😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,198 in Jeddah versus $1,180 in Hafar Al Batin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,845 in Jeddah versus $1,758 in Hafar Al Batin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,492 in Jeddah versus $2,336 in Hafar Al Batin.
😐Living in Jeddah is roughly 2% more expensive than Hafar Al Batin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Jeddah11% lower, Hafar Al Batin12% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.47SAR 24.26
$5.46SAR 20.46
18.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.18SAR 151
$26.93SAR 101
49.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.84SAR 29.40
$6.35SAR 23.81
23.46%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.17SAR 8.14
$1.56SAR 5.85
39.10%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07SAR 7.75
$1.70SAR 6.38
21.76%
Cappuccino
$3.62SAR 13.58
$3.39SAR 12.73
6.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76SAR 2.86
$0.70SAR 2.62
8.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23SAR 0.86
$0.24SAR 0.90
-4.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74SAR 6.52
$1.95SAR 7.30
-10.77%
White Bread(500g)
$0.95SAR 3.58
$0.94SAR 3.54
1.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.33SAR 8.75
$2.32SAR 8.69
0.43%
Eggs
$2.62SAR 9.84
$2.51SAR 9.40
4.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.33SAR 27.47
$6.99SAR 26.21
4.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.83SAR 29.37
$7.60SAR 28.51
3.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.53SAR 46.99
$12.88SAR 48.31
-2.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.19SAR 8.23
$2.26SAR 8.48
-3.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64SAR 6.14
$1.57SAR 5.90
4.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.61SAR 6.05
$1.69SAR 6.35
-4.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60SAR 5.98
$1.55SAR 5.82
3.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.26SAR 4.74
$1.24SAR 4.64
1.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21SAR 4.52
$1.32SAR 4.95
-8.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11SAR 4.15
$1.23SAR 4.62
-9.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58SAR 2.19
$0.55SAR 2.06
5.45%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.08SAR 15.30
$2.87SAR 10.77
42.16%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97SAR 7.40
$1.69SAR 6.34
16.57%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40SAR 9.00
$2.03SAR 7.62
18.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.51SAR 24.43
$6.90SAR 25.86
-5.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.31SAR 4.90
$1.10SAR 4.12
19.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.10SAR 150
$40.03SAR 150
0.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.24SAR 12.15
$2.64SAR 9.91
22.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92SAR 7.19
$1.92SAR 7.18
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.02SAR 56.3
$13.40SAR 50.3
12.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63SAR 2.35
$0.66SAR 2.48
-4.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KSAR 99.7K
$26.2KSAR 98.4K
1.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9KSAR 82.1K
$22.0KSAR 82.4K
-0.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105SAR 394
$103SAR 388
1.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.66SAR 119
$34.25SAR 128
-7.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.8SAR 258
$72.2SAR 271
-4.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$88.0SAR 330
$89.3SAR 335
-1.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.75SAR 168
$36.10SAR 135
23.96%
Cinema Ticket
$13.27SAR 49.76
$15.51SAR 58.2
-14.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$406SAR 1,523
$357SAR 1,341
13.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,555SAR 24.6K
$7,051SAR 26.4K
-7.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0SAR 236
$60.1SAR 225
4.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0SAR 214
$60.5SAR 227
-5.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.6SAR 359
$77.7SAR 291
23.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.9SAR 315
$82.7SAR 310
1.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490SAR 1,838
$441SAR 1,654
11.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$384SAR 1,440
$387SAR 1,453
-0.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$908SAR 3,405
$866SAR 3,248
4.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$610SAR 2,288
$614SAR 2,301
-0.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,598SAR 5,993
$2,315SAR 8,682
-30.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,008SAR 3,781
$1,349SAR 5,059
-25.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,060SAR 7,727
$1,375SAR 5,156
49.87%
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: April 22, 2026
Last update for Hafar Al Batin: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Jeddah and $441 in Hafar Al Batin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jeddah pays 50% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $40 in Jeddah vs $27 in Hafar Al Batin. Groceries flip the comparison at $198 vs $199, with Jeddah cheaper for home cooking.
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 Hafar Al Batin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jeddah or Hafar Al Batin?
Hafar Al Batin wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Jeddah. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hafar Al Batin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Jeddah or Hafar Al Batin?
Jeddah pays 50% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Jeddah vs Hafar Al Batin?
Rent for a central apartment: $490 in Jeddah versus $441 in Hafar Al Batin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Jeddah and Hafar Al Batin?
Childcare runs $406 in Jeddah versus $357 in Hafar Al Batin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Jeddah or Hafar Al Batin?
Shoppers in Jeddah pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Jeddah or Hafar Al Batin?
At $1,180 in Hafar Al Batin versus $1,198 in Jeddah, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Hafar Al Batin but tight or insufficient in Jeddah. The gap between the two cities makes Hafar Al Batin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Jeddah or Hafar Al Batin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Jeddah compared to Hafar Al Batin?
Safety-wise, Jeddah and Hafar Al Batin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Hafar Al Batin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Jeddah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.