Cost of Living Comparison Between Mecca and Al Khobar Cost of Living Comparison Between Mecca and Al Khobar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $976 in Mecca versus $1,404 in Al Khobar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,489 in Mecca versus $2,207 in Al Khobar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,003 in Mecca versus $3,010 in Al Khobar.

Living in Mecca costs roughly 31% less than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mecca is 29% below, Al Khobar is 2% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 SAR 16.81

$6.86 SAR 25.77

-34.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.73 SAR 100

$59.9 SAR 225

-55.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 SAR 25.43

$7.89 SAR 29.62

-14.20%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.59 SAR 5.96

$2.75 SAR 10.32

-42.18%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 SAR 5.80

$2.62 SAR 9.83

-40.84%

Cappuccino

$2.64 SAR 9.90

$4.34 SAR 16.28

-39.17%

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

$0.68 SAR 2.55

$0.97 SAR 3.63

-29.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 SAR 0.86

$0.41 SAR 1.53

-43.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 SAR 6.45

$1.62 SAR 6.09

6.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 SAR 3.66

$1.32 SAR 4.95

-25.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 SAR 7.86

$2.48 SAR 9.30

-15.73%

Eggs

$2.44 SAR 9.17

$2.33 SAR 8.77

4.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.26 SAR 23.52

$7.25 SAR 27.20

-13.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.82 SAR 29.34

$10.07 SAR 37.82

-22.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.82 SAR 48.12

$11.56 SAR 43.40

10.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 SAR 7.63

$2.78 SAR 10.45

-26.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 SAR 6.15

$1.72 SAR 6.45

-4.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.79

$2.00 SAR 7.50

-23.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.70 SAR 6.37

$1.84 SAR 6.90

-7.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 SAR 4.48

$1.40 SAR 5.25

-15.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 SAR 5.15

$1.65 SAR 6.19

-16.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 SAR 3.97

$1.67 SAR 6.28

-36.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 SAR 1.74

$0.58 SAR 2.16

-20.69%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.21 SAR 15.81

$2.68 SAR 10.07

57.09%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 SAR 6.99

$1.66 SAR 6.22

12.05%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.88

$1.84 SAR 6.90

14.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.84 SAR 25.69

$6.59 SAR 24.76

3.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.30 SAR 4.89

$0.78 SAR 2.95

66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.8 SAR 251

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 SAR 6.96

$3.43 SAR 12.86

-46.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 SAR 6.45

$2.72 SAR 10.22

-36.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.30 SAR 49.92

$6.60 SAR 24.76

101.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.38

$0.63 SAR 2.37

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

$47.5K SAR 178.5K

$67.6K SAR 254.0K

-29.70%

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

$21.2K SAR 79.5K

$22.4K SAR 84.0K

-5.43%

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

$74.2 SAR 279

$97.5 SAR 366

-23.83%

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

$34.96 SAR 131

$33.42 SAR 125

4.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.1 SAR 244

$71.0 SAR 267

-8.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.4 SAR 295

$81.8 SAR 307

-4.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.11 SAR 132

$36.06 SAR 135

-2.63%

Cinema Ticket

$11.93 SAR 44.81

$15.26 SAR 57.3

-21.82%

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

$399 SAR 1,497

$613 SAR 2,301

-34.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,476 SAR 16.8K

$8,518 SAR 32.0K

-47.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.05 SAR 86.5

$64.6 SAR 242

-64.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.7 SAR 224

$84.7 SAR 318

-29.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.63 SAR 183

$97.2 SAR 365

-49.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.0 SAR 188

$92.2 SAR 346

-45.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$589 SAR 2,210

$645 SAR 2,423

-8.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$314 SAR 1,181

$498 SAR 1,870

-36.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,521 SAR 5,712

$1,171 SAR 4,398

29.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 SAR 1,917

$867 SAR 3,256

-41.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,400 SAR 24.0K

$2,415 SAR 9,069

164.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,316 SAR 8,696

$1,474 SAR 5,534

57.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,100 SAR 4,130

$1,817 SAR 6,824

-39.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

5.88

-10.71%

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

Last update for Mecca: August 18, 2026

Last update for Al Khobar: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $589 in Mecca and $645 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 65% 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 $60.0 in Al Khobar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $218 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 Al Khobar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mecca wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Al Khobar. 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 65% 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: $589 in Mecca versus $645 in Al Khobar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $399 in Mecca versus $613 in Al Khobar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Mecca – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $60.0 in Al Khobar. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $976 in Mecca versus $1,404 in Al Khobar, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mecca but tight or insufficient in Al Khobar. 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 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 Mecca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.