Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeddah and Dhahran Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeddah and Dhahran

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,218 per month in Jeddah vs $1,302 in Dhahran, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,846 per month in Jeddah vs $1,999 in Dhahran, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,474 per month in Jeddah vs $2,697 in Dhahran, rent included.

Jeddah is about 6% cheaper than Dhahran, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Jeddah and Dhahran are more affordable than the global median – Jeddah 9% lower, Dhahran 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.51 SAR 24.46

$5.30 SAR 19.91

22.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.65 SAR 149

$40.06 SAR 150

-1.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.80 SAR 29.29

$7.35 SAR 27.58

6.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 SAR 8.10

$2.01 SAR 7.56

7.46%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.90

$1.59 SAR 5.96

32.08%

Cappuccino

$3.78 SAR 14.20

$3.67 SAR 13.79

3.00%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.64

$0.70 SAR 2.62

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 SAR 0.94

$0.20 SAR 0.73

25.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SAR 6.32

$1.51 SAR 5.68

11.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 SAR 3.53

$1.18 SAR 4.43

-20.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 SAR 8.38

$2.16 SAR 8.10

3.24%

Eggs

$2.63 SAR 9.88

$2.36 SAR 8.86

11.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 SAR 27.86

$6.55 SAR 24.61

13.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.77 SAR 29.19

$8.74 SAR 32.82

-11.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.38 SAR 46.50

$13.55 SAR 50.9

-8.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 SAR 8.19

$2.17 SAR 8.15

0.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.89

$1.42 SAR 5.34

10.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.80

$1.58 SAR 5.94

-2.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.94

$1.30 SAR 4.88

21.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 SAR 4.98

$1.19 SAR 4.47

11.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 SAR 4.68

$0.98 SAR 3.66

27.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 SAR 4.15

$1.07 SAR 4.01

2.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 SAR 2.07

$0.57 SAR 2.15

-3.51%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.21 SAR 15.79

$4.76 SAR 17.88

-11.55%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 SAR 7.11

$2.00 SAR 7.53

-5.50%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 SAR 9.36

$1.55 SAR 5.83

60.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.79 SAR 25.51

$9.21 SAR 34.59

-26.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.30 SAR 4.87

$1.04 SAR 3.91

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.89 SAR 150

$40.24 SAR 151

-0.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 SAR 11.89

$1.37 SAR 5.13

131.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 SAR 6.94

$2.36 SAR 8.88

-21.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.04 SAR 56.5

$13.26 SAR 49.79

13.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.24

$0.64 SAR 2.39

-6.25%

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

$26.4K SAR 99.2K

$31.8K SAR 119.4K

-16.92%

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

$21.3K SAR 80.0K

$24.4K SAR 91.7K

-12.78%

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

$108 SAR 406

$106 SAR 397

2.28%

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

$32.30 SAR 121

$36.75 SAR 138

-12.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.6 SAR 261

$72.3 SAR 271

-3.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$91.1 SAR 342

$184 SAR 689

-50.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.14 SAR 170

$35.54 SAR 133

27.01%

Cinema Ticket

$13.21 SAR 49.62

$12.10 SAR 45.42

9.17%

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

$407 SAR 1,527

$403 SAR 1,514

0.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,378 SAR 24.0K

$9,692 SAR 36.4K

-34.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 SAR 235

$59.7 SAR 224

5.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.9 SAR 217

$74.7 SAR 281

-22.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.9 SAR 356

$85.8 SAR 322

10.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 SAR 315

$95.9 SAR 360

-12.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 SAR 1,903

$439 SAR 1,650

15.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 SAR 1,442

$381 SAR 1,430

0.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$904 SAR 3,395

$840 SAR 3,153

7.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$601 SAR 2,256

$633 SAR 2,377

-5.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,646 SAR 6,179

$1,109 SAR 4,164

48.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,015 SAR 3,812

$1,053 SAR 3,955

-3.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,660 SAR 6,233

$2,884 SAR 10.8K

-42.45%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Dhahran: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $507 in Jeddah versus $439 in Dhahran. 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 74% higher in Dhahran, 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 $40.00 in Dhahran. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $198 – 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 Dhahran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dhahran costs about 7% more than Jeddah, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. 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 $1,953 in Dhahran. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jeddah, 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 $1,302 in Dhahran. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1% less in Jeddah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Jeddah, where all-in costs run around $1,218, than in Dhahran at $1,302. In Jeddah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dhahran it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Jeddah – 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 Jeddah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dhahran makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.