Cost of Living Comparison Between Khafji and Riyadh Cost of Living Comparison Between Khafji and Riyadh

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,205 in Khafji versus $1,776 in Riyadh.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,838 in Khafji versus $2,477 in Riyadh.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,470 in Khafji versus $3,177 in Riyadh.

Living in Khafji costs roughly 32% less than in Riyadh, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Khafji is 10% below, Riyadh is 32% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Khafji
Riyadh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.24 SAR 12.17
$8.05 SAR 30.22
-59.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.2 SAR 200
$52.5 SAR 197
1.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.98 SAR 18.70
$8.07 SAR 30.31
-38.29%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.92 SAR 3.45
$1.70 SAR 6.40
-45.88%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 SAR 5.91
$2.25 SAR 8.43
-30.22%
Cappuccino
$2.98 SAR 11.19
$4.01 SAR 15.05
-25.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 SAR 3.19
$0.70 SAR 2.64
21.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 SAR 1.39
$0.29 SAR 1.08
27.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Khafji
Riyadh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 SAR 6.25
$1.63 SAR 6.12
2.45%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 SAR 5.28
$1.30 SAR 4.89
8.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.10 SAR 7.90
$2.43 SAR 9.11
-13.58%
Eggs
$2.25 SAR 8.44
$2.66 SAR 9.97
-15.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.06 SAR 22.73
$8.60 SAR 32.29
-29.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.13 SAR 26.78
$10.00 SAR 37.54
-28.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.97 SAR 37.43
$14.60 SAR 54.8
-31.71%
Apples (1kg)
$2.16 SAR 8.12
$2.35 SAR 8.83
-8.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 SAR 5.75
$1.71 SAR 6.41
-10.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.43 SAR 5.39
$1.80 SAR 6.77
-20.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 SAR 5.97
$1.55 SAR 5.82
2.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.23 SAR 4.60
$1.24 SAR 4.64
-0.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.39 SAR 5.24
$1.46 SAR 5.48
-4.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 SAR 4.90
$1.46 SAR 5.47
-10.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 SAR 2.06
$0.55 SAR 2.07
-
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$4.08 SAR 15.34
$7.76 SAR 29.12
-47.42%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 SAR 6.14
$1.75 SAR 6.56
-6.29%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 SAR 7.23
$2.31 SAR 8.66
-16.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.14 SAR 30.57
$7.13 SAR 26.76
14.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Khafji
Riyadh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.05 SAR 3.94
$1.09 SAR 4.08
-3.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.17 SAR 147
$38.03 SAR 143
3.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.36 SAR 12.61
$3.24 SAR 12.17
3.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 SAR 6.84
$1.83 SAR 6.87
-0.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.45 SAR 50.5
$13.56 SAR 50.9
-0.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.63 SAR 2.38
$0.63 SAR 2.37
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0K SAR 86.4K
$35.1K SAR 131.8K
-34.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K SAR 79.5K
$23.0K SAR 86.2K
-7.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khafji
Riyadh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$115 SAR 433
$103 SAR 385
12.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.64 SAR 145
$34.54 SAR 130
11.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.6 SAR 235
$75.3 SAR 283
-16.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Khafji
Riyadh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$86.2 SAR 323
$105 SAR 396
-18.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.34 SAR 136
$58.2 SAR 218
-37.56%
Cinema Ticket
$15.40 SAR 57.8
$15.79 SAR 59.3
-2.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Khafji
Riyadh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$131 SAR 491
$459 SAR 1,723
-71.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,039 SAR 15.2K
$9,401 SAR 35.3K
-57.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Khafji
Riyadh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.5 SAR 253
$60.2 SAR 226
12.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.2 SAR 256
$64.2 SAR 241
6.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.4 SAR 351
$106 SAR 399
-12.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 SAR 324
$100 SAR 377
-13.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Khafji
Riyadh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$447 SAR 1,679
$1,083 SAR 4,064
-58.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$383 SAR 1,439
$849 SAR 3,186
-54.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$847 SAR 3,179
$2,040 SAR 7,657
-58.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$619 SAR 2,323
$1,126 SAR 4,229
-45.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,256 SAR 8,469
$3,124 SAR 11.7K
-27.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,363 SAR 5,116
$1,962 SAR 7,365
-30.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Khafji
Riyadh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$2,263 SAR 8,494
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.33
5.31
-18.46%

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

Last update for Khafji: June 6, 2026

Last update for Riyadh: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $447 in Khafji and $1,083 in Riyadh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $53.0 in Khafji vs $52.0 in Riyadh. Groceries flip the comparison at $184 vs $225, with Khafji 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
Khafji vs Riyadh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Riyadh cheaper than Khafji?
Khafji is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Eating Out. The 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,808 in Khafji and $2,665 in Riyadh 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.
What is the rent difference between Khafji and Riyadh?
Rent for a central apartment: $447 in Khafji versus $1,083 in Riyadh. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Khafji vs Riyadh?
All in, you'll spend $1,205 per month in Khafji versus $1,776 in Riyadh – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Khafji runs roughly 3% less than in Riyadh. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Khafji or Riyadh?
At $1,205 in Khafji versus $1,776 in Riyadh, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Khafji but tight or insufficient in Riyadh. The gap between the two cities makes Khafji the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Khafji or Riyadh more family-friendly?
For families, Khafji is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Riyadh, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Khafji or Riyadh?
Safety-wise, Khafji and Riyadh 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Khafji gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Riyadh. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Khafji vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities