😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,367 in Jeddah versus $1,172 in Hafar Al Batin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,104 in Jeddah versus $1,793 in Hafar Al Batin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,842 in Jeddah versus $2,414 in Hafar Al Batin.
🌍Living in Jeddah is roughly 17% more expensive than in Hafar Al Batin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Jeddah1% lower, Hafar Al Batin15% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.65SAR 24.97
$6.38SAR 23.96
4.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.3SAR 200
$37.50SAR 141
42.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.34SAR 31.31
$7.96SAR 29.91
4.77%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51SAR 9.44
$1.59SAR 5.96
57.86%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67SAR 10.03
$2.00SAR 7.50
33.50%
Cappuccino
$3.54SAR 13.31
$3.34SAR 12.54
5.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01SAR 3.78
$0.85SAR 3.20
18.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24SAR 0.89
$0.27SAR 1.00
-11.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68SAR 6.30
$1.94SAR 7.30
-13.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33SAR 4.99
$1.21SAR 4.54
9.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23SAR 8.36
$2.15SAR 8.06
3.72%
Eggs
$2.39SAR 8.98
$2.38SAR 8.94
0.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.59SAR 24.76
$7.60SAR 28.53
-13.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.03SAR 30.17
$7.92SAR 29.73
1.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.92SAR 48.51
$12.73SAR 47.80
1.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.13SAR 8.00
$2.15SAR 8.08
-0.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69SAR 6.36
$1.70SAR 6.38
-0.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52SAR 5.71
$1.56SAR 5.87
-2.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.63SAR 6.12
$1.62SAR 6.08
0.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17SAR 4.39
$1.13SAR 4.23
3.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35SAR 5.06
$1.30SAR 4.89
3.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09SAR 4.09
$1.19SAR 4.47
-8.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54SAR 2.01
$0.56SAR 2.10
-3.57%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.18SAR 15.68
$2.82SAR 10.58
48.23%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85SAR 6.94
$1.70SAR 6.38
8.82%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49SAR 9.36
$2.07SAR 7.78
20.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.64SAR 24.94
$6.58SAR 24.72
0.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.14SAR 4.27
$0.99SAR 3.71
15.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.4SAR 208
$32.25SAR 121
71.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.21SAR 12.06
$3.32SAR 12.47
-3.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.76SAR 6.61
$1.76SAR 6.61
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.94SAR 52.4
$14.58SAR 54.8
-4.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60SAR 2.24
$0.62SAR 2.33
-3.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.1KSAR 180.7K
$50.7KSAR 190.4K
-5.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9KSAR 82.1K
$23.1KSAR 86.6K
-5.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$100SAR 377
$108SAR 406
-7.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.60SAR 141
$30.43SAR 114
23.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.3SAR 249
$66.9SAR 251
-0.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$88.3SAR 331
$77.0SAR 289
14.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.96SAR 154
$38.40SAR 144
6.67%
Cinema Ticket
$12.01SAR 45.11
$14.13SAR 53.1
-15.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$720SAR 2,703
$392SAR 1,471
83.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8KSAR 59.2K
$6,339SAR 23.8K
148.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.0SAR 259
$48.58SAR 182
41.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.9SAR 221
$63.4SAR 238
-7.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.3SAR 369
$106SAR 397
-6.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.8SAR 364
$85.9SAR 323
12.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$769SAR 2,886
$538SAR 2,020
42.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$523SAR 1,965
$351SAR 1,318
49.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,342SAR 5,041
$891SAR 3,345
50.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$854SAR 3,207
$632SAR 2,372
35.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,732SAR 6,504
$2,623SAR 9,852
-33.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,131SAR 4,247
$1,195SAR 4,488
-5.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jeddah
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,622SAR 6,090
$1,417SAR 5,320
14.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.39
5.47
-1.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jeddah: September 6, 2026
Last update for Hafar Al Batin: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $769 in Jeddah and $538 in Hafar Al Batin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jeddah pays 14% 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: $53.0 in Jeddah vs $38.00 in Hafar Al Batin. Groceries flip the comparison at $199 vs $203, 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 17% 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 in Hafar Al Batin?
Average pay runs 14% higher in Jeddah, 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 compared to Hafar Al Batin?
Rent for a central apartment: $769 in Jeddah versus $538 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 in Hafar Al Batin?
Childcare runs $720 in Jeddah versus $392 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 in Hafar Al Batin?
Shoppers in Jeddah pay roughly 2% 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 in Hafar Al Batin?
At $1,172 in Hafar Al Batin versus $1,367 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 17% less than in Jeddah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.