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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,218 per month in Jeddah vs $1,758 in Riyadh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,846 per month in Jeddah vs $2,475 in Riyadh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,474 per month in Jeddah vs $3,192 in Riyadh, rent included.

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

Jeddah sits 9% below the global median, while Riyadh is 32% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.51 SAR 24.46

$8.19 SAR 30.75

-20.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.65 SAR 149

$53.9 SAR 202

-26.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.80 SAR 29.29

$7.97 SAR 29.91

-2.13%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 SAR 8.10

$1.69 SAR 6.33

27.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.90

$2.31 SAR 8.68

-9.09%

Cappuccino

$3.78 SAR 14.20

$3.98 SAR 14.93

-5.03%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.64

$0.77 SAR 2.88

-9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 SAR 0.94

$0.31 SAR 1.17

-19.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SAR 6.32

$1.69 SAR 6.34

-0.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 SAR 3.53

$1.33 SAR 4.98

-29.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 SAR 8.38

$2.36 SAR 8.85

-5.51%

Eggs

$2.63 SAR 9.88

$2.69 SAR 10.10

-2.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 SAR 27.86

$8.48 SAR 31.84

-12.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.77 SAR 29.19

$9.90 SAR 37.17

-21.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.38 SAR 46.50

$14.50 SAR 54.4

-14.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 SAR 8.19

$2.32 SAR 8.73

-6.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.89

$1.74 SAR 6.52

-9.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.80

$1.88 SAR 7.06

-18.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.94

$1.59 SAR 5.96

-0.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 SAR 4.98

$1.25 SAR 4.68

6.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 SAR 4.68

$1.46 SAR 5.49

-14.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 SAR 4.15

$1.43 SAR 5.38

-23.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 SAR 2.07

$0.52 SAR 1.94

5.77%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.21 SAR 15.79

$7.87 SAR 29.54

-46.51%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 SAR 7.11

$1.79 SAR 6.70

5.59%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 SAR 9.36

$2.41 SAR 9.06

3.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.79 SAR 25.51

$7.41 SAR 27.83

-8.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.30 SAR 4.87

$1.08 SAR 4.07

20.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.89 SAR 150

$36.88 SAR 138

8.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 SAR 11.89

$3.22 SAR 12.09

-1.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 SAR 6.94

$1.84 SAR 6.93

0.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.04 SAR 56.5

$13.19 SAR 49.53

14.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.24

$0.64 SAR 2.39

-6.25%

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

$26.4K SAR 99.2K

$35.1K SAR 131.7K

-24.68%

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

$21.3K SAR 80.0K

$23.4K SAR 88.0K

-9.11%

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

$108 SAR 406

$106 SAR 398

2.10%

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

$32.30 SAR 121

$35.14 SAR 132

-8.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.6 SAR 261

$76.9 SAR 289

-9.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$91.1 SAR 342

$106 SAR 399

-14.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.14 SAR 170

$59.9 SAR 225

-24.65%

Cinema Ticket

$13.21 SAR 49.62

$16.22 SAR 60.9

-18.56%

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

$407 SAR 1,527

$465 SAR 1,747

-12.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,378 SAR 24.0K

$9,542 SAR 35.8K

-33.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 SAR 235

$58.3 SAR 219

7.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.9 SAR 217

$65.1 SAR 244

-11.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.9 SAR 356

$110 SAR 413

-13.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 SAR 315

$101 SAR 378

-16.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 SAR 1,903

$1,110 SAR 4,166

-54.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 SAR 1,442

$843 SAR 3,164

-54.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$904 SAR 3,395

$2,026 SAR 7,607

-55.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$601 SAR 2,256

$1,127 SAR 4,233

-46.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,646 SAR 6,179

$2,911 SAR 10.9K

-43.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,015 SAR 3,812

$1,938 SAR 7,279

-47.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,660 SAR 6,233

$2,020 SAR 7,587

-17.85%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Riyadh: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $507 in Jeddah versus $1,110 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 22% 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 $40.00 in Jeddah versus $54.0 in Riyadh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $225 – 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: $1,218 in Jeddah, $1,758 in Riyadh – roughly 44% apart. Riyadh costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,827 per month in Jeddah and $2,637 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 $40.00 in Jeddah and $54.0 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 $1,218 in Jeddah and $1,758 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 $1,218, than in Riyadh at $1,758. 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 $1,218 in Jeddah to $1,758 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.