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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Jeddah vs $1,332 in Dhahran, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,858 per month in Jeddah vs $2,029 in Dhahran, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,514 per month in Jeddah vs $2,725 in Dhahran, rent included.

Jeddah is about 10% cheaper than Dhahran, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Jeddah and Dhahran are more affordable than the global median – Jeddah 10% lower, Dhahran 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.54 SAR 24.53

$5.23 SAR 19.64

25.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.72 SAR 153

$40.50 SAR 152

0.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.21 SAR 30.82

$7.14 SAR 26.78

14.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 SAR 8.23

$2.05 SAR 7.68

6.83%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.89

$1.61 SAR 6.06

30.43%

Cappuccino

$3.58 SAR 13.44

$3.77 SAR 14.14

-5.04%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.64

$0.74 SAR 2.78

-5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 SAR 0.94

$0.17 SAR 0.63

47.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 SAR 6.51

$1.49 SAR 5.60

16.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 SAR 3.58

$1.17 SAR 4.39

-17.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 SAR 8.61

$2.18 SAR 8.18

5.50%

Eggs

$2.75 SAR 10.34

$2.39 SAR 8.98

15.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.41 SAR 27.82

$6.83 SAR 25.62

8.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.64 SAR 28.69

$8.84 SAR 33.18

-13.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.34 SAR 46.33

$13.50 SAR 50.7

-8.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 SAR 8.12

$2.24 SAR 8.41

-3.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.90

$1.38 SAR 5.20

13.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.82

$1.63 SAR 6.11

-4.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.78

$1.37 SAR 5.13

12.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 SAR 4.94

$1.23 SAR 4.63

7.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 SAR 4.54

$0.89 SAR 3.34

35.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 SAR 3.96

$1.10 SAR 4.14

-4.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 SAR 2.23

$0.57 SAR 2.15

5.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.08 SAR 15.31

$4.84 SAR 18.16

-15.70%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 SAR 7.33

$1.98 SAR 7.43

-1.52%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 SAR 9.32

$1.56 SAR 5.86

58.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.76 SAR 25.36

$9.52 SAR 35.72

-28.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 SAR 5.12

$1.05 SAR 3.93

29.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.64 SAR 149

$40.72 SAR 153

-2.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 SAR 12.13

$1.35 SAR 5.08

139.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 SAR 7.06

$2.45 SAR 9.18

-23.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.36 SAR 57.7

$13.53 SAR 50.8

13.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$0.65 SAR 2.43

-3.08%

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

$26.9K SAR 101.0K

$32.4K SAR 121.8K

-17.05%

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

$21.4K SAR 80.4K

$24.3K SAR 91.1K

-11.73%

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

$105 SAR 393

$104 SAR 391

0.66%

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

$32.31 SAR 121

$36.18 SAR 136

-10.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.1 SAR 263

$73.6 SAR 276

-4.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.9 SAR 341

$183 SAR 688

-50.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.17 SAR 170

$36.00 SAR 135

25.47%

Cinema Ticket

$13.12 SAR 49.25

$11.90 SAR 44.66

10.25%

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

$400 SAR 1,500

$414 SAR 1,553

-3.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,414 SAR 24.1K

$9,909 SAR 37.2K

-35.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 SAR 242

$59.4 SAR 223

8.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.1 SAR 218

$76.7 SAR 288

-24.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.5 SAR 347

$84.4 SAR 317

9.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.4 SAR 317

$97.8 SAR 367

-13.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 SAR 1,881

$439 SAR 1,648

14.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 SAR 1,464

$383 SAR 1,436

1.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$899 SAR 3,374

$836 SAR 3,138

7.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$618 SAR 2,321

$615 SAR 2,308

0.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 SAR 6,100

$1,110 SAR 4,166

46.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,014 SAR 3,805

$1,066 SAR 3,999

-4.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,657 SAR 6,218

$2,893 SAR 10.9K

-42.74%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Dhahran: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $501 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 75% 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 $41.00 in Jeddah versus $41.00 in Dhahran. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $200 – 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 11% 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 $1,803 per month in Jeddah and $1,998 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 $1,202 in Jeddah and $1,332 in Dhahran. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 3% 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 $1,202, than in Dhahran at $1,332. 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.