Cost of Living Comparison Between Medina and Riyadh Cost of Living Comparison Between Medina and Riyadh

šŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Medina is 20.3% cheaper than Riyadh without rent, and 17.2% cheaper with rent.
šŸ™‚ Family of 3: Medina is 13.7% cheaper than Riyadh without rent, and 31% cheaper with rent.
Currency
šŸ½ Eating Out
Medina
Riyadh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.70 SARĀ 21.39
$7.92 SARĀ 29.72
-28.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.16 SARĀ 121
$52.9 SARĀ 198
-39.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.77 SARĀ 29.15
$7.85 SARĀ 29.43
-1.02%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.62 SARĀ 6.08
$1.76 SARĀ 6.59
-7.95%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 SARĀ 6.37
$2.20 SARĀ 8.27
-22.73%
Cappuccino
$2.44 SARĀ 9.14
$3.99 SARĀ 14.96
-38.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 SARĀ 2.83
$0.77 SARĀ 2.90
-2.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 SARĀ 1.45
$0.29 SARĀ 1.07
34.48%
šŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medina
Riyadh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 SARĀ 6.27
$1.64 SARĀ 6.16
1.83%
White Bread (500g)
$0.96 SARĀ 3.61
$1.26 SARĀ 4.72
-23.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.32 SARĀ 8.69
$2.44 SARĀ 9.15
-4.92%
Eggs
$2.07 SARĀ 7.76
$2.74 SARĀ 10.28
-24.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.56 SARĀ 24.60
$8.24 SARĀ 30.89
-20.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.31 SARĀ 27.40
$10.10 SARĀ 37.88
-27.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.75 SARĀ 47.80
$14.73 SARĀ 55.3
-13.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 SARĀ 8.76
$2.30 SARĀ 8.64
1.74%
Banana (1kg)
$2.08 SARĀ 7.78
$1.71 SARĀ 6.40
21.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 SARĀ 8.20
$1.78 SARĀ 6.68
23.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.62 SARĀ 6.08
$1.53 SARĀ 5.75
5.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.36 SARĀ 5.12
$1.30 SARĀ 4.86
4.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.46 SARĀ 5.47
$1.51 SARĀ 5.65
-3.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 SARĀ 3.70
$1.45 SARĀ 5.42
-31.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 SARĀ 3.28
$0.51 SARĀ 1.92
70.59%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.31 SARĀ 4.92
$8.14 SARĀ 30.53
-83.91%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 SARĀ 6.19
$1.72 SARĀ 6.45
-4.07%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 SARĀ 6.05
$2.42 SARĀ 9.07
-33.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.54 SARĀ 28.27
$7.50 SARĀ 28.14
0.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Medina
Riyadh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.06 SARĀ 3.97
$1.04 SARĀ 3.90
1.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.84 SARĀ 138
$36.86 SARĀ 138
-0.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 SARĀ 4.93
$3.12 SARĀ 11.69
-58.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.68 SARĀ 6.31
$1.91 SARĀ 7.17
-12.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.46 SARĀ 20.49
$13.17 SARĀ 49.40
-58.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.60 SARĀ 2.26
$0.60 SARĀ 2.23
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K SARĀ 78.6K
$35.0K SARĀ 131.1K
-40.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4K SARĀ 80.1K
$23.6K SARĀ 88.6K
-9.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medina
Riyadh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 SARĀ 772
$105 SARĀ 395
95.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.43 SARĀ 122
$34.86 SARĀ 131
-6.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$104 SARĀ 390
$75.7 SARĀ 284
37.44%
šŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medina
Riyadh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$74.6 SARĀ 280
$104 SARĀ 390
-28.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.98 SARĀ 33.66
$58.2 SARĀ 218
-84.57%
Cinema Ticket
$13.35 SARĀ 50.1
$16.02 SARĀ 60.1
-16.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medina
Riyadh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$290 SARĀ 1,086
$465 SARĀ 1,745
-37.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,324 SARĀ 27.5K
$9,705 SARĀ 36.4K
-24.53%
šŸ‘•šŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medina
Riyadh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.00 SARĀ 139
$59.4 SARĀ 223
-37.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7 SARĀ 197
$63.7 SARĀ 239
-17.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.8 SARĀ 254
$107 SARĀ 401
-36.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.3 SARĀ 372
$98.0 SARĀ 367
1.34%
šŸ  Accommodation & Living
Medina
Riyadh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 SARĀ 1,614
$1,091 SARĀ 4,089
-60.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$564 SARĀ 2,115
$848 SARĀ 3,180
-33.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$707 SARĀ 2,650
$2,067 SARĀ 7,753
-65.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$406 SARĀ 1,521
$1,112 SARĀ 4,168
-63.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,295 SARĀ 8,605
$2,924 SARĀ 11.0K
-21.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,330 SARĀ 4,988
$1,908 SARĀ 7,155
-30.29%
šŸ’µ Salaries & Financials
Medina
Riyadh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,319 SARĀ 4,946
$2,382 SARĀ 8,931
-44.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3
5.31
-43.50%

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

Last update for Medina: March 1, 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

Similar cities