Cost of Living Comparison Between Mecca and Martin Cost of Living Comparison Between Mecca and Martin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $975 in Mecca versus $1,446 in Martin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,477 in Mecca versus $2,058 in Martin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,980 in Mecca versus $2,670 in Martin.

Living in Mecca costs roughly 33% less than in Martin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mecca is 29% below, Martin is 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.57 SAR 17.15

$9.23 €7.96

-50.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.05 SAR 102

$47.28 €40.75

-42.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 SAR 26.05

$9.47 €8.16

-26.72%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.55 SAR 5.81

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 SAR 5.79

Cappuccino

$2.61 SAR 9.82

$2.89 €2.49

-9.69%

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

$0.71 SAR 2.67

$2.03 €1.75

-65.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 SAR 0.86

$1.36 €1.17

-83.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 €1.84

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 €1.97

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 SAR 6.26

$1.11 €0.96

50.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 SAR 3.58

$1.60 €1.38

-40.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 SAR 7.95

$2.11 €1.82

0.47%

Eggs

$2.35 SAR 8.81

$3.59 €3.09

-34.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.26 SAR 23.51

$12.91 €11.13

-51.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.05 SAR 30.22

$8.05 €6.94

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.83 SAR 48.18

$13.62 €11.74

-5.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 SAR 7.55

$1.25 €1.08

60.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 SAR 6.10

$1.73 €1.49

-5.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.93

$2.50 €2.15

-36.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.68 SAR 6.32

$2.27 €1.96

-25.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 SAR 4.17

$1.35 €1.17

-17.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 SAR 5.10

$1.58 €1.36

-13.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 SAR 3.91

$1.70 €1.47

-38.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 SAR 2.04

$0.89 €0.76

-39.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.18 SAR 15.71

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 SAR 6.68

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 SAR 8.14

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.56 SAR 24.65

$5.97 €5.14

9.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.01 €4.32

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 €0.88

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 €1.77

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.35 SAR 5.06

$1.43 €1.23

-5.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.63 €25.54

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 SAR 7.07

$1.71 €1.48

9.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 SAR 6.41

$1.24 €1.07

37.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.35 SAR 50.2

$23.34 €20.12

-42.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 SAR 2.22

$1.78 €1.53

-66.85%

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

$48.7K SAR 183.0K

$22.9K €19.8K

112.38%

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

$20.8K SAR 78.0K

$25.0K €21.5K

-16.96%

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

$74.9 SAR 281

$313 €269

-76.03%

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

$35.05 SAR 132

$20.30 €17.50

72.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.7 SAR 254

$12.67 €10.92

434.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.3 SAR 290

$38.15 €32.88

102.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.94 SAR 127

$19.29 €16.63

75.95%

Cinema Ticket

$12.02 SAR 45.15

$9.81 €8.45

22.53%

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

$397 SAR 1,491

$348 €300

14.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,573 SAR 17.2K

$10.8K €9,325

-57.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.73 SAR 85.4

$74.0 €63.8

-69.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.8 SAR 228

$13.72 €11.82

343.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.95 SAR 188

$81.4 €70.2

-38.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.3 SAR 193

$98.5 €84.9

-47.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 SAR 2,209

$514 €443

14.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$318 SAR 1,194

$473 €407

-32.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 SAR 5,617

$788 €679

89.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 SAR 1,905

$695 €599

-27.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,343 SAR 23.8K

$2,349 €2,025

169.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,285 SAR 8,583

$1,809 €1,559

26.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,097 SAR 4,121

$1,585 €1,366

-30.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

3.79

38.52%

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

Last update for Mecca: September 7, 2026

Last update for Martin: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $588 in Mecca and $514 in Martin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Martin pays 44% 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 $47.00 in Martin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $252 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 Martin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mecca is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 48% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 44% lower in Martin. 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: $588 in Mecca versus $514 in Martin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Martin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $975 per month in Mecca versus $1,446 in Martin – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $975 in Mecca versus $1,446 in Martin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mecca but tight or insufficient in Martin. 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 Martin 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 48% less than in Martin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.