
Cinema Ticket
$11.89SAR 44.67
$13.41SAR 50.4
-11.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jeddah
AL Kharj
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$738SAR 2,773
$283SAR 1,064
160.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7KSAR 58.9K
$3,710SAR 13.9K
322.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jeddah
AL Kharj
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.5SAR 257
$59.4SAR 223
15.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.0SAR 225
$53.1SAR 199
12.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.7SAR 367
$46.69SAR 175
109.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8SAR 371
$79.7SAR 299
23.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jeddah
AL Kharj
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$781SAR 2,935
$676SAR 2,539
15.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$538SAR 2,021
$260SAR 976
107.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,329SAR 4,990
$591SAR 2,219
124.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$856SAR 3,215
$467SAR 1,756
83.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,772SAR 6,654
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,149SAR 4,315
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jeddah
AL Kharj
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,621SAR 6,087
$2,869SAR 10.8K
-43.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.39
5.54
-2.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jeddah: September 14, 2026
Last update for AL Kharj: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $781 in Jeddah versus $676 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 77% 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 $54.0 in Jeddah versus $27.00 in AL Kharj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $173 – 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 in AL Kharj compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,392 in Jeddah, $951 in AL Kharj – roughly 46% apart. Jeddah costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Jeddah compared to AL Kharj?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,088 per month in Jeddah and $1,426 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 $738 per month in Jeddah and $283 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 17% 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 $951, than in Jeddah at $1,392. 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.