Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeddah and Al-Ula Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeddah and Al-Ula

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Jeddah vs $1,197 in Al-Ula, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,858 per month in Jeddah vs $1,832 in Al-Ula, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,514 per month in Jeddah vs $2,467 in Al-Ula, rent included.

Jeddah and Al-Ula have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Jeddah and Al-Ula are more affordable than the global median – Jeddah 10% lower, Al-Ula 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.54 SAR 24.53

$6.71 SAR 25.18

-2.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.72 SAR 153

$44.97 SAR 169

-9.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.21 SAR 30.82

$7.82 SAR 29.34

4.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 SAR 8.23

$1.77 SAR 6.66

23.73%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.89

$1.82 SAR 6.84

15.38%

Cappuccino

$3.58 SAR 13.44

$3.74 SAR 14.02

-4.28%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 SAR 2.64

$0.80 SAR 3.02

-12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 SAR 0.94

$0.29 SAR 1.07

-13.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 SAR 6.51

$1.68 SAR 6.31

3.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 SAR 3.58

$0.95 SAR 3.56

1.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 SAR 8.61

$2.31 SAR 8.69

-0.43%

Eggs

$2.75 SAR 10.34

$2.40 SAR 9.01

14.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.41 SAR 27.82

$6.67 SAR 25.02

11.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.64 SAR 28.69

$7.71 SAR 28.94

-0.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.34 SAR 46.33

$13.05 SAR 48.97

-5.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 SAR 8.12

$2.27 SAR 8.52

-4.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.90

$1.59 SAR 5.95

-1.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.82

$1.68 SAR 6.30

-7.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.78

$1.56 SAR 5.85

-1.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 SAR 4.94

$1.24 SAR 4.66

6.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 SAR 4.54

$1.27 SAR 4.75

-4.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 SAR 3.96

$1.23 SAR 4.63

-14.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 SAR 2.23

$0.60 SAR 2.24

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.08 SAR 15.31

$2.87 SAR 10.78

42.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 SAR 7.33

$1.77 SAR 6.65

10.17%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 SAR 9.32

$2.06 SAR 7.74

20.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.76 SAR 25.36

$7.19 SAR 26.98

-5.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 SAR 5.12

$1.10 SAR 4.12

23.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.64 SAR 149

$40.67 SAR 153

-2.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 SAR 12.13

$2.62 SAR 9.82

23.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 SAR 7.06

$1.89 SAR 7.10

-0.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.36 SAR 57.7

$13.57 SAR 50.9

13.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$0.61 SAR 2.29

3.28%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.9K SAR 101.0K

$26.9K SAR 101.1K

-0.10%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.4K SAR 80.4K

$22.7K SAR 85.3K

-5.73%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$105 SAR 393

$103 SAR 388

1.35%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$32.31 SAR 121

$33.67 SAR 126

-4.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.1 SAR 263

$71.7 SAR 269

-2.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.9 SAR 341

$86.9 SAR 326

4.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.17 SAR 170

$35.90 SAR 135

25.82%

Cinema Ticket

$13.12 SAR 49.25

$15.87 SAR 59.5

-17.33%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$400 SAR 1,500

$354 SAR 1,330

12.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,414 SAR 24.1K

$6,940 SAR 26.0K

-7.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 SAR 242

$60.2 SAR 226

7.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.1 SAR 218

$59.2 SAR 222

-1.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.5 SAR 347

$78.7 SAR 295

17.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.4 SAR 317

$83.3 SAR 313

1.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 SAR 1,881

$444 SAR 1,667

12.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 SAR 1,464

$374 SAR 1,405

4.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$899 SAR 3,374

$863 SAR 3,238

4.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$618 SAR 2,321

$615 SAR 2,309

0.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 SAR 6,100

$2,395 SAR 8,988

-32.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,014 SAR 3,805

$1,347 SAR 5,057

-24.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,657 SAR 6,218

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

4.42

1.81%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Jeddah: May 30, 2026

Last update for Al-Ula: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $501 in Jeddah versus $444 in Al-Ula. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Jeddah versus $45.00 in Al-Ula. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $197 – making Jeddah 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-Ula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,803 per month in Jeddah and $1,796 in Al-Ula. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Al-Ula, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Jeddah – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Kindergarten costs $400 per month in Jeddah and $354 in Al-Ula. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Al-Ula, where all-in costs run around $1,197, than in Jeddah at $1,202. In Al-Ula it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jeddah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-Ula – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Al-Ula. 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.