Cost of Living Comparison Between Jonesboro, AR and Dhahran Cost of Living Comparison Between Jonesboro, AR and Dhahran

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,097 per month in Jonesboro, AR vs $1,300 in Dhahran, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,980 per month in Jonesboro, AR vs $1,659 in Dhahran, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,863 per month in Jonesboro, AR vs $2,017 in Dhahran, rent included.

Jonesboro, AR costs about 61% more than Dhahran, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Jonesboro, AR sits 53% above the global median, while Dhahran is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.90 $27.90

$5.42 SAR 20.34

414.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.5 $59.5

$40.08 SAR 151

48.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.60 $10.60

$6.04 SAR 22.70

75.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 SAR 7.12

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 SAR 6.05

Cappuccino

$5.13 $5.13

$3.99 SAR 14.97

28.57%

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

$2.22 $2.22

$0.70 SAR 2.62

217.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$0.20 SAR 0.75

800.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.37 $4.37

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.41 $6.41

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.58 SAR 5.93

-29.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.30 $3.30

$0.94 SAR 3.54

251.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.00 SAR 7.50

6.50%

Eggs

$3.62 $3.62

$3.90 SAR 14.64

-7.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.77 $8.77

$8.80 SAR 33.05

-0.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.02 $9.02

$11.16 SAR 41.92

-19.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.52 $11.52

$13.73 SAR 51.6

-16.10%

Apples (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$2.11 SAR 7.91

105.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.38 SAR 5.19

-18.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.81 SAR 6.78

64.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$1.73 SAR 6.50

124.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.52 SAR 5.71

10.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$0.94 SAR 3.54

160.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.97 SAR 7.38

-10.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$0.92 SAR 3.46

128.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.81 SAR 18.05

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 SAR 6.14

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 SAR 8.97

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.31 $8.31

$5.64 SAR 21.17

47.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.73 $13.73

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 $3.76

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.77 SAR 2.89

42.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.25 $30.25

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.31 SAR 4.91

125.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$3.35 SAR 12.57

-57.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.68 $27.68

$9.45 SAR 35.48

192.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.63 SAR 2.37

26.98%

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

$31.3K $31.3K

$53.4K SAR 200.5K

-41.35%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$20.4K SAR 76.8K

29.46%

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

$222 $222

$60.2 SAR 226

269.32%

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

$46.43 $46.43

$43.47 SAR 163

6.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.8 $71.8

$64.8 SAR 243

10.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.75 $40.75

$195 SAR 731

-79.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.99 $10.99

$91.4 SAR 343

-87.97%

Cinema Ticket

$12.14 $12.14

$10.61 SAR 39.82

14.42%

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

$759 $759

$65.8 SAR 247

1054.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,488 $8,488

$13.2K SAR 49.5K

-35.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$50.3 SAR 189

27.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.31 $36.31

$42.32 SAR 159

-14.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 $78.5

$76.0 SAR 285

3.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$88.7 SAR 333

21.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,163 $1,163

$354 SAR 1,330

228.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$852 $852

$447 SAR 1,678

90.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,412 $1,412

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,146 $1,146

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,575 $1,575

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,545 $1,545

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,410 $3,410

$2,854 SAR 10.7K

19.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.07

4.5

34.89%

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

Last update for Jonesboro, AR: August 31, 2026

Last update for Dhahran: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,163 in Jonesboro, AR versus $354 in Dhahran. 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 20% higher in Jonesboro, AR, 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 $60.0 in Jonesboro, AR versus $40.00 in Dhahran. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $319 vs $232 – making Dhahran 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

Jonesboro, AR vs Dhahran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jonesboro, AR costs about 61% more than Dhahran, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,145 per month in Jonesboro, AR and $1,950 in Dhahran. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dhahran, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,097 in Jonesboro, AR and $1,300 in Dhahran. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $759 per month in Jonesboro, AR and $65.8 in Dhahran. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dhahran, where all-in costs run around $1,300, than in Jonesboro, AR at $2,097. In Dhahran it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jonesboro, AR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dhahran – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Dhahran. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jonesboro, AR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.