Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeddah and Umluj Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeddah and Umluj

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,367 per month in Jeddah vs $1,177 in Umluj, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,104 per month in Jeddah vs $1,785 in Umluj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,842 per month in Jeddah vs $2,394 in Umluj, rent included.

Jeddah costs about 16% more than Umluj, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Jeddah and Umluj are more affordable than the global median – Jeddah 1% lower, Umluj 15% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jeddah
Umluj
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.65 SAR 24.96
$7.26 SAR 27.27
-8.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.3 SAR 200
$36.08 SAR 135
47.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.34 SAR 31.30
$7.83 SAR 29.39
6.51%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.51 SAR 9.43
$1.99 SAR 7.47
26.13%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 SAR 10.03
$2.36 SAR 8.85
13.14%
Cappuccino
$3.54 SAR 13.30
$3.78 SAR 14.21
-6.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 SAR 3.77
$0.86 SAR 3.24
17.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 SAR 0.89
$0.25 SAR 0.92
-4.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jeddah
Umluj
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 SAR 6.30
$1.71 SAR 6.43
-1.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.33 SAR 4.98
$1.22 SAR 4.58
9.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 SAR 8.35
$2.35 SAR 8.81
-5.11%
Eggs
$2.39 SAR 8.98
$2.11 SAR 7.92
13.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.59 SAR 24.75
$6.69 SAR 25.11
-1.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.03 SAR 30.16
$7.95 SAR 29.84
1.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.92 SAR 48.49
$12.22 SAR 45.89
5.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.13 SAR 8.00
$1.81 SAR 6.80
17.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 SAR 6.36
$1.81 SAR 6.80
-6.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 SAR 5.71
$1.74 SAR 6.52
-12.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.63 SAR 6.12
$1.77 SAR 6.63
-7.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 SAR 4.39
$1.18 SAR 4.42
-0.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.35 SAR 5.06
$1.35 SAR 5.07
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 SAR 4.09
$1.01 SAR 3.81
7.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 SAR 2.01
$0.51 SAR 1.91
5.88%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$4.18 SAR 15.68
$3.21 SAR 12.06
30.22%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 SAR 6.94
$1.92 SAR 7.20
-3.65%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 SAR 9.36
$2.02 SAR 7.57
23.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.64 SAR 24.93
$6.08 SAR 22.81
9.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Jeddah
Umluj
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.14 SAR 4.27
$1.19 SAR 4.47
-4.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.4 SAR 208
$38.99 SAR 146
42.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.21 SAR 12.05
$2.56 SAR 9.61
25.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 SAR 6.61
$1.62 SAR 6.06
8.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.94 SAR 52.3
$14.11 SAR 53.0
-1.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.60 SAR 2.24
$0.56 SAR 2.09
7.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.1K SAR 180.6K
$44.5K SAR 167.1K
8.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K SAR 82.1K
$21.5K SAR 80.8K
1.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jeddah
Umluj
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$100 SAR 377
$102 SAR 382
-1.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.60 SAR 141
$35.94 SAR 135
4.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.3 SAR 249
$64.9 SAR 244
2.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jeddah
Umluj
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$88.3 SAR 331
$85.5 SAR 321
3.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.96 SAR 154
$33.03 SAR 124
24.01%
Cinema Ticket
$12.01 SAR 45.10
$13.99 SAR 52.5
-14.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jeddah
Umluj
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$720 SAR 2,702
$359 SAR 1,347
100.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K SAR 59.2K
$6,713 SAR 25.2K
134.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jeddah
Umluj
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.0 SAR 259
$48.88 SAR 184
41.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.9 SAR 221
$50.3 SAR 189
17.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.3 SAR 369
$82.3 SAR 309
19.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.8 SAR 363
$85.7 SAR 322
12.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jeddah
Umluj
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$769 SAR 2,885
$590 SAR 2,214
30.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$523 SAR 1,964
$346 SAR 1,300
51.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,342 SAR 5,039
$865 SAR 3,248
55.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$854 SAR 3,205
$554 SAR 2,082
53.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,732 SAR 6,502
$2,582 SAR 9,694
-32.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,131 SAR 4,245
$1,346 SAR 5,053
-15.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jeddah
Umluj
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,622 SAR 6,087
$4,322 SAR 16.2K
-62.48%
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 Umluj: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $769 in Jeddah versus $590 in Umluj. 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 167% higher in Umluj, 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 $53.0 in Jeddah versus $36.00 in Umluj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $199 vs $196 – making Umluj 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 Umluj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Jeddah and in Umluj compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,367 in Jeddah, $1,177 in Umluj – roughly 16% apart. Jeddah costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Jeddah compared to Umluj?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,050 per month in Jeddah and $1,765 in Umluj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Jeddah and Umluj?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Umluj, 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 $53.0 in Jeddah and $36.00 in Umluj. 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 Umluj?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,367 in Jeddah and $1,177 in Umluj. 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 Umluj, where all-in costs run around $1,177, than in Jeddah at $1,367. In Umluj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jeddah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Jeddah or Umluj?
Families tend to lean toward Umluj – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Jeddah or Umluj 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 Umluj?
If budget matters most, go with Umluj. 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.

Jeddah vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities