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 $1,952 per month in Jonesboro, AR vs $1,302 in Dhahran, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,128 per month in Jonesboro, AR vs $1,999 in Dhahran, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,304 per month in Jonesboro, AR vs $2,697 in Dhahran, rent included.

Jonesboro, AR costs about 50% more than Dhahran, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Jonesboro, AR sits 46% above the global median, while Dhahran is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.81 $14.81

$5.30 SAR 19.91

179.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.82 $49.82

$40.06 SAR 150

24.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 $8.66

$7.35 SAR 27.58

17.82%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 SAR 7.56

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 SAR 5.96

Cappuccino

$4.15 $4.15

$3.67 SAR 13.79

13.08%

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

$2.19 $2.19

$0.70 SAR 2.62

212.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$0.20 SAR 0.73

760.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.98 $3.98

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.16 $6.16

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.51 SAR 5.68

-37.75%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.18 SAR 4.43

144.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.16 SAR 8.10

-3.70%

Eggs

$3.26 $3.26

$2.36 SAR 8.86

38.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$6.55 SAR 24.61

-30.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$8.74 SAR 32.82

-37.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.67 $7.67

$13.55 SAR 50.9

-43.39%

Apples (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$2.17 SAR 8.15

108.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.42 SAR 5.34

-9.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.58 SAR 5.94

37.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.60 $3.60

$1.30 SAR 4.88

176.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.19 SAR 4.47

33.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$0.98 SAR 3.66

119.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.07 SAR 4.01

84.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.57 SAR 2.15

245.61%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.76 SAR 17.88

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 SAR 7.53

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 SAR 5.83

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.88 $6.88

$9.21 SAR 34.59

-25.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.88 $11.88

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.04 SAR 3.91

-0.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.24 SAR 151

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.37 SAR 5.13

123.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.36 SAR 8.88

-37.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.60 $35.60

$13.26 SAR 49.79

168.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.64 SAR 2.39

6.25%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$31.8K SAR 119.4K

-6.78%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.4K SAR 91.7K

6.72%

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

$215 $215

$106 SAR 397

103.78%

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

$68.4 $68.4

$36.75 SAR 138

86.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.2 $72.2

$72.3 SAR 271

-0.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.24 $37.24

$184 SAR 689

-79.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.54 SAR 133

Cinema Ticket

$11.99 $11.99

$12.10 SAR 45.42

-0.91%

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

$770 $770

$403 SAR 1,514

90.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K $23.0K

$9,692 SAR 36.4K

137.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 $51.5

$59.7 SAR 224

-13.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.23 $33.23

$74.7 SAR 281

-55.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.9 $69.9

$85.8 SAR 322

-18.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$95.9 SAR 360

6.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 $1,203

$439 SAR 1,650

173.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$878 $878

$381 SAR 1,430

130.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 $1,312

$840 SAR 3,153

56.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,221 $2,221

$633 SAR 2,377

250.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,552 $1,552

$1,109 SAR 4,164

39.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,549 $1,549

$1,053 SAR 3,955

47.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,884 SAR 10.8K

15.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

4.42

45.93%

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

Last update for Jonesboro, AR: July 14, 2026

Last update for Dhahran: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,203 in Jonesboro, AR versus $439 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 15% 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 $50.0 in Jonesboro, AR versus $40.00 in Dhahran. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $198 – 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 50% more than Dhahran, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,928 per month in Jonesboro, AR and $1,953 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 $1,952 in Jonesboro, AR and $1,302 in Dhahran. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $770 per month in Jonesboro, AR and $403 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 $1,302, than in Jonesboro, AR at $1,952. 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.