😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,224 in Jeddah versus $1,214 in Hafar Al Batin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,836 in Jeddah versus $1,788 in Hafar Al Batin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,448 in Jeddah versus $2,362 in Hafar Al Batin.
😐Living in Jeddah is roughly 1% more expensive than Hafar Al Batin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Jeddah9% lower, Hafar Al Batin10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.62SAR 24.85
$5.27SAR 19.76
25.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.31SAR 148
$26.33SAR 98.8
49.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.06SAR 30.24
$6.37SAR 23.91
26.53%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.07SAR 7.77
$1.55SAR 5.83
33.55%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07SAR 7.76
$1.71SAR 6.41
21.05%
Cappuccino
$3.80SAR 14.25
$3.40SAR 12.74
11.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69SAR 2.61
$0.69SAR 2.59
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23SAR 0.86
$0.22SAR 0.82
4.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68SAR 6.31
$1.96SAR 7.35
-14.29%
White Bread(500g)
$0.95SAR 3.56
$0.96SAR 3.60
-1.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25SAR 8.45
$2.34SAR 8.79
-3.85%
Eggs
$2.72SAR 10.21
$2.44SAR 9.17
11.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.23SAR 27.14
$7.02SAR 26.34
2.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85SAR 29.48
$7.28SAR 27.31
7.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.61SAR 47.31
$12.88SAR 48.31
-2.10%
Apples(1kg)
$2.10SAR 7.87
$2.19SAR 8.22
-4.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59SAR 5.97
$1.56SAR 5.87
1.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.57SAR 5.89
$1.69SAR 6.32
-7.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.53SAR 5.72
$1.61SAR 6.06
-4.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.80
$1.24SAR 4.64
3.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21SAR 4.54
$1.28SAR 4.82
-5.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06SAR 3.96
$1.19SAR 4.46
-10.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54SAR 2.04
$0.59SAR 2.22
-8.47%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.22SAR 15.83
$2.76SAR 10.34
52.90%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97SAR 7.41
$1.70SAR 6.36
15.88%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49SAR 9.34
$2.01SAR 7.55
23.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.86SAR 25.73
$7.14SAR 26.79
-3.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.29SAR 4.86
$1.10SAR 4.11
17.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.47SAR 148
$40.08SAR 150
-1.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.18SAR 11.92
$2.60SAR 9.75
22.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92SAR 7.22
$1.85SAR 6.94
3.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.97SAR 56.2
$13.08SAR 49.10
14.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.62SAR 2.34
$0.65SAR 2.45
-4.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8KSAR 100.7K
$26.7KSAR 100.1K
0.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3KSAR 79.9K
$22.7KSAR 85.3K
-6.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108SAR 406
$103SAR 388
4.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.68SAR 119
$33.83SAR 127
-6.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.7SAR 262
$72.6SAR 272
-3.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$87.9SAR 330
$88.0SAR 330
-0.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.28SAR 170
$35.54SAR 133
27.41%
Cinema Ticket
$13.24SAR 49.69
$15.68SAR 58.9
-15.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$410SAR 1,539
$347SAR 1,302
18.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,604SAR 24.8K
$7,024SAR 26.4K
-5.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.3SAR 238
$58.9SAR 221
7.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.1SAR 222
$60.4SAR 227
-2.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.6SAR 348
$78.5SAR 294
18.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.9SAR 311
$82.3SAR 309
0.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$498SAR 1,869
$434SAR 1,628
14.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$383SAR 1,437
$380SAR 1,425
0.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$903SAR 3,387
$866SAR 3,248
4.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$601SAR 2,255
$617SAR 2,317
-2.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,623SAR 6,091
$2,030SAR 7,617
-20.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,014SAR 3,804
$1,509SAR 5,661
-32.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,652SAR 6,199
$1,379SAR 5,174
19.80%
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: June 6, 2026
Last update for Hafar Al Batin: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $498 in Jeddah and $434 in Hafar Al Batin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jeddah pays 20% 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: $39.00 in Jeddah vs $26.00 in Hafar Al Batin. Groceries flip the comparison at $196 vs $198, 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 1% 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 20% 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: $498 in Jeddah versus $434 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 $410 in Jeddah versus $347 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 1% 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 $1,214 in Hafar Al Batin versus $1,224 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 1% less than in Jeddah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.