🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,107 in Jubail versus $1,215 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,711 in Jubail versus $1,866 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,316 in Jubail versus $2,516 in Ad Dammam.
🌍Living in Jubail costs roughly 9% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Jubail20% lower, Ad Dammam12% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jubail
Ad Dammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.81SAR 25.59
$8.09SAR 30.39
-15.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.68SAR 153
$34.39SAR 129
18.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.96SAR 33.67
$6.57SAR 24.69
36.38%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.83SAR 6.88
$1.91SAR 7.17
-4.19%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32SAR 8.70
$2.23SAR 8.37
4.04%
Cappuccino
$3.96SAR 14.85
$3.10SAR 11.65
27.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01SAR 3.79
$0.79SAR 2.95
27.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26SAR 0.96
$0.20SAR 0.75
30.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jubail
Ad Dammam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.57SAR 5.88
$1.82SAR 6.84
-13.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43SAR 5.37
$1.33SAR 5.01
7.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61SAR 6.03
$1.92SAR 7.21
-16.15%
Eggs
$2.14SAR 8.03
$2.13SAR 7.98
0.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.65SAR 32.47
$7.39SAR 27.77
17.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.21SAR 23.31
$7.82SAR 29.36
-20.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77SAR 40.44
$12.72SAR 47.79
-15.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17SAR 8.13
$2.18SAR 8.17
-0.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79SAR 6.70
$1.63SAR 6.11
9.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58SAR 5.92
$1.59SAR 5.96
-0.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.66SAR 6.23
$1.62SAR 6.09
2.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.29SAR 4.84
$1.07SAR 4.02
20.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.38SAR 5.17
$1.20SAR 4.52
15.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.68SAR 6.31
$1.28SAR 4.80
31.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51SAR 1.93
$0.58SAR 2.18
-12.07%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.91SAR 10.91
$4.09SAR 15.37
-28.85%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16SAR 8.12
$1.45SAR 5.46
48.97%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06SAR 7.73
$2.17SAR 8.14
-5.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.83SAR 25.63
$7.80SAR 29.30
-12.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Jubail
Ad Dammam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.30SAR 4.90
$0.97SAR 3.63
34.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.02SAR 90.2
$35.89SAR 135
-33.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.42SAR 12.84
$2.60SAR 9.75
31.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.73SAR 10.24
$2.60SAR 9.78
5.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.12SAR 49.27
$13.41SAR 50.4
-2.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60SAR 2.24
$0.64SAR 2.42
-6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.4KSAR 170.7K
$67.7KSAR 254.2K
-32.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8KSAR 78.3K
$21.3KSAR 79.9K
-2.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jubail
Ad Dammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.1SAR 305
$128SAR 482
-36.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.49SAR 103
$33.46SAR 126
-17.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.4SAR 249
$62.1SAR 233
6.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jubail
Ad Dammam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$102SAR 384
$77.8SAR 292
31.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.95SAR 150
$28.85SAR 108
38.47%
Cinema Ticket
$13.45SAR 50.5
$13.40SAR 50.3
0.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jubail
Ad Dammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$177SAR 666
$417SAR 1,566
-57.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,825SAR 29.4K
$7,868SAR 29.5K
-0.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jubail
Ad Dammam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.23SAR 155
$41.40SAR 155
-0.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.6SAR 224
$49.15SAR 185
21.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.4SAR 306
$95.8SAR 360
-15.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.6SAR 321
$90.5SAR 340
-5.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jubail
Ad Dammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$425SAR 1,595
$567SAR 2,128
-25.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$293SAR 1,100
$369SAR 1,388
-20.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$645SAR 2,424
$1,007SAR 3,781
-35.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$526SAR 1,974
$663SAR 2,490
-20.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,706SAR 10.2K
$1,379SAR 5,179
96.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,386SAR 5,205
$595SAR 2,235
132.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jubail
Ad Dammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602SAR 6,016
$1,532SAR 5,754
4.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.62
5.9
-4.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jubail: September 5, 2026
Last update for Ad Dammam: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $425 in Jubail and $567 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jubail pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $41.00 in Jubail vs $34.00 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $200, with Jubail cheaper for home cooking.
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
Jubail vs Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jubail or Ad Dammam?
Jubail wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Jubail the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Jubail or in Ad Dammam?
Average pay runs 5% higher in Jubail, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Jubail compared to Ad Dammam?
Rent for a central apartment: $425 in Jubail versus $567 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Jubail compared to Ad Dammam?
All in, you'll spend $1,107 per month in Jubail versus $1,215 in Ad Dammam – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Jubail compared to Ad Dammam?
A monthly transit pass in Jubail runs roughly 49% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Jubail or in Ad Dammam?
At $1,107 in Jubail versus $1,215 in Ad Dammam, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Jubail but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Jubail the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Jubail or Ad Dammam?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Jubail compared to Ad Dammam?
Safety-wise, Jubail and Ad Dammam 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 Jubail gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.