🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,054 in Jubail versus $1,196 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,650 in Jubail versus $1,860 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,247 in Jubail versus $2,524 in Ad Dammam.
🌍Living in Jubail costs roughly 12% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Jubail21% lower, Ad Dammam10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jubail
Ad Dammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.74SAR 25.29
$7.29SAR 27.36
-7.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.37SAR 148
$53.7SAR 202
-26.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.41SAR 35.34
$8.03SAR 30.15
17.19%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.92SAR 7.20
$1.82SAR 6.83
5.49%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91SAR 10.94
$1.90SAR 7.14
53.16%
Cappuccino
$3.34SAR 12.55
$3.73SAR 14.00
-10.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76SAR 2.86
$0.92SAR 3.44
-17.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28SAR 1.05
$0.35SAR 1.30
-20.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jubail
Ad Dammam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82SAR 6.84
$1.63SAR 6.13
11.66%
White Bread(500g)
$0.99SAR 3.70
$1.46SAR 5.49
-32.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.68SAR 6.30
$2.09SAR 7.86
-19.62%
Eggs
$2.51SAR 9.44
$2.27SAR 8.53
10.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.19SAR 30.74
$6.12SAR 22.97
33.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.86SAR 25.75
$7.25SAR 27.22
-5.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.08SAR 41.60
$9.70SAR 36.41
14.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31SAR 8.68
$2.12SAR 7.95
8.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66SAR 6.23
$1.49SAR 5.60
11.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58SAR 5.92
$1.40SAR 5.24
12.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.41SAR 5.29
$1.59SAR 5.98
-11.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.12SAR 4.19
$1.28SAR 4.82
-12.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.37SAR 5.13
$1.32SAR 4.97
3.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.41SAR 5.29
$1.36SAR 5.12
3.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60SAR 2.24
$0.59SAR 2.21
1.69%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.98SAR 11.18
$4.13SAR 15.50
-27.85%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01SAR 7.53
$1.56SAR 5.84
28.85%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33SAR 8.76
$1.92SAR 7.22
21.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.26SAR 27.27
$7.76SAR 29.12
-6.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Jubail
Ad Dammam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91SAR 3.42
$0.95SAR 3.57
-4.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.68SAR 96.4
$39.54SAR 148
-35.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.05SAR 15.19
$3.38SAR 12.70
19.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.82SAR 6.84
$2.62SAR 9.85
-30.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.99SAR 63.8
$13.54SAR 50.8
25.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64SAR 2.41
$0.60SAR 2.25
6.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7KSAR 73.9K
$23.0KSAR 86.3K
-14.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3KSAR 91.1K
$21.1KSAR 79.1K
15.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jubail
Ad Dammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102SAR 381
$115SAR 432
-11.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.84SAR 120
$38.60SAR 145
-17.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.4SAR 242
$63.5SAR 239
1.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jubail
Ad Dammam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$89.4SAR 336
$70.5SAR 265
26.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.40SAR 133
$31.26SAR 117
13.24%
Cinema Ticket
$14.00SAR 52.5
$15.06SAR 56.5
-7.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jubail
Ad Dammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202SAR 757
$415SAR 1,558
-51.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,592SAR 32.3K
$8,157SAR 30.6K
5.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jubail
Ad Dammam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.51SAR 141
$68.6SAR 258
-45.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.2SAR 230
$66.7SAR 250
-8.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.6SAR 318
$92.6SAR 347
-8.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4SAR 302
$85.7SAR 322
-6.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jubail
Ad Dammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$403SAR 1,514
$447SAR 1,677
-9.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$273SAR 1,024
$378SAR 1,421
-27.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$636SAR 2,390
$805SAR 3,021
-20.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$497SAR 1,868
$626SAR 2,349
-20.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,545SAR 9,554
$1,353SAR 5,080
88.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,317SAR 4,944
$816SAR 3,062
61.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jubail
Ad Dammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,627SAR 6,107
$1,510SAR 5,667
7.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.33
23.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jubail: July 26, 2026
Last update for Ad Dammam: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $403 in Jubail and $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jubail pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Jubail vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $191 vs $184, with Ad Dammam 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 13% 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 8% 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: $403 in Jubail versus $447 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 $1,054 per month in Jubail versus $1,196 in Ad Dammam – a 13% 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 54% 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 $1,054 in Jubail versus $1,196 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 13% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.