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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,478 per month in Medina vs $1,739 in Riyadh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,848 per month in Medina vs $2,521 in Riyadh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,219 per month in Medina vs $3,304 in Riyadh, rent included.

Medina is about 15% cheaper than Riyadh, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medina and Riyadh sit above the global median – Medina by 10%, Riyadh by 30%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.48 SAR 20.56

$8.21 SAR 30.82

-33.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.47 SAR 118

$53.0 SAR 199

-40.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.18 SAR 30.68

$8.11 SAR 30.45

0.86%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.64 SAR 6.17

$1.71 SAR 6.41

-4.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 SAR 6.62

$2.23 SAR 8.37

-21.08%

Cappuccino

$2.55 SAR 9.56

$4.09 SAR 15.34

-37.65%

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

$0.82 SAR 3.07

$0.71 SAR 2.66

15.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 SAR 1.45

$0.29 SAR 1.07

34.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 SAR 6.11

$1.68 SAR 6.30

-2.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 SAR 3.68

$1.28 SAR 4.79

-23.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.37 SAR 8.88

$2.35 SAR 8.83

0.85%

Eggs

$2.12 SAR 7.97

$2.73 SAR 10.24

-22.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.49 SAR 24.35

$8.64 SAR 32.44

-24.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.96 SAR 26.14

$10.02 SAR 37.62

-30.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 SAR 47.44

$14.57 SAR 54.7

-13.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.41 SAR 9.05

$2.35 SAR 8.82

2.55%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 SAR 7.94

$1.75 SAR 6.56

20.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 SAR 8.49

$1.85 SAR 6.93

22.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 SAR 6.14

$1.53 SAR 5.73

7.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 SAR 5.15

$1.29 SAR 4.82

6.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 SAR 5.45

$1.47 SAR 5.50

-1.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 SAR 3.70

$1.45 SAR 5.44

-31.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 SAR 3.27

$0.53 SAR 1.99

64.15%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.31 SAR 4.91

$8.16 SAR 30.62

-83.95%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 SAR 6.43

$1.71 SAR 6.42

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 SAR 6.18

$2.38 SAR 8.94

-30.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.58 SAR 28.44

$7.54 SAR 28.29

0.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 SAR 3.93

$1.09 SAR 4.09

-3.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.18 SAR 140

$36.73 SAR 138

1.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 SAR 4.91

$3.28 SAR 12.29

-60.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 SAR 6.16

$1.85 SAR 6.95

-11.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.46 SAR 20.48

$13.49 SAR 50.6

-59.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.41

$0.63 SAR 2.36

1.59%

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

$21.1K SAR 79.3K

$34.1K SAR 128.1K

-38.05%

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

$21.1K SAR 79.3K

$23.4K SAR 87.9K

-9.75%

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

$199 SAR 748

$104 SAR 391

91.20%

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

$33.10 SAR 124

$34.25 SAR 129

-3.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$104 SAR 392

$77.0 SAR 289

35.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.4 SAR 283

$105 SAR 394

-28.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.01 SAR 33.80

$58.3 SAR 219

-84.54%

Cinema Ticket

$13.16 SAR 49.38

$16.17 SAR 60.7

-18.61%

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

$290 SAR 1,088

$457 SAR 1,716

-36.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,586 SAR 28.5K

$9,739 SAR 36.6K

-22.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.12 SAR 139

$59.5 SAR 223

-37.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 SAR 196

$64.1 SAR 241

-18.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.8 SAR 247

$107 SAR 400

-38.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.7 SAR 363

$100 SAR 376

-3.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 SAR 1,591

$1,072 SAR 4,024

-60.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$556 SAR 2,085

$841 SAR 3,158

-33.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$711 SAR 2,670

$2,027 SAR 7,608

-64.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$412 SAR 1,547

$1,090 SAR 4,093

-62.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,340 SAR 8,782

$3,075 SAR 11.5K

-23.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,313 SAR 4,929

$1,931 SAR 7,247

-31.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,316 SAR 4,940

$2,252 SAR 8,453

-41.55%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Riyadh: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Medina versus $1,072 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 71% 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 $31.00 in Medina versus $53.0 in Riyadh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $200 vs $226 – 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 18% 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 $2,217 per month in Medina and $2,608 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 $290 per month in Medina and $457 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 $1,478, than in Riyadh at $1,739. 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 $1,478 versus $1,739 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.