Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeddah and Riyadh Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeddah and Riyadh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Jeddah vs $1,739 in Riyadh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,858 per month in Jeddah vs $2,521 in Riyadh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,514 per month in Jeddah vs $3,304 in Riyadh, rent included.

Jeddah is about 31% cheaper than Riyadh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Jeddah sits 10% below the global median, while Riyadh is 30% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.54 SAR 24.53

$8.21 SAR 30.82

-20.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.72 SAR 153

$53.0 SAR 199

-23.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.21 SAR 30.82

$8.11 SAR 30.45

1.23%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 SAR 8.23

$1.71 SAR 6.41

28.07%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.89

$2.23 SAR 8.37

-5.83%

Cappuccino

$3.58 SAR 13.45

$4.09 SAR 15.34

-12.47%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.64

$0.71 SAR 2.66

-1.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 SAR 0.94

$0.29 SAR 1.07

-13.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 SAR 6.51

$1.68 SAR 6.30

3.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 SAR 3.58

$1.28 SAR 4.79

-25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 SAR 8.61

$2.35 SAR 8.83

-2.13%

Eggs

$2.75 SAR 10.34

$2.73 SAR 10.24

0.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.41 SAR 27.83

$8.64 SAR 32.44

-14.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.64 SAR 28.69

$10.02 SAR 37.62

-23.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.34 SAR 46.33

$14.57 SAR 54.7

-15.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 SAR 8.13

$2.35 SAR 8.82

-8.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.90

$1.75 SAR 6.56

-10.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.82

$1.85 SAR 6.93

-16.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.78

$1.53 SAR 5.73

0.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 SAR 4.94

$1.29 SAR 4.82

2.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 SAR 4.54

$1.47 SAR 5.50

-17.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 SAR 3.96

$1.45 SAR 5.44

-27.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 SAR 2.23

$0.53 SAR 1.99

13.21%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.08 SAR 15.31

$8.16 SAR 30.62

-50.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 SAR 7.33

$1.71 SAR 6.42

14.04%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 SAR 9.32

$2.38 SAR 8.94

4.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.76 SAR 25.37

$7.54 SAR 28.29

-10.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 SAR 5.12

$1.09 SAR 4.09

24.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.64 SAR 149

$36.73 SAR 138

7.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 SAR 12.13

$3.28 SAR 12.29

-1.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 SAR 7.07

$1.85 SAR 6.95

1.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.36 SAR 57.7

$13.49 SAR 50.6

13.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$0.63 SAR 2.36

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

$26.9K SAR 101.0K

$34.1K SAR 128.1K

-21.11%

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

$21.4K SAR 80.4K

$23.4K SAR 87.9K

-8.53%

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

$105 SAR 393

$104 SAR 391

0.61%

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

$32.31 SAR 121

$34.25 SAR 129

-5.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.1 SAR 263

$77.0 SAR 289

-8.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.9 SAR 341

$105 SAR 394

-13.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.17 SAR 170

$58.3 SAR 219

-22.51%

Cinema Ticket

$13.12 SAR 49.26

$16.17 SAR 60.7

-18.86%

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

$400 SAR 1,500

$457 SAR 1,716

-12.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,414 SAR 24.1K

$9,739 SAR 36.6K

-34.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 SAR 242

$59.5 SAR 223

8.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.1 SAR 218

$64.1 SAR 241

-9.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.5 SAR 347

$107 SAR 400

-13.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.4 SAR 317

$100 SAR 376

-15.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 SAR 1,881

$1,072 SAR 4,024

-53.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 SAR 1,464

$841 SAR 3,158

-53.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$899 SAR 3,375

$2,027 SAR 7,608

-55.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$618 SAR 2,321

$1,090 SAR 4,093

-43.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 SAR 6,100

$3,075 SAR 11.5K

-47.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,014 SAR 3,805

$1,931 SAR 7,247

-47.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,657 SAR 6,219

$2,252 SAR 8,453

-26.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

5.31

-15.25%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Jeddah: May 30, 2026

Last update for Riyadh: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $501 in Jeddah versus $1,072 in Riyadh. 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 36% higher in Riyadh, 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 $53.0 in Riyadh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $226 – 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 Riyadh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,202 in Jeddah, $1,739 in Riyadh – roughly 45% apart. Riyadh costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,803 per month in Jeddah and $2,608 in Riyadh. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Jeddah and $53.0 in Riyadh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,202 in Jeddah and $1,739 in Riyadh. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Jeddah, where all-in costs run around $1,202, than in Riyadh at $1,739. In Jeddah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Riyadh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Jeddah has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,202 in Jeddah to $1,739 in Riyadh. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Riyadh makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.