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