🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $974 in Mecca versus $992 in Ventspils.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,454 in Mecca versus $1,535 in Ventspils.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,935 in Mecca versus $2,078 in Ventspils.
🌍Living in Mecca costs roughly 2% less than in Ventspils, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Mecca29% lower, Ventspils28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mecca
Ventspils
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63SAR 17.38
$13.77€11.88
-66.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.73SAR 100
$57.7€49.76
-53.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.72SAR 25.23
$9.13€7.88
-26.40%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.52SAR 5.71
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52SAR 5.72
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.62SAR 9.83
$2.67€2.30
-1.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67SAR 2.53
$1.66€1.44
-59.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23SAR 0.86
$1.20€1.04
-80.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.55€3.06
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.38€2.06
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mecca
Ventspils
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79SAR 6.71
$1.23€1.06
45.53%
White Bread(500g)
$0.94SAR 3.51
$1.15€0.99
-18.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19SAR 8.22
$2.62€2.26
-16.41%
Eggs
$2.39SAR 8.98
$3.13€2.70
-23.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.20SAR 23.27
$10.95€9.45
-43.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.26SAR 31.03
$8.80€7.59
-6.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.60SAR 47.31
$14.55€12.56
-13.40%
Apples(1kg)
$1.98SAR 7.43
$2.22€1.92
-10.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67SAR 6.27
$1.92€1.66
-13.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49SAR 5.59
$2.53€2.19
-41.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.68SAR 6.29
$3.23€2.79
-47.99%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15SAR 4.32
$0.90€0.77
27.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36SAR 5.10
$1.05€0.90
29.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03SAR 3.86
$1.85€1.60
-44.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50SAR 1.89
$1.02€0.88
-50.98%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.07SAR 15.29
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78SAR 6.69
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17SAR 8.14
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.66SAR 25.01
$6.78€5.85
-1.77%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$8.25€7.12
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.12€1.83
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.12€1.83
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mecca
Ventspils
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.34SAR 5.04
$1.15€0.99
16.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$17.30€14.93
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.81SAR 6.81
$3.47€2.99
-47.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75SAR 6.56
$1.02€0.88
71.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.42SAR 50.4
$18.66€16.11
-28.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60SAR 2.27
$1.90€1.64
-68.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.0KSAR 176.3K
$28.3K€24.4K
65.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4KSAR 80.3K
$32.0K€27.6K
-33.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mecca
Ventspils
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.9SAR 285
$275€237
-72.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.20SAR 132
$17.32€14.94
103.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.6SAR 254
$17.33€14.95
290.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mecca
Ventspils
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$78.5SAR 295
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.37SAR 129
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.08SAR 45.37
$10.96€9.45
10.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mecca
Ventspils
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$391SAR 1,467
$638€551
-38.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,570SAR 17.2K
$18.5K€16.0K
-75.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mecca
Ventspils
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.43SAR 84.2
$72.2€62.3
-68.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.6SAR 220
$51.3€44.23
14.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$48.48SAR 182
$68.9€59.4
-29.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.9SAR 191
$104€89.5
-50.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mecca
Ventspils
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$576SAR 2,161
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$319SAR 1,198
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,512SAR 5,676
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$507SAR 1,904
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,435SAR 24.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,299SAR 8,632
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mecca
Ventspils
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,082SAR 4,062
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.25
4.2
25.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mecca: August 30, 2026
Last update for Ventspils: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $27.00 in Mecca vs $58.0 in Ventspils for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $272 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 Ventspils: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ventspils cheaper than Mecca?
Mecca is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,460 in Mecca and $1,488 in Ventspils to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Mecca and in Ventspils?
Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Ventspils. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Mecca and in Ventspils?
All in, you'll spend $974 per month in Mecca versus $992 in Ventspils – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mecca or in Ventspils?
At $974 in Mecca versus $992 in Ventspils, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mecca but tight or insufficient in Ventspils. The gap between the two cities makes Mecca the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Mecca or in Ventspils?
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.
Which city is safer, Mecca or Ventspils?
Safety-wise, Mecca and Ventspils are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mecca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Ventspils. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.