Cost of Living Comparison Between Mecca and Riyadh Cost of Living Comparison Between Mecca and Riyadh

🙂 Solo nomad: Mecca is 17.8% cheaper than Riyadh without rent, and 39.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Mecca is 21.6% cheaper than Riyadh without rent, and 14.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mecca
Riyadh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.75 SAR 17.83
$7.92 SAR 29.72
-40.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.10 SAR 150
$52.9 SAR 198
-24.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.12 SAR 34.18
$7.85 SAR 29.43
16.18%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.59 SAR 5.96
$1.76 SAR 6.59
-9.66%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 SAR 5.81
$2.20 SAR 8.27
-29.55%
Cappuccino
$3.26 SAR 12.24
$3.99 SAR 14.96
-18.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 SAR 3.27
$0.77 SAR 2.90
12.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 SAR 1.08
$0.29 SAR 1.07
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mecca
Riyadh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 SAR 6.23
$1.64 SAR 6.16
1.22%
White Bread (500g)
$0.83 SAR 3.12
$1.26 SAR 4.72
-34.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.14 SAR 8.03
$2.44 SAR 9.15
-12.30%
Eggs
$3.02 SAR 11.32
$2.74 SAR 10.28
10.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.18 SAR 26.94
$8.24 SAR 30.89
-12.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.25 SAR 30.94
$10.10 SAR 37.88
-18.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.41 SAR 50.3
$14.73 SAR 55.3
-8.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.38 SAR 8.92
$2.30 SAR 8.64
3.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 SAR 5.78
$1.71 SAR 6.40
-9.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 SAR 6.72
$1.78 SAR 6.68
0.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.11 SAR 7.92
$1.53 SAR 5.75
37.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.25 SAR 4.69
$1.30 SAR 4.86
-3.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.26 SAR 4.73
$1.51 SAR 5.65
-16.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 SAR 4.07
$1.45 SAR 5.42
-24.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 SAR 2.59
$0.51 SAR 1.92
35.29%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$3.97 SAR 14.89
$8.14 SAR 30.53
-51.23%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 SAR 7.41
$1.72 SAR 6.45
15.12%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 SAR 7.80
$2.42 SAR 9.07
-14.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.88 SAR 29.55
$7.50 SAR 28.14
5.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Mecca
Riyadh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 SAR 5.13
$1.04 SAR 3.90
31.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.74 SAR 153
$36.86 SAR 138
10.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.43 SAR 9.12
$3.12 SAR 11.69
-22.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 SAR 7.14
$1.91 SAR 7.17
-0.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.63 SAR 39.85
$13.17 SAR 49.40
-19.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.60 SAR 2.23
$0.60 SAR 2.23
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0K SAR 101.4K
$35.0K SAR 131.1K
-22.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0K SAR 78.7K
$23.6K SAR 88.6K
-11.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mecca
Riyadh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.3 SAR 286
$105 SAR 395
-27.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.33 SAR 132
$34.86 SAR 131
1.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.3 SAR 256
$75.7 SAR 284
-9.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mecca
Riyadh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$87.3 SAR 327
$104 SAR 390
-16.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.60 SAR 130
$58.2 SAR 218
-40.56%
Cinema Ticket
$18.29 SAR 68.6
$16.02 SAR 60.1
14.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mecca
Riyadh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$393 SAR 1,474
$465 SAR 1,745
-15.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,584 SAR 17.2K
$9,705 SAR 36.4K
-52.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mecca
Riyadh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.45 SAR 84.2
$59.4 SAR 223
-62.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.6 SAR 238
$63.7 SAR 239
-0.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.4 SAR 219
$107 SAR 401
-45.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.89 SAR 187
$98.0 SAR 367
-49.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mecca
Riyadh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$227 SAR 851
$1,091 SAR 4,089
-79.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$286 SAR 1,072
$848 SAR 3,180
-66.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$679 SAR 2,546
$2,067 SAR 7,753
-67.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,057 SAR 3,964
$1,112 SAR 4,168
-4.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,098 SAR 22.9K
$2,924 SAR 11.0K
108.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,279 SAR 8,547
$1,908 SAR 7,155
19.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mecca
Riyadh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,065 SAR 3,996
$2,382 SAR 8,931
-55.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.5
5.31
3.58%

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

Last update for Mecca: February 28, 2026

Last update for Riyadh: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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