For one person, living is cheaper in Jizan: $930 a month against $2,896 in Dubai, rent and utilities included – about $23,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Jizan and in Dubai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $930 in Jizan versus $2,896 in Dubai.
Jizan $930
Dubai $2,896
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,530 in Jizan versus $4,384 in Dubai.
Jizan $1,530
Dubai $4,384
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,131 in Jizan versus $5,872 in Dubai.
Jizan $2,131
Dubai $5,872
🌍
Living in Jizan costs roughly 68% less than in Dubai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Jizan is 31% below, Dubai is 115% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Jizan
Dubai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.20SAR 19.53
$12.67AED 46.55
-58.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.15SAR 139
$81.7AED 300
-54.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.18SAR 26.92
$9.34AED 34.30
-23.13%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69SAR 6.34
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84SAR 6.91
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.16SAR 11.88
$5.89AED 21.62
-46.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73SAR 2.74
$1.69AED 6.20
-56.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28SAR 1.06
$0.78AED 2.86
-64.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$13.66AED 50.2
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$13.49AED 49.54
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jizan
Dubai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76SAR 6.61
$1.84AED 6.78
-4.35%
White Bread(500g)
$0.94SAR 3.53
$1.50AED 5.50
-37.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24SAR 8.40
$2.57AED 9.45
-12.84%
Eggs
$2.97SAR 11.15
$3.32AED 12.18
-10.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.95SAR 29.82
$12.60AED 46.28
-36.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.09SAR 19.08
$9.66AED 35.46
-47.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.87SAR 55.8
$12.78AED 46.93
16.35%
Apples(1kg)
$1.86SAR 6.98
$2.60AED 9.54
-28.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57SAR 5.90
$1.90AED 6.99
-17.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08SAR 7.79
$1.91AED 7.02
8.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.43SAR 5.35
$1.37AED 5.02
4.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33SAR 4.99
$1.13AED 4.14
17.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.43SAR 5.35
$1.01AED 3.71
41.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.27SAR 4.75
$1.44AED 5.30
-11.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74SAR 2.77
$0.67AED 2.48
10.45%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.57SAR 5.89
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82SAR 6.84
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59SAR 5.97
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.50SAR 24.41
$5.88AED 21.59
10.54%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$16.15AED 59.3
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.72AED 10.00
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.08AED 11.32
-
🚌 Getting Around
Jizan
Dubai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.07SAR 4.03
$1.60AED 5.87
-33.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.19SAR 87.0
$76.0AED 279
-69.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.71SAR 10.18
$3.24AED 11.91
-16.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.24SAR 12.15
$0.71AED 2.61
356.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.88SAR 59.6
$7.96AED 29.22
99.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.61SAR 2.29
$0.98AED 3.62
-37.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.6KSAR 163.5K
$27.4KAED 100.6K
59.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.6KSAR 65.9K
$22.0KAED 80.9K
-20.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jizan
Dubai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103SAR 388
$249AED 913
-58.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.07SAR 139
$54.4AED 200
-31.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.1SAR 241
$91.5AED 336
-29.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jizan
Dubai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.6SAR 370
$103AED 380
-4.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.70SAR 141
$42.32AED 155
-10.92%
Cinema Ticket
$16.03SAR 60.1
$16.29AED 59.8
-1.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jizan
Dubai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$199SAR 749
$844AED 3,098
-76.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,125SAR 15.5K
$18.3KAED 67.1K
-77.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jizan
Dubai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.30SAR 121
$67.0AED 246
-51.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.8SAR 205
$57.9AED 213
-5.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120SAR 450
$102AED 375
17.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.80SAR 176
$98.7AED 363
-52.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jizan
Dubai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$262SAR 982
$2,393AED 8,788
-89.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$132SAR 494
$1,533AED 5,630
-91.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475SAR 1,783
$4,594AED 16.9K
-89.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$361SAR 1,353
$2,939AED 10.8K
-87.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$805SAR 3,019
$7,046AED 25.9K
-88.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,222AED 15.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jizan
Dubai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,614SAR 6,057
$3,461AED 12.7K
-53.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
4.54
10.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jizan: October 12, 2026
Last update for Dubai: October 10, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jizan
$205 22%
Dubai
$394 13.6% ↑ 92.7%$190
🛒Groceries & Markets
Jizan
$197 21.2%
Dubai
$292 10.1% ↑ 48.3%$95
🏠Accommodation & Living
Jizan
$132 14.2%
Dubai
$1.5K 52.9% ↑ 1063%$1.4K
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Jizan
$131 14.1%
Dubai
$136 4.7% ↑ 4.1%$5.4
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Jizan
$114 12.3%
Dubai
$147 5.1% ↑ 28.3%$32
🍽Eating Out
Jizan
$105 11.3%
Dubai
$305 10.5% ↑ 190%$200
🚌Getting Around
Jizan
$46 5%
Dubai
$89 3.1% ↑ 92.2%$43
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jizan
$242 11.4%
Dubai
$449 7.6% ↑ 85.7%$207
🛒Groceries & Markets
Jizan
$483 22.7%
Dubai
$660 11.2% ↑ 36.5%$177
🏠Accommodation & Living
Jizan
$361 16.9%
Dubai
$2.9K 50.1% ↑ 715%$2.6K
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Jizan
$299 14%
Dubai
$314 5.4% ↑ 5.1%$15
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Jizan
$254 11.9%
Dubai
$326 5.6% ↑ 28.3%$72
🍽Eating Out
Jizan
$397 18.7%
Dubai
$1K 17.1% ↑ 152%$605
🚌Getting Around
Jizan
$95 4.5%
Dubai
$181 3.1% ↑ 91.2%$87
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Jizan and $2,393 in Dubai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dubai pays 114% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $37.00 in Jizan vs $82.0 in Dubai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $292 per month, with Jizan cheaper across the board.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 Dubai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dubai cheaper than Jizan?
Jizan is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, leisure, and clothing. The 212% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Jizan or Dubai?
On paper, salaries run 114% lower in Dubai. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Jizan and Dubai?
Rent for a central apartment: $262 in Jizan versus $2,393 in Dubai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Jizan runs roughly 228% less than in Dubai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $199 in Jizan versus $844 in Dubai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Jizan or in Dubai?
At $930 in Jizan versus $2,896 in Dubai, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Jizan but tight or insufficient in Dubai. The gap between the two cities makes Jizan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Jizan or Dubai more family-friendly?
For families, Jizan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Dubai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Jizan or Dubai?
Safety-wise, Jizan and Dubai 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Jizan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 212% less than in Dubai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.