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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,218 per month in Jeddah vs $1,163 in Arima, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,846 per month in Jeddah vs $1,925 in Arima, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,474 per month in Jeddah vs $2,687 in Arima, rent included.

Jeddah costs about 5% more than Arima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jeddah and Arima are more affordable than the global median – Jeddah 9% lower, Arima 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.51 SAR 24.46

$9.03 TTD 60.8

-27.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.65 SAR 149

$72.7 TTD 490

-45.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.80 SAR 29.29

$7.50 TTD 50.6

4.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 SAR 8.10

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.90

Cappuccino

$3.78 SAR 14.20

$2.39 TTD 16.12

58.16%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.64

$0.94 TTD 6.36

-25.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 SAR 0.94

$0.75 TTD 5.07

-66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.59 TTD 10.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 TTD 20.51

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SAR 6.32

$2.27 TTD 15.31

-25.99%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 SAR 3.53

$2.37 TTD 15.96

-60.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 SAR 8.38

$2.27 TTD 15.29

-1.76%

Eggs

$2.63 SAR 9.88

$4.30 TTD 28.98

-38.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 SAR 27.86

$6.25 TTD 42.12

18.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.77 SAR 29.19

$5.83 TTD 39.27

33.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.38 SAR 46.51

$4.33 TTD 29.17

185.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 SAR 8.19

$5.66 TTD 38.18

-61.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.89

$2.07 TTD 13.94

-24.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.80

$4.37 TTD 29.45

-64.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.94

$4.37 TTD 29.48

-63.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 SAR 4.98

$1.00 TTD 6.73

33.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 SAR 4.68

$0.84 TTD 5.65

48.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 SAR 4.15

$1.46 TTD 9.83

-24.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 SAR 2.07

$1.14 TTD 7.72

-51.75%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.21 SAR 15.79

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 SAR 7.11

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 SAR 9.36

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.79 SAR 25.51

$4.29 TTD 28.92

58.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.35 TTD 130

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 TTD 12.75

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 TTD 18.95

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.30 SAR 4.87

$0.79 TTD 5.31

64.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.89 SAR 150

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 SAR 11.90

$0.92 TTD 6.19

244.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 SAR 6.94

$0.72 TTD 4.89

156.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.04 SAR 56.5

$14.64 TTD 98.7

2.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.24

$0.94 TTD 6.33

-36.17%

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

$26.4K SAR 99.2K

$27.3K TTD 183.7K

-3.03%

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

$21.3K SAR 80.0K

$27.7K TTD 186.4K

-22.94%

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

$108 SAR 406

$81.5 TTD 549

32.63%

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

$32.30 SAR 121

$43.65 TTD 294

-26.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.6 SAR 261

$62.7 TTD 422

10.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$91.1 SAR 342

$47.80 TTD 322

90.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.14 SAR 170

Cinema Ticket

$13.21 SAR 49.62

$5.19 TTD 34.98

154.53%

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

$407 SAR 1,527

$131 TTD 881

211.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,378 SAR 24.0K

$7,074 TTD 47.7K

-9.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 SAR 236

$51.2 TTD 345

22.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.9 SAR 217

$27.01 TTD 182

114.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.9 SAR 356

$127 TTD 859

-25.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 SAR 315

$75.0 TTD 505

11.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 SAR 1,903

$485 TTD 3,267

4.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 SAR 1,442

$355 TTD 2,389

8.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$904 SAR 3,395

$843 TTD 5,680

7.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$601 SAR 2,256

$707 TTD 4,763

-14.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,646 SAR 6,179

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,015 SAR 3,813

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,660 SAR 6,233

$1,206 TTD 8,127

37.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

50.00%

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

Last update for Jeddah: July 13, 2026

Last update for Arima: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $507 in Jeddah versus $485 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 38% 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 $40.00 in Jeddah versus $73.0 in Arima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $292 – 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 5% 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 $1,827 per month in Jeddah and $1,745 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 $1,218 in Jeddah and $1,163 in Arima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $407 per month in Jeddah and $131 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 $1,163, than in Jeddah at $1,218. 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.