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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Jeddah vs $1,184 in Arima, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,858 per month in Jeddah vs $1,919 in Arima, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,514 per month in Jeddah vs $2,653 in Arima, rent included.

Jeddah costs about 1% more than Arima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jeddah and Arima are more affordable than the global median – Jeddah 10% lower, Arima 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.54 SAR 24.53

$8.96 TTD 60.0

-27.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.72 SAR 153

$72.5 TTD 486

-43.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.21 SAR 30.82

$7.32 TTD 49.03

12.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 SAR 8.23

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.89

Cappuccino

$3.58 SAR 13.44

$2.42 TTD 16.24

47.93%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.64

$0.96 TTD 6.46

-27.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 SAR 0.94

$0.71 TTD 4.73

-64.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.64 TTD 10.99

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 TTD 19.38

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 SAR 6.51

$2.32 TTD 15.55

-25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 SAR 3.58

$2.26 TTD 15.17

-57.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 SAR 8.61

$2.25 TTD 15.09

2.22%

Eggs

$2.75 SAR 10.34

$4.24 TTD 28.37

-35.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.41 SAR 27.82

$5.91 TTD 39.58

25.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.64 SAR 28.69

$5.82 TTD 38.97

31.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.34 SAR 46.33

$4.41 TTD 29.54

179.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 SAR 8.12

$5.97 TTD 40.00

-63.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.90

$2.03 TTD 13.63

-22.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.82

$4.26 TTD 28.53

-63.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.78

$4.45 TTD 29.78

-65.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 SAR 4.94

$1.04 TTD 6.97

26.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 SAR 4.54

$0.79 TTD 5.27

53.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 SAR 3.96

$1.51 TTD 10.09

-30.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 SAR 2.23

$1.20 TTD 8.06

-50.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.08 SAR 15.31

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 SAR 7.33

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 SAR 9.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.76 SAR 25.36

$4.32 TTD 28.97

56.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.50 TTD 124

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 TTD 13.14

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 TTD 18.21

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 SAR 5.12

$0.80 TTD 5.34

70.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.64 SAR 149

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 SAR 12.13

$0.98 TTD 6.58

229.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 SAR 7.06

$0.71 TTD 4.76

164.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.36 SAR 57.7

$14.94 TTD 100

2.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$0.93 TTD 6.20

-32.26%

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

$26.9K SAR 101.0K

$26.8K TTD 179.7K

0.33%

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

$21.4K SAR 80.4K

$27.6K TTD 185.1K

-22.45%

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

$105 SAR 393

$81.4 TTD 545

28.76%

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

$32.31 SAR 121

$44.96 TTD 301

-28.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.1 SAR 263

$61.4 TTD 411

14.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.9 SAR 341

$48.83 TTD 327

86.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.17 SAR 170

Cinema Ticket

$13.12 SAR 49.25

$5.11 TTD 34.23

156.75%

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

$400 SAR 1,500

$133 TTD 888

201.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,414 SAR 24.1K

$7,247 TTD 48.6K

-11.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 SAR 242

$52.4 TTD 351

23.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.1 SAR 218

$26.74 TTD 179

117.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.5 SAR 347

$127 TTD 848

-26.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.4 SAR 317

$75.2 TTD 504

12.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 SAR 1,881

$475 TTD 3,183

5.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 SAR 1,464

$355 TTD 2,376

10.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$899 SAR 3,374

$856 TTD 5,736

5.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$618 SAR 2,321

$721 TTD 4,828

-14.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 SAR 6,100

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,014 SAR 3,805

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,657 SAR 6,218

$1,183 TTD 7,926

40.05%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Arima: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $501 in Jeddah versus $475 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 40% 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 $41.00 in Jeddah versus $73.0 in Arima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $291 – 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 1% 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 $1,803 per month in Jeddah and $1,777 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 $1,202 in Jeddah and $1,184 in Arima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $400 per month in Jeddah and $133 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 $1,184, than in Jeddah at $1,202. 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.