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: $974 in Mecca versus $1,198 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,454 in Mecca versus $1,825 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,935 in Mecca versus $2,452 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Mecca costs roughly 19% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mecca 29% lower, Ad Dammam 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 SAR 17.38

$8.09 SAR 30.38

-42.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.73 SAR 100

$37.23 SAR 140

-28.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.72 SAR 25.23

$6.79 SAR 25.50

-1.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 SAR 5.71

$1.80 SAR 6.76

-15.56%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 SAR 5.72

$2.06 SAR 7.73

-26.21%

Cappuccino

$2.62 SAR 9.83

$3.04 SAR 11.42

-13.82%

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

$0.67 SAR 2.53

$0.77 SAR 2.88

-12.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 SAR 0.86

$0.17 SAR 0.62

35.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 SAR 6.71

$1.77 SAR 6.66

1.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 SAR 3.51

$1.33 SAR 5.00

-29.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 SAR 8.22

$1.93 SAR 7.25

13.47%

Eggs

$2.39 SAR 8.98

$2.10 SAR 7.89

13.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.20 SAR 23.27

$7.34 SAR 27.57

-15.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.26 SAR 31.03

$7.76 SAR 29.13

6.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.60 SAR 47.31

$12.48 SAR 46.86

0.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 SAR 7.43

$2.18 SAR 8.20

-9.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 SAR 6.27

$1.71 SAR 6.44

-2.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 SAR 5.59

$1.64 SAR 6.15

-9.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.68 SAR 6.29

$1.63 SAR 6.13

3.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 SAR 4.32

$1.08 SAR 4.04

6.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 SAR 5.10

$1.19 SAR 4.46

14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 SAR 3.86

$1.32 SAR 4.96

-21.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 SAR 1.89

$0.56 SAR 2.12

-10.71%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.07 SAR 15.29

$4.20 SAR 15.78

-3.10%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 SAR 6.69

$1.49 SAR 5.59

19.46%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 SAR 8.14

$2.23 SAR 8.39

-2.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.66 SAR 25.01

$7.51 SAR 28.19

-11.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.34 SAR 5.04

$0.90 SAR 3.37

48.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.24 SAR 132

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 SAR 6.81

$2.67 SAR 10.03

-32.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 SAR 6.56

$2.62 SAR 9.83

-33.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.42 SAR 50.4

$13.43 SAR 50.4

-0.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.27

$0.60 SAR 2.24

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

$47.0K SAR 176.3K

$66.9K SAR 251.2K

-29.80%

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

$21.4K SAR 80.3K

$20.9K SAR 78.4K

2.35%

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

$75.9 SAR 285

$126 SAR 472

-39.66%

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

$35.20 SAR 132

$33.14 SAR 124

6.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.6 SAR 254

$62.7 SAR 235

7.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.5 SAR 295

$76.1 SAR 286

3.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.37 SAR 129

$27.76 SAR 104

23.81%

Cinema Ticket

$12.08 SAR 45.37

$13.49 SAR 50.7

-10.45%

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

$391 SAR 1,467

$414 SAR 1,554

-5.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,570 SAR 17.2K

$7,996 SAR 30.0K

-42.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.43 SAR 84.2

$41.25 SAR 155

-45.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.6 SAR 220

$48.67 SAR 183

20.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.48 SAR 182

$97.3 SAR 365

-50.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.9 SAR 191

$91.8 SAR 345

-44.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$576 SAR 2,161

$566 SAR 2,126

1.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$319 SAR 1,198

$376 SAR 1,410

-15.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,512 SAR 5,676

$988 SAR 3,709

53.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 SAR 1,904

$672 SAR 2,523

-24.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,435 SAR 24.2K

$1,376 SAR 5,167

367.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,299 SAR 8,632

$597 SAR 2,240

285.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 SAR 4,062

$1,528 SAR 5,737

-29.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

5.9

-11.02%

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

Last update for Mecca: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $576 in Mecca and $566 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 41% 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: $27.00 in Mecca vs $37.00 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $199 per month, with Mecca 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

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

Mecca wins on cost – living expenses run 23% 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 41% 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: $576 in Mecca versus $566 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Ad Dammam. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $974 per month in Mecca versus $1,198 in Ad Dammam – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $974 in Mecca versus $1,198 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 23% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.