Cost of Living Comparison Between Khamis Mushayt and Al Khobar Cost of Living Comparison Between Khamis Mushayt and Al Khobar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,088 in Khamis Mushayt versus $1,402 in Al Khobar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,656 in Khamis Mushayt versus $2,205 in Al Khobar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,223 in Khamis Mushayt versus $3,008 in Al Khobar.

Living in Khamis Mushayt costs roughly 22% less than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Khamis Mushayt is 21% below, Al Khobar is 2% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.58 SAR 17.21

$6.53 SAR 24.53

-29.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 SAR 121

$60.0 SAR 225

-46.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.83 SAR 25.64

$7.77 SAR 29.18

-12.10%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 SAR 7.31

$2.66 SAR 10.00

-26.69%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 SAR 6.64

$2.70 SAR 10.15

-34.44%

Cappuccino

$2.88 SAR 10.82

$4.49 SAR 16.88

-35.86%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 SAR 2.52

$0.91 SAR 3.41

-26.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 SAR 0.79

$0.41 SAR 1.53

-48.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 SAR 5.86

$1.64 SAR 6.15

-4.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.38 SAR 1.44

$1.26 SAR 4.73

-69.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 SAR 11.59

$2.46 SAR 9.24

25.61%

Eggs

$2.34 SAR 8.78

$2.39 SAR 8.97

-2.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.28 SAR 23.58

$7.18 SAR 26.95

-12.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.50 SAR 20.67

$9.91 SAR 37.21

-44.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.34 SAR 42.58

$11.61 SAR 43.59

-2.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.05 SAR 7.68

$2.67 SAR 10.01

-23.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 SAR 6.19

$1.74 SAR 6.54

-5.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.93

$2.05 SAR 7.70

-22.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.68 SAR 6.32

$1.83 SAR 6.86

-8.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 SAR 4.40

$1.39 SAR 5.23

-15.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 SAR 5.01

$1.65 SAR 6.18

-18.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 SAR 4.50

$1.64 SAR 6.16

-26.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 SAR 2.03

$0.57 SAR 2.15

-5.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.43 SAR 9.13

$2.63 SAR 9.86

-7.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 SAR 5.75

$1.64 SAR 6.17

-6.71%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 SAR 6.91

$1.89 SAR 7.10

-2.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.45 SAR 24.21

$6.59 SAR 24.74

-2.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 SAR 3.63

$0.78 SAR 2.95

24.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.56 SAR 126

$67.3 SAR 253

-50.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 SAR 11.06

$3.25 SAR 12.21

-9.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.62 SAR 6.07

$2.71 SAR 10.18

-40.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.03 SAR 45.19

$6.81 SAR 25.57

76.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 SAR 2.23

$0.63 SAR 2.38

-6.35%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$44.5K SAR 166.9K

$65.6K SAR 246.2K

-32.20%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.3K SAR 76.1K

$21.9K SAR 82.2K

-7.40%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$98.2 SAR 369

$98.6 SAR 370

-0.41%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$31.83 SAR 120

$32.61 SAR 122

-2.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.5 SAR 224

$70.2 SAR 264

-15.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.7 SAR 314

$79.9 SAR 300

4.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.38 SAR 144

$36.21 SAR 136

5.99%

Cinema Ticket

$13.12 SAR 49.28

$15.15 SAR 56.9

-13.40%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 SAR 1,146

$600 SAR 2,253

-49.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,188 SAR 27.0K

$8,271 SAR 31.1K

-13.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.41 SAR 167

$63.5 SAR 238

-30.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.2 SAR 245

$81.4 SAR 306

-19.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.2 SAR 320

$97.5 SAR 366

-12.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.5 SAR 298

$92.5 SAR 347

-14.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$663 SAR 2,490

$620 SAR 2,328

6.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 SAR 1,182

$499 SAR 1,872

-36.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$881 SAR 3,309

$1,184 SAR 4,445

-25.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$590 SAR 2,217

$847 SAR 3,180

-30.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,548 SAR 9,569

$2,411 SAR 9,054

5.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,173 SAR 4,405

$1,423 SAR 5,342

-17.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,613 SAR 6,055

$1,843 SAR 6,920

-12.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.47

5.88

-6.97%

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

Last update for Khamis Mushayt: August 31, 2026

Last update for Al Khobar: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $663 in Khamis Mushayt and $620 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 14% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $32.00 in Khamis Mushayt vs $60.0 in Al Khobar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $216 per month, with Khamis Mushayt 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

Khamis Mushayt vs Al Khobar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Khamis Mushayt wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Al Khobar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Khamis Mushayt the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 14% lower in Al Khobar. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $663 in Khamis Mushayt versus $620 in Al Khobar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Khamis Mushayt runs roughly 100% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $305 in Khamis Mushayt versus $600 in Al Khobar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,088 in Khamis Mushayt versus $1,402 in Al Khobar, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Khamis Mushayt but tight or insufficient in Al Khobar. The gap between the two cities makes Khamis Mushayt the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Khamis Mushayt 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.

Expats usually find Khamis Mushayt gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.