Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeddah and Arima Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeddah and Arima

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,362 per month in Jeddah vs $1,286 in Arima, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,108 per month in Jeddah vs $2,144 in Arima, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,855 per month in Jeddah vs $3,002 in Arima, rent included.

Jeddah costs about 6% more than Arima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jeddah and Arima are more affordable than the global median – Jeddah 1% lower, Arima 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.69 SAR 25.13

$10.24 TTD 68.1

-34.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.1 SAR 199

$74.3 TTD 495

-28.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.16 SAR 30.64

$8.63 TTD 57.5

-5.45%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 SAR 9.42

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 SAR 10.14

Cappuccino

$3.54 SAR 13.28

$3.77 TTD 25.08

-6.10%

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

$1.00 SAR 3.77

$1.03 TTD 6.88

-2.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 SAR 0.89

$0.73 TTD 4.83

-67.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 TTD 12.31

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 TTD 19.19

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 SAR 6.42

$2.39 TTD 15.92

-28.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 SAR 3.80

$2.38 TTD 15.83

-57.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 SAR 8.27

$2.92 TTD 19.41

-24.66%

Eggs

$2.37 SAR 8.91

$4.30 TTD 28.59

-44.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.36 SAR 23.86

$6.65 TTD 44.22

-4.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.30 SAR 31.17

$6.66 TTD 44.34

24.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.08 SAR 49.13

$8.91 TTD 59.3

46.80%

Apples (1kg)

$1.95 SAR 7.33

$5.66 TTD 37.65

-65.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.25

$2.30 TTD 15.28

-27.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 SAR 5.72

$3.70 TTD 24.62

-58.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.23

$4.84 TTD 32.20

-65.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 SAR 4.37

$1.33 TTD 8.86

-12.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 SAR 4.83

$0.93 TTD 6.16

38.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 SAR 3.98

$1.41 TTD 9.38

-24.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 SAR 2.02

$0.97 TTD 6.47

-44.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.20 SAR 15.78

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 SAR 6.84

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 SAR 9.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.45 SAR 24.21

$4.84 TTD 32.18

33.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.99 TTD 126

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 TTD 12.73

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 TTD 19.54

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.11

$1.01 TTD 6.70

7.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 SAR 206

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 SAR 11.80

$0.71 TTD 4.72

342.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 SAR 6.58

$0.75 TTD 5.02

133.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.91 SAR 52.2

$14.55 TTD 96.8

-4.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.25

$1.13 TTD 7.50

-46.90%

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

$48.0K SAR 180.1K

$27.2K TTD 181.3K

76.01%

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

$21.3K SAR 80.0K

$35.8K TTD 238.3K

-40.52%

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

$102 SAR 384

$89.5 TTD 595

14.34%

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

$38.54 SAR 145

$45.03 TTD 300

-14.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.6 SAR 254

$57.1 TTD 380

18.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.1 SAR 327

$52.4 TTD 348

66.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.18 SAR 155

Cinema Ticket

$11.87 SAR 44.56

$8.93 TTD 59.4

32.92%

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

$728 SAR 2,733

$176 TTD 1,169

314.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K SAR 61.1K

$10.6K TTD 70.2K

54.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.9 SAR 259

$61.9 TTD 412

11.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.8 SAR 224

$44.37 TTD 295

34.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.4 SAR 362

$148 TTD 982

-34.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.4 SAR 366

$72.3 TTD 481

34.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$773 SAR 2,904

$507 TTD 3,376

52.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 SAR 1,994

$362 TTD 2,412

46.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,464 SAR 5,497

$1,029 TTD 6,850

42.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$831 SAR 3,121

$869 TTD 5,783

-4.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,746 SAR 6,555

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,145 SAR 4,301

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,664 SAR 6,249

$1,217 TTD 8,100

36.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

5.75

-6.26%

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

Last update for Jeddah: August 31, 2026

Last update for Arima: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $773 in Jeddah versus $507 in Arima. 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 37% higher in Jeddah, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Jeddah versus $74.0 in Arima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $314 – 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 Arima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jeddah costs about 6% more than Arima, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,043 per month in Jeddah and $1,929 in Arima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,362 in Jeddah and $1,286 in Arima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $728 per month in Jeddah and $176 in Arima. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Arima, where all-in costs run around $1,286, than in Jeddah at $1,362. In Arima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jeddah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Arima – 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 Arima. 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.