Cost of Living Comparison Between Mecca and Ad Dammam Cost of Living Comparison Between Mecca and Ad Dammam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,065 in Mecca versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,917 in Mecca versus $1,872 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,769 in Mecca versus $2,533 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Mecca costs roughly 12% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mecca 21% lower, Ad Dammam 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.89 SAR 18.34

$7.31 SAR 27.42

-33.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.53 SAR 148

$53.6 SAR 201

-26.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.39 SAR 35.23

$7.98 SAR 29.94

17.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.62 SAR 6.08

$1.83 SAR 6.86

-11.48%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 SAR 6.00

$1.82 SAR 6.82

-12.09%

Cappuccino

$3.16 SAR 11.87

$3.70 SAR 13.89

-14.59%

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

$0.87 SAR 3.25

$0.92 SAR 3.43

-5.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 SAR 1.07

$0.35 SAR 1.30

-17.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 SAR 6.16

$1.71 SAR 6.43

-4.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 SAR 3.34

$1.45 SAR 5.43

-38.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 SAR 8.41

$2.09 SAR 7.85

7.18%

Eggs

$2.98 SAR 11.19

$2.24 SAR 8.42

33.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.04 SAR 26.43

$6.06 SAR 22.73

16.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.39 SAR 31.48

$7.15 SAR 26.85

17.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.38 SAR 50.2

$9.62 SAR 36.12

39.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 SAR 8.69

$2.11 SAR 7.93

9.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 SAR 6.06

$1.50 SAR 5.62

7.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 SAR 6.65

$1.38 SAR 5.20

28.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 SAR 7.66

$1.66 SAR 6.24

22.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 SAR 4.73

$1.28 SAR 4.80

-1.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 SAR 4.67

$1.33 SAR 4.99

-6.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 SAR 3.96

$1.35 SAR 5.06

-21.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 SAR 2.56

$0.55 SAR 2.07

23.64%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.04 SAR 15.18

$4.19 SAR 15.73

-3.58%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 SAR 7.52

$1.60 SAR 6.01

25.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 SAR 7.76

$1.98 SAR 7.44

4.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.01 SAR 30.06

$7.92 SAR 29.73

1.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.31 SAR 4.92

$0.89 SAR 3.36

47.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.59 SAR 152

$40.16 SAR 151

1.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 SAR 9.14

$3.29 SAR 12.35

-25.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 SAR 6.89

$2.65 SAR 9.96

-30.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.59 SAR 39.74

$13.28 SAR 49.85

-20.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.26

$0.64 SAR 2.42

-6.25%

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

$26.8K SAR 100.4K

$23.1K SAR 86.6K

16.01%

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

$21.4K SAR 80.5K

$21.3K SAR 79.8K

0.86%

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

$77.7 SAR 291

$117 SAR 438

-33.44%

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

$35.25 SAR 132

$38.34 SAR 144

-8.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.8 SAR 247

$63.5 SAR 238

3.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.6 SAR 329

$70.9 SAR 266

23.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.97 SAR 131

$30.51 SAR 114

14.62%

Cinema Ticket

$18.59 SAR 69.8

$15.54 SAR 58.3

19.63%

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

$404 SAR 1,517

$415 SAR 1,559

-2.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,604 SAR 17.3K

$8,170 SAR 30.7K

-43.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.51 SAR 84.5

$66.9 SAR 251

-66.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.5 SAR 235

$68.2 SAR 256

-8.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.8 SAR 221

$90.8 SAR 341

-35.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.1 SAR 192

$85.5 SAR 321

-40.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$231 SAR 867

$447 SAR 1,678

-48.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 SAR 1,058

$375 SAR 1,408

-24.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$669 SAR 2,509

$800 SAR 3,002

-16.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,026 SAR 3,851

$641 SAR 2,407

60.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,512 SAR 24.4K

$1,309 SAR 4,914

397.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,238 SAR 8,399

$805 SAR 3,020

178.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,075 SAR 4,034

$1,895 SAR 7,110

-43.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

4.33

27.02%

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

Last update for Mecca: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $231 in Mecca and $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 76% 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: $40.00 in Mecca vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $207 vs $184, with Ad Dammam 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

Mecca vs Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mecca wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mecca the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Ad Dammam earns 76% less. 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: $231 in Mecca versus $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,065 per month in Mecca versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mecca runs roughly 1% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,065 in Mecca versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mecca but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Mecca 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, Mecca and Ad Dammam 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 Mecca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.