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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,451 per month in Medina vs $1,758 in Riyadh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,853 per month in Medina vs $2,475 in Riyadh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,255 per month in Medina vs $3,192 in Riyadh, rent included.

Medina is about 17% cheaper than Riyadh, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medina and Riyadh sit above the global median – Medina by 9%, Riyadh by 32%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.72 SAR 21.48

$8.19 SAR 30.76

-30.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.52 SAR 118

$53.9 SAR 202

-41.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.94 SAR 29.82

$7.97 SAR 29.91

-0.38%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 SAR 5.88

$1.69 SAR 6.33

-7.10%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 SAR 6.36

$2.31 SAR 8.68

-26.84%

Cappuccino

$2.45 SAR 9.19

$3.98 SAR 14.94

-38.44%

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

$0.78 SAR 2.92

$0.77 SAR 2.88

1.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 SAR 1.57

$0.31 SAR 1.17

35.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 SAR 6.02

$1.69 SAR 6.34

-5.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 SAR 3.66

$1.33 SAR 4.98

-27.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.32 SAR 8.70

$2.36 SAR 8.85

-1.69%

Eggs

$2.05 SAR 7.71

$2.69 SAR 10.10

-23.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.72 SAR 25.23

$8.48 SAR 31.84

-20.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.09 SAR 26.61

$9.90 SAR 37.17

-28.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.44 SAR 46.72

$14.50 SAR 54.4

-14.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 SAR 8.82

$2.32 SAR 8.73

1.29%

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 SAR 7.79

$1.74 SAR 6.52

18.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 SAR 8.41

$1.88 SAR 7.06

19.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.71 SAR 6.42

$1.59 SAR 5.96

7.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.43 SAR 5.36

$1.25 SAR 4.68

14.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 SAR 5.47

$1.46 SAR 5.49

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 SAR 3.68

$1.43 SAR 5.38

-31.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 SAR 3.29

$0.52 SAR 1.94

69.23%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.36 SAR 5.10

$7.87 SAR 29.54

-82.72%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 SAR 6.52

$1.79 SAR 6.70

-2.79%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 SAR 6.10

$2.41 SAR 9.06

-32.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.61 SAR 28.57

$7.41 SAR 27.83

2.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.08

$1.08 SAR 4.07

0.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.08 SAR 139

$36.88 SAR 138

0.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.32 SAR 4.94

$3.22 SAR 12.09

-59.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 SAR 6.21

$1.84 SAR 6.93

-10.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.59 SAR 20.99

$13.19 SAR 49.53

-57.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 SAR 2.44

$0.64 SAR 2.39

1.56%

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

$21.0K SAR 78.8K

$35.1K SAR 131.7K

-40.20%

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

$21.5K SAR 80.7K

$23.4K SAR 88.0K

-8.28%

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

$203 SAR 763

$106 SAR 398

92.02%

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

$33.06 SAR 124

$35.14 SAR 132

-5.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$104 SAR 392

$76.9 SAR 289

35.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.9 SAR 285

$106 SAR 399

-28.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.10 SAR 34.18

$59.9 SAR 225

-84.81%

Cinema Ticket

$13.49 SAR 50.7

$16.22 SAR 60.9

-16.83%

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

$287 SAR 1,078

$465 SAR 1,747

-38.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,377 SAR 27.7K

$9,542 SAR 35.8K

-22.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.64 SAR 141

$58.3 SAR 219

-35.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.3 SAR 200

$65.1 SAR 244

-18.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.9 SAR 251

$110 SAR 413

-39.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.6 SAR 370

$101 SAR 378

-2.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 SAR 1,633

$1,110 SAR 4,166

-60.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 SAR 2,082

$843 SAR 3,164

-34.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$712 SAR 2,674

$2,026 SAR 7,608

-64.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$419 SAR 1,574

$1,127 SAR 4,233

-62.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,267 SAR 8,513

$2,911 SAR 10.9K

-22.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,344 SAR 5,046

$1,938 SAR 7,279

-30.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,339 SAR 5,030

$2,020 SAR 7,587

-33.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.31

-43.50%

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

Last update for Medina: July 13, 2026

Last update for Riyadh: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Medina versus $1,110 in Riyadh. 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 51% higher in Riyadh, 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 $32.00 in Medina versus $54.0 in Riyadh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $199 vs $225 – making Medina 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

Medina vs Riyadh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Riyadh costs about 21% more than Medina, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,177 per month in Medina and $2,637 in Riyadh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $287 per month in Medina and $465 in Riyadh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% more in Riyadh, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Medina, where all-in costs run around $1,451, than in Riyadh at $1,758. In Medina it covers expenses comfortably, while in Riyadh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medina costs $1,451 versus $1,758 in Riyadh. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Medina. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Riyadh makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.