Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeddah and QatifCost of Living Comparison Between Jeddah and Qatif
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,203 per month in Jeddah vs $1,087 in Qatif, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,864 per month in Jeddah vs $1,707 in Qatif, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Jeddah vs $2,328 in Qatif, rent included.
😐Jeddah costs about 11% more than Qatif, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Jeddah and Qatif are more affordable than the global median – Jeddah10% lower, Qatif18% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jeddah
Qatif
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.57SAR 24.68
$3.44SAR 12.93
90.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.91SAR 150
$47.42SAR 178
-15.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.11SAR 30.43
$8.05SAR 30.22
0.75%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16SAR 8.10
$1.86SAR 6.97
16.13%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16SAR 8.10
$1.82SAR 6.83
18.68%
Cappuccino
$3.62SAR 13.61
$3.66SAR 13.72
-1.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77SAR 2.87
$0.77SAR 2.91
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25SAR 0.94
$0.26SAR 0.97
-3.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jeddah
Qatif
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65SAR 6.21
$1.65SAR 6.20
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.98SAR 3.67
$0.81SAR 3.04
20.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.26SAR 8.48
$2.03SAR 7.64
11.33%
Eggs
$2.66SAR 9.98
$2.32SAR 8.73
14.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.41SAR 27.83
$6.03SAR 22.63
22.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.49SAR 28.13
$7.38SAR 27.72
1.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.52SAR 47.01
$9.67SAR 36.29
29.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.20SAR 8.27
$2.12SAR 7.95
3.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66SAR 6.22
$1.48SAR 5.56
12.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.61SAR 6.06
$1.44SAR 5.42
11.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54SAR 5.80
$0.75SAR 2.83
105.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.80
$1.26SAR 4.74
1.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22SAR 4.57
$1.35SAR 5.05
-9.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05SAR 3.94
$1.10SAR 4.13
-4.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59SAR 2.23
$0.55SAR 2.08
7.27%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.21SAR 15.81
$2.73SAR 10.27
54.21%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98SAR 7.42
$1.58SAR 5.93
25.32%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47SAR 9.28
$2.02SAR 7.57
22.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.51SAR 24.45
$7.68SAR 28.83
-15.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Jeddah
Qatif
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.32SAR 4.94
$1.10SAR 4.14
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.04SAR 150
$39.26SAR 147
1.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17SAR 11.92
$3.12SAR 11.71
1.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.85SAR 6.96
$1.63SAR 6.13
13.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.91SAR 56.0
$13.22SAR 49.64
12.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63SAR 2.35
$0.65SAR 2.43
-3.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5KSAR 99.3K
$22.6KSAR 84.7K
17.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8KSAR 81.8K
$19.7KSAR 73.8K
10.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jeddah
Qatif
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108SAR 407
$104SAR 392
3.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.95SAR 120
$37.20SAR 140
-14.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.1SAR 263
$59.6SAR 224
17.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jeddah
Qatif
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$90.5SAR 340
$94.2SAR 354
-3.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.39SAR 174
$56.9SAR 214
-18.44%
Cinema Ticket
$13.29SAR 49.89
$15.36SAR 57.7
-13.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jeddah
Qatif
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$410SAR 1,538
$405SAR 1,521
1.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,547SAR 24.6K
$8,110SAR 30.5K
-19.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jeddah
Qatif
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9SAR 236
$51.3SAR 192
22.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.6SAR 220
$50.9SAR 191
14.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.5SAR 359
$91.5SAR 343
4.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.8SAR 311
$85.8SAR 322
-3.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jeddah
Qatif
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$505SAR 1,898
$360SAR 1,351
40.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$380SAR 1,426
$281SAR 1,054
35.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$928SAR 3,484
$717SAR 2,692
29.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617SAR 2,315
$486SAR 1,826
26.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,747SAR 6,561
$949SAR 3,562
84.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,117SAR 4,194
$796SAR 2,990
40.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jeddah
Qatif
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,624SAR 6,096
$2,248SAR 8,439
-27.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.5
4.33
3.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jeddah: July 27, 2026
Last update for Qatif: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $505 in Jeddah versus $360 in Qatif. 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 38% higher in Qatif, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Jeddah versus $47.00 in Qatif. Groceries tell a different story – $196 in Jeddah vs $173 in Qatif – so Qatif wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Qatif: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Jeddah and in Qatif compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,203 in Jeddah, $1,087 in Qatif – roughly 11% apart. Jeddah costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Jeddah compared to Qatif?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,804 per month in Jeddah and $1,630 in Qatif. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Jeddah and Qatif?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Qatif, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Jeddah and $47.00 in Qatif. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Jeddah or Qatif?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,203 in Jeddah and $1,087 in Qatif. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Qatif, where all-in costs run around $1,087, than in Jeddah at $1,203. In Qatif it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jeddah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Jeddah or Qatif?
Families tend to lean toward Qatif – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Jeddah or Qatif safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Jeddah and Qatif?
If budget matters most, go with Qatif. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jeddah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.