🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,205 in Khafji versus $1,346 in Al Khobar.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,838 in Khafji versus $2,152 in Al Khobar.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,470 in Khafji versus $2,958 in Al Khobar.
🙂Living in Khafji costs roughly 10% less than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Khafji is 10% below, Al Khobar is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Khafji
Al Khobar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.24SAR 12.17
$6.67SAR 25.04
-51.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.2SAR 200
$52.7SAR 198
0.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.98SAR 18.70
$8.04SAR 30.19
-38.06%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.92SAR 3.45
$2.04SAR 7.67
-54.90%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57SAR 5.91
$2.69SAR 10.09
-41.64%
Cappuccino
$2.98SAR 11.19
$4.34SAR 16.31
-31.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85SAR 3.19
$0.94SAR 3.53
-9.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37SAR 1.39
$0.51SAR 1.92
-27.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Khafji
Al Khobar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67SAR 6.25
$1.70SAR 6.39
-1.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41SAR 5.28
$1.40SAR 5.25
0.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.10SAR 7.90
$2.30SAR 8.64
-8.70%
Eggs
$2.25SAR 8.44
$2.92SAR 10.97
-22.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.06SAR 22.73
$6.70SAR 25.16
-9.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.13SAR 26.78
$9.28SAR 34.82
-23.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.97SAR 37.43
$12.58SAR 47.23
-20.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.16SAR 8.12
$2.49SAR 9.33
-13.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53SAR 5.75
$1.74SAR 6.54
-12.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43SAR 5.39
$2.23SAR 8.38
-35.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59SAR 5.97
$1.63SAR 6.10
-2.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23SAR 4.60
$1.42SAR 5.33
-13.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.39SAR 5.24
$1.72SAR 6.45
-19.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30SAR 4.90
$1.71SAR 6.41
-23.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55SAR 2.06
$0.63SAR 2.35
-12.70%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.08SAR 15.34
$2.61SAR 9.80
56.32%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64SAR 6.14
$1.46SAR 5.50
12.33%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93SAR 7.23
$1.96SAR 7.35
-1.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.14SAR 30.57
$6.81SAR 25.56
19.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Khafji
Al Khobar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05SAR 3.94
$0.97SAR 3.63
8.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.17SAR 147
$61.2SAR 230
-36.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.36SAR 12.61
$2.19SAR 8.21
53.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.82SAR 6.84
$1.30SAR 4.87
40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.45SAR 50.5
$6.56SAR 24.64
105.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63SAR 2.38
$0.61SAR 2.29
3.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0KSAR 86.4K
$21.5KSAR 80.9K
6.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2KSAR 79.5K
$23.4KSAR 87.9K
-9.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khafji
Al Khobar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115SAR 433
$125SAR 468
-7.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.64SAR 145
$34.88SAR 131
10.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.6SAR 235
$81.1SAR 305
-22.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Khafji
Al Khobar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$86.2SAR 323
$109SAR 410
-21.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.34SAR 136
$36.43SAR 137
-0.25%
Cinema Ticket
$15.40SAR 57.8
$17.66SAR 66.3
-12.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Khafji
Al Khobar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$131SAR 491
$304SAR 1,140
-56.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,039SAR 15.2K
$7,640SAR 28.7K
-47.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Khafji
Al Khobar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.5SAR 253
$64.5SAR 242
4.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.2SAR 256
$69.2SAR 260
-1.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.4SAR 351
$99.5SAR 374
-6.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4SAR 324
$78.1SAR 293
10.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Khafji
Al Khobar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$447SAR 1,679
$439SAR 1,648
1.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$383SAR 1,439
$405SAR 1,521
-5.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$847SAR 3,179
$1,020SAR 3,831
-17.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$619SAR 2,323
$811SAR 3,044
-23.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,256SAR 8,469
$2,399SAR 9,007
-5.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,363SAR 5,116
$1,466SAR 5,504
-7.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Khafji
Al Khobar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,861SAR 6,986
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.33
3.84
12.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Khafji: June 6, 2026
Last update for Al Khobar: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $447 in Khafji and $439 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Khafji vs $53.0 in Al Khobar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $218 per month, with Khafji cheaper across the board.
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
Khafji vs Al Khobar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Khafji or Al Khobar?
Khafji wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Al Khobar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Khafji the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Khafji vs Al Khobar?
You'd need roughly $1,808 in Khafji and $2,019 in Al Khobar to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Khafji vs Al Khobar?
Rent for a central apartment: $447 in Khafji versus $439 in Al Khobar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Khafji vs Al Khobar?
A monthly transit pass in Khafji runs roughly 56% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Khafji and Al Khobar?
Childcare runs $131 in Khafji versus $304 in Al Khobar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Khafji or Al Khobar?
At $1,205 in Khafji versus $1,346 in Al Khobar, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Khafji but tight or insufficient in Al Khobar. The gap between the two cities makes Khafji the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Khafji or Al Khobar?
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 Khafji compared to Al Khobar?
Safety-wise, Khafji and Al Khobar 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 Khafji gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.