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: $1,041 in Mecca versus $1,211 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,881 in Mecca versus $1,857 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,721 in Mecca versus $2,503 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Mecca costs roughly 14% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mecca 22% lower, Ad Dammam 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.88 SAR 18.32

$7.45 SAR 27.99

-34.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.07 SAR 150

$53.0 SAR 199

-24.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.21 SAR 34.60

$7.92 SAR 29.73

16.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.59 SAR 5.95

$1.88 SAR 7.07

-15.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 SAR 5.95

$1.85 SAR 6.95

-14.59%

Cappuccino

$3.19 SAR 11.98

$3.55 SAR 13.33

-10.14%

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

$0.91 SAR 3.41

$0.92 SAR 3.44

-1.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 SAR 1.08

$0.38 SAR 1.42

-23.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 SAR 6.25

$1.64 SAR 6.15

1.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 SAR 3.34

$1.42 SAR 5.32

-37.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.26 SAR 8.49

$2.12 SAR 7.96

6.60%

Eggs

$2.97 SAR 11.17

$2.31 SAR 8.68

28.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.92 SAR 26.00

$5.99 SAR 22.48

15.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.58 SAR 32.23

$7.32 SAR 27.49

17.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.57 SAR 51.0

$10.07 SAR 37.81

34.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 SAR 8.67

$2.09 SAR 7.85

10.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.88

$1.55 SAR 5.82

1.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 SAR 7.02

$1.39 SAR 5.23

34.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 SAR 7.63

$1.65 SAR 6.20

23.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 SAR 4.49

$1.28 SAR 4.79

-6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 SAR 4.57

$1.37 SAR 5.15

-10.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 SAR 3.94

$1.29 SAR 4.86

-18.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 SAR 2.46

$0.55 SAR 2.08

20.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.25 SAR 15.95

$4.12 SAR 15.47

3.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 SAR 7.52

$1.61 SAR 6.05

24.22%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 SAR 8.13

$1.99 SAR 7.47

8.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.94 SAR 29.82

$7.76 SAR 29.14

2.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 SAR 5.14

$0.94 SAR 3.51

45.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.83 SAR 150

$39.30 SAR 148

1.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 SAR 8.83

$3.31 SAR 12.42

-29.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 SAR 6.88

$2.73 SAR 10.26

-32.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.56 SAR 39.65

$13.58 SAR 51.0

-22.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 SAR 2.22

$0.61 SAR 2.29

-3.28%

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

$26.3K SAR 98.8K

$22.2K SAR 83.5K

18.38%

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

$20.9K SAR 78.6K

$20.9K SAR 78.3K

0.32%

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

$77.1 SAR 289

$118 SAR 444

-34.89%

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

$35.21 SAR 132

$38.60 SAR 145

-8.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.3 SAR 253

$63.4 SAR 238

6.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$84.8 SAR 318

$70.7 SAR 266

19.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.89 SAR 131

$30.89 SAR 116

12.95%

Cinema Ticket

$18.68 SAR 70.1

$15.30 SAR 57.5

22.09%

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

$399 SAR 1,500

$427 SAR 1,602

-6.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,631 SAR 17.4K

$8,216 SAR 30.9K

-43.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.32 SAR 83.8

$68.0 SAR 255

-67.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.5 SAR 239

$67.8 SAR 255

-6.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.2 SAR 222

$90.5 SAR 340

-34.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.3 SAR 192

$86.1 SAR 323

-40.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 SAR 849

$452 SAR 1,697

-49.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$290 SAR 1,090

$376 SAR 1,413

-22.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$686 SAR 2,576

$792 SAR 2,976

-13.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,041 SAR 3,909

$636 SAR 2,388

63.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,389 SAR 24.0K

$1,320 SAR 4,956

384.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,305 SAR 8,656

$812 SAR 3,051

183.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,089 SAR 4,088

$1,502 SAR 5,640

-27.51%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $226 in Mecca and $452 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 38% 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 $53.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $208 vs $185, 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 16% 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, salaries run 38% lower in Ad Dammam. 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: $226 in Mecca versus $452 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,041 per month in Mecca versus $1,211 in Ad Dammam – a 16% 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 $1,041 in Mecca versus $1,211 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 16% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.