Cost of Living Comparison Between Mecca and Jeddah Cost of Living Comparison Between Mecca and Jeddah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $974 per month in Mecca vs $1,362 in Jeddah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,454 per month in Mecca vs $2,108 in Jeddah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,935 per month in Mecca vs $2,855 in Jeddah, rent included.

Mecca is about 29% cheaper than Jeddah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mecca and Jeddah are more affordable than the global median – Mecca 29% lower, Jeddah 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 SAR 17.38

$6.69 SAR 25.13

-30.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.73 SAR 100

$53.1 SAR 199

-49.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.72 SAR 25.23

$8.16 SAR 30.64

-17.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 SAR 5.71

$2.51 SAR 9.42

-39.44%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 SAR 5.72

$2.70 SAR 10.14

-43.70%

Cappuccino

$2.62 SAR 9.83

$3.54 SAR 13.28

-25.99%

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

$0.67 SAR 2.53

$1.00 SAR 3.77

-33.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 SAR 0.86

$0.24 SAR 0.89

-4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 SAR 6.71

$1.71 SAR 6.42

4.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 SAR 3.51

$1.01 SAR 3.80

-6.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 SAR 8.22

$2.20 SAR 8.27

-0.45%

Eggs

$2.39 SAR 8.98

$2.37 SAR 8.91

0.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.20 SAR 23.27

$6.36 SAR 23.86

-2.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.26 SAR 31.03

$8.30 SAR 31.17

-0.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.60 SAR 47.31

$13.08 SAR 49.13

-3.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 SAR 7.43

$1.95 SAR 7.33

1.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 SAR 6.27

$1.66 SAR 6.25

0.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 SAR 5.59

$1.52 SAR 5.72

-1.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.68 SAR 6.29

$1.66 SAR 6.23

1.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 SAR 4.32

$1.16 SAR 4.37

-0.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 SAR 5.10

$1.29 SAR 4.83

5.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 SAR 3.86

$1.06 SAR 3.98

-2.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 SAR 1.89

$0.54 SAR 2.02

-7.41%

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

$1.82 SAR 6.84

-2.20%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 SAR 8.14

$2.48 SAR 9.32

-12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.66 SAR 25.01

$6.45 SAR 24.21

3.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.34 SAR 5.04

$1.09 SAR 4.11

22.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 SAR 206

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 SAR 6.81

$3.14 SAR 11.80

-42.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 SAR 6.56

$1.75 SAR 6.58

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.42 SAR 50.4

$13.91 SAR 52.2

-3.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.27

$0.60 SAR 2.25

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

$47.0K SAR 176.3K

$48.0K SAR 180.1K

-2.08%

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

$21.4K SAR 80.3K

$21.3K SAR 80.0K

0.35%

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

$75.9 SAR 285

$102 SAR 384

-25.81%

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

$35.20 SAR 132

$38.54 SAR 145

-8.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.6 SAR 254

0.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.5 SAR 295

$87.1 SAR 327

-9.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.37 SAR 129

$41.18 SAR 155

-16.54%

Cinema Ticket

$12.08 SAR 45.37

$11.87 SAR 44.56

1.77%

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

$391 SAR 1,467

$728 SAR 2,733

-46.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,570 SAR 17.2K

$16.3K SAR 61.1K

-71.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.43 SAR 84.2

$68.9 SAR 259

-67.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.6 SAR 220

$59.8 SAR 224

-2.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.48 SAR 182

$96.4 SAR 362

-49.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.9 SAR 191

$97.4 SAR 366

-47.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$576 SAR 2,161

$773 SAR 2,904

-25.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$319 SAR 1,198

$531 SAR 1,994

-39.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,512 SAR 5,676

$1,464 SAR 5,497

3.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 SAR 1,904

$831 SAR 3,121

-39.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,435 SAR 24.2K

$1,746 SAR 6,555

268.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,299 SAR 8,632

$1,145 SAR 4,301

100.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 SAR 4,062

$1,664 SAR 6,249

-35.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

5.39

-2.60%

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

Last update for Mecca: August 30, 2026

Last update for Jeddah: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $576 in Mecca versus $773 in Jeddah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 54% higher in Jeddah, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Mecca versus $53.0 in Jeddah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $196 – making Mecca the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Jeddah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $974 in Mecca, $1,362 in Jeddah – roughly 40% apart. Jeddah costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,460 per month in Mecca and $2,043 in Jeddah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mecca, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Mecca and $53.0 in Jeddah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Jeddah, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mecca, where all-in costs run around $974, than in Jeddah at $1,362. In Mecca it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jeddah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mecca – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Mecca. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jeddah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.