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: $1,186 in Khafji versus $1,770 in Riyadh.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,822 in Khafji versus $2,504 in Riyadh.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,457 in Khafji versus $3,239 in Riyadh.
🙂Living in Khafji costs roughly 33% less than in Riyadh, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Khafji is 11% below, Riyadh is 32% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Khafji
Riyadh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.12SAR 11.71
$8.12SAR 30.46
-61.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.6SAR 201
$53.0SAR 199
1.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95SAR 18.57
$8.11SAR 30.43
-38.96%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.95SAR 3.58
$1.77SAR 6.64
-46.33%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58SAR 5.93
$2.24SAR 8.39
-29.46%
Cappuccino
$2.86SAR 10.71
$4.15SAR 15.56
-31.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84SAR 3.14
$0.76SAR 2.85
10.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38SAR 1.42
$0.29SAR 1.07
31.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Khafji
Riyadh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71SAR 6.41
$1.63SAR 6.09
4.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.39SAR 5.22
$1.26SAR 4.73
10.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.12SAR 7.95
$2.45SAR 9.19
-13.47%
Eggs
$2.21SAR 8.28
$2.69SAR 10.09
-17.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.09SAR 22.83
$8.65SAR 32.44
-29.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.42SAR 27.81
$10.17SAR 38.13
-27.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.86SAR 36.99
$14.72SAR 55.2
-33.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.20SAR 8.26
$2.26SAR 8.46
-2.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55SAR 5.80
$1.70SAR 6.37
-8.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43SAR 5.38
$1.80SAR 6.74
-20.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65SAR 6.20
$1.53SAR 5.75
7.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.81
$1.30SAR 4.86
-1.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34SAR 5.04
$1.52SAR 5.69
-11.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31SAR 4.93
$1.38SAR 5.18
-5.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55SAR 2.06
$0.56SAR 2.10
-1.79%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.21SAR 15.78
$8.15SAR 30.57
-48.34%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63SAR 6.12
$1.74SAR 6.51
-6.32%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02SAR 7.57
$2.42SAR 9.07
-16.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.81SAR 29.30
$7.23SAR 27.12
8.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Khafji
Riyadh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06SAR 3.97
$1.09SAR 4.07
-2.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.63SAR 152
$37.73SAR 141
7.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27SAR 12.28
$3.25SAR 12.20
0.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.85SAR 6.94
$1.90SAR 7.13
-2.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.39SAR 50.2
$13.50SAR 50.6
-0.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60SAR 2.25
$0.59SAR 2.22
1.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KSAR 85.9K
$34.1KSAR 128.0K
-32.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1KSAR 79.0K
$23.6KSAR 88.4K
-10.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khafji
Riyadh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117SAR 440
$106SAR 398
10.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.81SAR 146
$35.49SAR 133
9.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.5SAR 238
$75.5SAR 283
-15.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Khafji
Riyadh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$89.2SAR 334
$108SAR 404
-17.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.37SAR 133
$58.7SAR 220
-39.75%
Cinema Ticket
$15.45SAR 57.9
$15.69SAR 58.8
-1.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Khafji
Riyadh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$134SAR 501
$449SAR 1,685
-70.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,949SAR 14.8K
$9,572SAR 35.9K
-58.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Khafji
Riyadh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.5SAR 257
$58.5SAR 219
17.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.3SAR 253
$63.8SAR 239
5.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.3SAR 339
$108SAR 405
-16.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.9SAR 322
$98.5SAR 369
-12.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Khafji
Riyadh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$441SAR 1,652
$1,098SAR 4,118
-59.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374SAR 1,403
$855SAR 3,206
-56.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$840SAR 3,151
$2,070SAR 7,762
-59.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623SAR 2,334
$1,132SAR 4,246
-45.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,657SAR 9,965
$2,925SAR 11.0K
-9.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,376SAR 5,159
$1,910SAR 7,163
-27.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Khafji
Riyadh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,386SAR 8,947
-
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: April 21, 2026
Last update for Riyadh: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $441 in Khafji and $1,098 in Riyadh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54 in Khafji vs $53 in Riyadh. Groceries flip the comparison at $186 vs $226, 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 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,779 in Khafji and $2,654 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: $441 in Khafji versus $1,098 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 $1,186 per month in Khafji versus $1,770 in Riyadh – a 49% 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 8% 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 $1,186 in Khafji versus $1,770 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 49% less than in Riyadh. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.