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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,392 per month in Jeddah vs $1,719 in Riyadh, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,099 per month in Jeddah vs $2,562 in Riyadh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,805 per month in Jeddah vs $3,405 in Riyadh, rent included.

Jeddah is about 19% cheaper than Riyadh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jeddah and Riyadh sit above the global median – Jeddah by 2%, Riyadh by 26%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.67 SAR 25.06

$7.82 SAR 29.38

-14.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.6 SAR 201

$63.7 SAR 239

-15.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.24 SAR 30.94

$7.86 SAR 29.51

4.83%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 SAR 9.65

$2.09 SAR 7.86

22.97%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 SAR 9.72

$2.98 SAR 11.21

-13.09%

Cappuccino

$3.56 SAR 13.38

$4.54 SAR 17.04

-21.59%

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

$0.99 SAR 3.71

$0.83 SAR 3.13

19.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 SAR 0.90

$0.30 SAR 1.12

-20.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 SAR 6.63

$1.67 SAR 6.26

5.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 SAR 4.74

$1.20 SAR 4.49

5.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.36 SAR 8.87

$2.28 SAR 8.58

3.51%

Eggs

$2.32 SAR 8.72

$3.06 SAR 11.49

-24.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.54 SAR 24.58

$10.02 SAR 37.65

-34.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.36 SAR 31.38

$10.16 SAR 38.18

-17.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.14 SAR 49.36

$15.70 SAR 59.0

-16.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 SAR 7.94

$2.70 SAR 10.14

-21.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 SAR 6.68

$1.86 SAR 7.00

-4.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 SAR 6.07

$2.27 SAR 8.53

-28.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.68 SAR 6.33

$1.70 SAR 6.37

-1.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 SAR 4.27

$1.21 SAR 4.54

-5.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 SAR 4.66

$1.33 SAR 4.99

-6.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 SAR 4.24

$1.69 SAR 6.33

-33.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 SAR 2.03

$0.54 SAR 2.04

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.24 SAR 15.93

$7.89 SAR 29.63

-46.26%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 SAR 6.96

$1.85 SAR 6.94

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 SAR 9.33

$2.59 SAR 9.72

-4.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.68 SAR 25.09

$7.65 SAR 28.74

-12.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 SAR 3.34

$1.08 SAR 4.07

-17.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 SAR 208

$36.95 SAR 139

49.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 SAR 11.87

$3.18 SAR 11.96

-0.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 SAR 6.65

$1.82 SAR 6.83

-2.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.72 SAR 51.5

$13.55 SAR 50.9

1.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 SAR 2.29

$0.64 SAR 2.42

-4.69%

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

$47.8K SAR 179.7K

$35.3K SAR 132.5K

35.63%

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

$21.6K SAR 81.2K

$22.2K SAR 83.5K

-2.72%

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

$104 SAR 392

$100 SAR 376

4.02%

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

$38.73 SAR 145

$33.25 SAR 125

16.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 SAR 248

$69.1 SAR 260

-4.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.3 SAR 324

$90.9 SAR 341

-5.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.48 SAR 156

$55.9 SAR 210

-25.84%

Cinema Ticket

$11.89 SAR 44.67

$13.47 SAR 50.6

-11.73%

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

$738 SAR 2,773

$537 SAR 2,016

37.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K SAR 58.9K

$10.8K SAR 40.5K

45.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.5 SAR 257

$59.5 SAR 223

15.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.0 SAR 225

$53.5 SAR 201

12.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.7 SAR 367

$110 SAR 415

-11.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.8 SAR 371

$104 SAR 390

-4.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$781 SAR 2,935

$1,169 SAR 4,391

-33.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$538 SAR 2,021

$815 SAR 3,063

-34.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,329 SAR 4,990

$2,160 SAR 8,113

-38.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$856 SAR 3,215

$1,219 SAR 4,579

-29.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,772 SAR 6,654

$2,930 SAR 11.0K

-39.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,149 SAR 4,315

$1,934 SAR 7,265

-40.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,621 SAR 6,087

$2,052 SAR 7,709

-21.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

5.54

-2.71%

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

Last update for Jeddah: September 14, 2026

Last update for Riyadh: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $781 in Jeddah versus $1,169 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 27% 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 $54.0 in Jeddah versus $64.0 in Riyadh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $240 – 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: $1,392 in Jeddah, $1,719 in Riyadh – roughly 23% apart. Riyadh costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,088 per month in Jeddah and $2,579 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 $54.0 in Jeddah and $64.0 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 $1,392 in Jeddah and $1,719 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 $1,392, than in Riyadh at $1,719. 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 $1,392 in Jeddah to $1,719 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.