πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,002 in Jizan versus $1,346 in Al Khobar.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Jizan versus $2,152 in Al Khobar.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,152 in Jizan versus $2,958 in Al Khobar.
πLiving in Jizan costs roughly 26% less than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Jizan is 25% below, Al Khobar is 0% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Jizan
Al Khobar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.74SARΒ 25.27
$6.67SARΒ 25.03
1.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.36SARΒ 98.9
$52.7SARΒ 198
-49.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.81SARΒ 25.57
$8.04SARΒ 30.18
-15.30%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.77SARΒ 6.65
$2.04SARΒ 7.67
-13.24%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77SARΒ 6.66
$2.69SARΒ 10.09
-34.20%
Cappuccino
$3.41SARΒ 12.79
$4.34SARΒ 16.30
-21.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68SARΒ 2.57
$0.94SARΒ 3.53
-27.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18SARΒ 0.67
$0.51SARΒ 1.92
-64.71%
π Groceries & Markets
Jizan
Al Khobar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67SARΒ 6.27
$1.70SARΒ 6.38
-1.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.97SARΒ 3.64
$1.40SARΒ 5.25
-30.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.93SARΒ 7.23
$2.30SARΒ 8.64
-16.09%
Eggs
$2.69SARΒ 10.09
$2.92SARΒ 10.96
-7.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.45SARΒ 27.95
$6.70SARΒ 25.15
11.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.60SARΒ 21.03
$9.28SARΒ 34.81
-39.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.45SARΒ 58.0
$12.58SARΒ 47.21
22.81%
Apples(1kg)
$1.83SARΒ 6.87
$2.49SARΒ 9.33
-26.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46SARΒ 5.48
$1.74SARΒ 6.54
-16.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71SARΒ 6.42
$2.23SARΒ 8.38
-23.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.21SARΒ 4.55
$1.63SARΒ 6.10
-25.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.09SARΒ 4.08
$1.42SARΒ 5.33
-23.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.04SARΒ 3.90
$1.72SARΒ 6.45
-39.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.12SARΒ 4.20
$1.71SARΒ 6.41
-34.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52SARΒ 1.94
$0.63SARΒ 2.35
-17.46%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.64SARΒ 6.14
$2.61SARΒ 9.79
-37.16%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78SARΒ 6.68
$1.46SARΒ 5.50
21.92%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99SARΒ 7.47
$1.96SARΒ 7.35
1.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.07SARΒ 26.54
$6.81SARΒ 25.55
3.82%
π Getting Around
Jizan
Al Khobar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06SARΒ 3.96
$0.97SARΒ 3.63
9.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.05SARΒ 150
$61.2SARΒ 230
-34.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.61SARΒ 9.79
$2.19SARΒ 8.21
19.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.85SARΒ 6.96
$1.30SARΒ 4.87
42.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.30SARΒ 49.91
$6.56SARΒ 24.62
102.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63SARΒ 2.37
$0.61SARΒ 2.29
3.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9KSARΒ 100.9K
$21.5KSARΒ 80.8K
24.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0KSARΒ 82.7K
$23.4KSARΒ 87.8K
-5.83%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jizan
Al Khobar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.3SARΒ 331
$125SARΒ 468
-29.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.55SARΒ 137
$34.88SARΒ 131
4.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.6SARΒ 269
$81.1SARΒ 304
-11.71%
π Sport & Entertainment
Jizan
Al Khobar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$85.0SARΒ 319
$109SARΒ 410
-22.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.08SARΒ 132
$36.43SARΒ 137
-3.71%
Cinema Ticket
$15.87SARΒ 59.5
$17.66SARΒ 66.3
-10.14%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Jizan
Al Khobar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$134SARΒ 501
$304SARΒ 1,140
-56.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,319SARΒ 12.5K
$7,640SARΒ 28.7K
-56.56%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Jizan
Al Khobar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.02SARΒ 109
$64.5SARΒ 242
-55.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.03SARΒ 173
$69.2SARΒ 260
-33.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.9SARΒ 292
$99.5SARΒ 373
-21.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.8SARΒ 303
$78.1SARΒ 293
3.52%
π Accommodation & Living
Jizan
Al Khobar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$328SARΒ 1,229
$439SARΒ 1,648
-25.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$231SARΒ 865
$405SARΒ 1,521
-43.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$513SARΒ 1,925
$1,020SARΒ 3,829
-49.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$487SARΒ 1,826
$811SARΒ 3,043
-39.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$788SARΒ 2,957
$2,399SARΒ 9,003
-67.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,466SARΒ 5,502
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Jizan
Al Khobar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,619SARΒ 6,077
$1,861SARΒ 6,983
-12.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.42
3.84
15.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jizan: June 6, 2026
Last update for Al Khobar: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $328 in Jizan and $439 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Al Khobar pays 15% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $26.00 in Jizan vs $53.0 in Al Khobar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $218 per month, with Jizan cheaper across the board.
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
Jizan vs Al Khobar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jizan or Al Khobar?
Jizan wins on cost β living expenses run 34% lower than in Al Khobar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Jizan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Jizan or Al Khobar?
On paper, Al Khobar earns 15% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Jizan vs Al Khobar?
Rent for a central apartment: $328 in Jizan versus $439 in Al Khobar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Jizan vs Al Khobar?
A monthly transit pass in Jizan runs roughly 53% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Jizan and Al Khobar?
Childcare runs $134 in Jizan versus $304 in Al Khobar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Jizan or Al Khobar?
At $1,002 in Jizan versus $1,346 in Al Khobar, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Jizan but tight or insufficient in Al Khobar. The gap between the two cities makes Jizan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Jizan or Al Khobar?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Jizan compared to Al Khobar?
Safety-wise, Jizan and Al Khobar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Jizan gentler on the wallet β expenses run 34% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.