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: $966 in Khamis Mushayt versus $1,332 in Al Khobar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,565 in Khamis Mushayt versus $2,100 in Al Khobar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,163 in Khamis Mushayt versus $2,868 in Al Khobar.

Living in Khamis Mushayt costs roughly 27% less than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Khamis Mushayt is 28% below, Al Khobar is 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 SAR 24.68

$6.82 SAR 25.60

-3.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 SAR 157

$54.0 SAR 203

-22.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 SAR 25.20

$8.19 SAR 30.77

-18.07%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 SAR 6.57

$1.98 SAR 7.44

-11.62%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 SAR 6.81

$2.70 SAR 10.13

-32.96%

Cappuccino

$5.23 SAR 19.64

$4.26 SAR 16.01

22.77%

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

$0.76 SAR 2.86

$0.96 SAR 3.61

-20.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 SAR 1.06

$0.49 SAR 1.83

-42.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 SAR 6.42

$1.69 SAR 6.34

1.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.36 SAR 1.35

$1.40 SAR 5.24

-74.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 SAR 6.91

$2.32 SAR 8.72

-20.69%

Eggs

$4.44 SAR 16.66

$2.88 SAR 10.81

54.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.79 SAR 25.48

$6.94 SAR 26.05

-2.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.66 SAR 28.76

$9.12 SAR 34.26

-16.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.42 SAR 57.9

$12.61 SAR 47.34

22.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.20 SAR 8.25

$2.54 SAR 9.53

-13.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 SAR 5.58

$1.72 SAR 6.45

-13.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.08 SAR 4.06

$2.13 SAR 8.00

-49.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 SAR 7.57

$1.57 SAR 5.88

28.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.71 SAR 6.43

$1.41 SAR 5.30

21.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 SAR 5.39

$1.72 SAR 6.47

-16.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 SAR 4.47

$1.70 SAR 6.38

-30.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 SAR 2.61

$0.60 SAR 2.24

16.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.41 SAR 9.05

$2.70 SAR 10.14

-10.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 SAR 6.44

$1.46 SAR 5.48

17.12%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 SAR 7.57

$1.88 SAR 7.04

7.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.10 SAR 30.42

$6.51 SAR 24.45

24.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 SAR 3.91

$0.92 SAR 3.44

13.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.69 SAR 153

$60.1 SAR 225

-32.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 SAR 10.03

$2.26 SAR 8.48

18.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 SAR 7.58

$1.35 SAR 5.06

49.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.12 SAR 49.27

$6.60 SAR 24.78

98.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.38

$0.65 SAR 2.43

-3.08%

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

$26.7K SAR 100.3K

$21.4K SAR 80.2K

24.99%

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

$22.6K SAR 84.9K

$22.7K SAR 85.4K

-0.60%

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

$106 SAR 398

$124 SAR 466

-14.51%

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

$33.53 SAR 126

$34.51 SAR 130

-2.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.3 SAR 268

$80.7 SAR 303

-11.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.9 SAR 330

$109 SAR 410

-19.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.17 SAR 132

$36.80 SAR 138

-4.43%

Cinema Ticket

$15.36 SAR 57.7

$17.36 SAR 65.2

-11.52%

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

$348 SAR 1,309

$306 SAR 1,147

14.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,953 SAR 26.1K

$7,541 SAR 28.3K

-7.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 SAR 225

$63.4 SAR 238

-5.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.1 SAR 230

$69.8 SAR 262

-12.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 SAR 299

$100 SAR 376

-20.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 SAR 313

$80.4 SAR 302

3.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$157 SAR 591

$433 SAR 1,627

-63.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 SAR 396

$401 SAR 1,505

-73.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$402 SAR 1,509

$1,059 SAR 3,977

-62.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 SAR 1,053

$813 SAR 3,054

-65.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,607 SAR 9,790

$2,442 SAR 9,169

6.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,448 SAR 5,438

$1,423 SAR 5,344

1.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,603 SAR 6,020

$1,856 SAR 6,971

-13.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.42

3.84

15.10%

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

Last update for Khamis Mushayt: July 13, 2026

Last update for Al Khobar: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $157 in Khamis Mushayt and $433 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 16% 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: $42.00 in Khamis Mushayt vs $54.0 in Al Khobar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $217 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 38% 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 16% 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: $157 in Khamis Mushayt versus $433 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 48% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $348 in Khamis Mushayt versus $306 in Al Khobar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $966 in Khamis Mushayt versus $1,332 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 38% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.