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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,331 per month in Medina vs $1,736 in Riyadh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,792 per month in Medina vs $2,592 in Riyadh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,254 per month in Medina vs $3,447 in Riyadh, rent included.

Medina is about 23% cheaper than Riyadh, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medina sits 3% below the global median, while Riyadh is 26% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.47 SAR 20.53

$7.72 SAR 28.99

-29.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.95 SAR 120

$64.3 SAR 241

-50.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.79 SAR 29.25

$8.39 SAR 31.49

-7.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.62 SAR 6.09

$1.81 SAR 6.79

-10.50%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 SAR 6.38

$2.84 SAR 10.67

-40.14%

Cappuccino

$2.61 SAR 9.79

$4.38 SAR 16.44

-40.41%

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

$0.78 SAR 2.91

$0.86 SAR 3.23

-9.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 SAR 0.94

$0.34 SAR 1.28

-26.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 SAR 5.53

$1.70 SAR 6.40

-13.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 SAR 3.39

$1.32 SAR 4.95

-31.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.38 SAR 8.95

$2.42 SAR 9.07

-1.65%

Eggs

$2.07 SAR 7.77

$3.27 SAR 12.29

-36.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.20 SAR 19.52

$9.55 SAR 35.87

-45.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.00 SAR 26.28

$9.80 SAR 36.81

-28.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.75 SAR 47.87

$15.00 SAR 56.3

-15.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 SAR 9.19

$2.70 SAR 10.13

-9.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 SAR 7.11

$1.90 SAR 7.14

-0.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.34 SAR 8.77

$2.32 SAR 8.72

0.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.80

$1.72 SAR 6.44

-10.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 SAR 5.26

$1.11 SAR 4.16

26.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 SAR 5.05

$1.39 SAR 5.21

-3.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 SAR 3.38

$1.71 SAR 6.41

-47.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 SAR 2.78

$0.59 SAR 2.22

25.42%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.28 SAR 4.82

$8.02 SAR 30.12

-84.04%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 SAR 5.51

$1.80 SAR 6.77

-18.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 SAR 5.88

$2.46 SAR 9.24

-36.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.46 SAR 28.02

$7.29 SAR 27.38

2.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 SAR 3.92

$1.05 SAR 3.94

-0.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.80 SAR 138

$37.11 SAR 139

-0.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 SAR 5.06

$3.26 SAR 12.25

-58.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.69 SAR 6.35

$1.84 SAR 6.89

-8.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 SAR 21.01

$13.30 SAR 49.94

-57.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.25

$0.59 SAR 2.20

1.69%

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

$41.2K SAR 154.6K

$35.4K SAR 133.0K

16.27%

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

$20.2K SAR 75.8K

$22.3K SAR 83.8K

-9.55%

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

$151 SAR 568

$95.6 SAR 359

58.24%

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

$27.95 SAR 105

$31.83 SAR 120

-12.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$90.2 SAR 339

$70.0 SAR 263

28.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.4 SAR 294

$91.6 SAR 344

-14.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.80 SAR 33.06

$54.8 SAR 206

-83.94%

Cinema Ticket

$13.20 SAR 49.57

$13.76 SAR 51.7

-4.07%

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

$291 SAR 1,091

$539 SAR 2,023

-46.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,476 SAR 20.6K

$11.1K SAR 41.8K

-50.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.44 SAR 141

$59.9 SAR 225

-37.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.3 SAR 200

$58.4 SAR 219

-8.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 SAR 247

$111 SAR 415

-40.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.5 SAR 257

$104 SAR 391

-34.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$562 SAR 2,110

$1,189 SAR 4,464

-52.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$524 SAR 1,968

$851 SAR 3,195

-38.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$753 SAR 2,826

$2,177 SAR 8,174

-65.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$564 SAR 2,119

$1,274 SAR 4,782

-55.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,260 SAR 8,487

$2,947 SAR 11.1K

-23.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,314 SAR 4,933

$1,891 SAR 7,100

-30.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,326 SAR 4,980

$2,104 SAR 7,902

-36.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.17

5.54

-24.73%

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

Last update for Medina: September 1, 2026

Last update for Riyadh: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $562 in Medina versus $1,189 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 59% 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 $64.0 in Riyadh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $238 – 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 30% more than Medina, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,997 per month in Medina and $2,604 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 $291 per month in Medina and $539 in Riyadh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% 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 $1,331, than in Riyadh at $1,736. 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 $1,331 versus $1,736 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.