Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeddah and Dammam Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeddah and Dammam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,212 in Jeddah versus $1,233 in Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,870 in Jeddah versus $1,851 in Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,528 in Jeddah versus $2,468 in Dammam.

Living in Jeddah costs roughly 2% less than in Dammam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jeddah 9% lower, Dammam 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.75 SAR 25.34

$6.69 SAR 25.11

0.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.77 SAR 149

$39.71 SAR 149

0.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 SAR 29.42

$7.93 SAR 29.75

-1.13%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 SAR 7.94

$1.76 SAR 6.62

20.45%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 SAR 8.05

$1.76 SAR 6.60

22.16%

Cappuccino

$3.79 SAR 14.23

$3.76 SAR 14.12

0.80%

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

$0.72 SAR 2.70

$0.81 SAR 3.06

-11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 SAR 0.94

$0.28 SAR 1.05

-10.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 SAR 6.22

$1.62 SAR 6.10

2.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 SAR 3.35

$1.01 SAR 3.79

-11.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 SAR 8.64

$2.27 SAR 8.52

1.32%

Eggs

$2.65 SAR 9.95

$2.55 SAR 9.57

3.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.39 SAR 27.72

$6.93 SAR 26.03

6.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.73 SAR 29.00

$7.44 SAR 27.92

3.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.47 SAR 46.81

$13.11 SAR 49.21

-4.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 SAR 7.86

$2.34 SAR 8.80

-10.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 SAR 6.18

$1.69 SAR 6.36

-2.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.81

$1.64 SAR 6.14

-5.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 SAR 5.98

$1.57 SAR 5.89

1.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 SAR 4.95

$1.24 SAR 4.64

6.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 SAR 4.51

$1.37 SAR 5.14

-12.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 SAR 3.95

$1.34 SAR 5.04

-21.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 SAR 2.10

$0.63 SAR 2.36

-11.11%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.13 SAR 15.51

$2.88 SAR 10.83

43.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 SAR 7.33

$1.72 SAR 6.46

13.37%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 SAR 9.39

$2.08 SAR 7.81

20.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.51 SAR 24.45

$7.03 SAR 26.40

-7.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.31 SAR 4.92

$1.06 SAR 3.98

23.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.42 SAR 148

$40.58 SAR 152

-2.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 SAR 12.25

$2.60 SAR 9.75

25.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 SAR 7.21

$1.86 SAR 6.97

3.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.39 SAR 57.8

$13.17 SAR 49.44

16.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 SAR 2.18

$0.63 SAR 2.37

-7.94%

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

$26.6K SAR 99.9K

$26.8K SAR 100.6K

-0.70%

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

$21.5K SAR 80.7K

$23.4K SAR 87.9K

-8.23%

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

$105 SAR 393

$103 SAR 386

1.88%

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

$32.21 SAR 121

$34.12 SAR 128

-5.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.4 SAR 257

$71.3 SAR 268

-4.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.0 SAR 338

$95.3 SAR 358

-5.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.39 SAR 170

$35.74 SAR 134

27.00%

Cinema Ticket

$13.06 SAR 49.03

$14.63 SAR 54.9

-10.73%

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

$411 SAR 1,543

$347 SAR 1,304

18.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,451 SAR 24.2K

$7,443 SAR 27.9K

-13.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.8 SAR 243

$54.8 SAR 206

18.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.0 SAR 218

$64.0 SAR 240

-9.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.3 SAR 358

$83.8 SAR 314

13.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.7 SAR 310

$80.8 SAR 303

2.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 SAR 1,899

$445 SAR 1,670

13.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 SAR 1,440

$380 SAR 1,428

0.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$922 SAR 3,460

$881 SAR 3,305

4.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$617 SAR 2,315

$617 SAR 2,314

0.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,633 SAR 6,128

$1,773 SAR 6,657

-7.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,020 SAR 3,828

$1,092 SAR 4,100

-6.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,640 SAR 6,155

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Dammam: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $506 in Jeddah and $445 in Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Jeddah vs $40.00 in Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $199 per month, with Jeddah cheaper across the board.

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 Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jeddah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,818 in Jeddah and $1,849 in Dammam to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $506 in Jeddah versus $445 in Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,212 per month in Jeddah versus $1,233 in Dammam – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Jeddah runs roughly 3% less than in Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,212 in Jeddah versus $1,233 in Dammam, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Jeddah but tight or insufficient in Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Jeddah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Jeddah is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Dammam, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Jeddah and Dammam are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Jeddah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.