😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,954 in Montijo versus $1,215 in Ad Dammam.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,699 in Montijo versus $1,866 in Ad Dammam.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,445 in Montijo versus $2,516 in Ad Dammam.
🌍Living in Montijo is roughly 61% more expensive than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Montijo is 42% above, Ad Dammam is 12% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montijo
Ad Dammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.62€11.74
$8.09SAR 30.39
68.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.43€40.03
$34.39SAR 129
35.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.27€7.99
$6.57SAR 24.69
41.10%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.91SAR 7.17
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.23SAR 8.37
-
Cappuccino
$2.56€2.21
$3.10SAR 11.65
-17.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09€1.80
$0.79SAR 2.95
164.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16€1.00
$0.20SAR 0.75
480.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39€2.92
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98€3.43
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montijo
Ad Dammam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.14
$1.82SAR 6.84
-27.47%
White Bread(500g)
$2.31€1.99
$1.33SAR 5.01
73.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$1.92SAR 7.21
9.90%
Eggs
$3.61€3.11
$2.13SAR 7.98
69.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.38€9.81
$7.39SAR 27.77
53.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.37€6.35
$7.82SAR 29.36
-5.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.85€13.66
$12.72SAR 47.79
24.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98€2.57
$2.18SAR 8.17
36.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$1.63SAR 6.11
-6.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91€1.64
$1.59SAR 5.96
20.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.90€2.50
$1.62SAR 6.09
79.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61€1.39
$1.07SAR 4.02
50.47%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27€1.96
$1.20SAR 4.52
89.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.69€1.46
$1.28SAR 4.80
32.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.58SAR 2.18
43.10%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$4.09SAR 15.37
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.45SAR 5.46
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.17SAR 8.14
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.16€5.31
$7.80SAR 29.30
-21.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.13€6.14
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00€0.86
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62€1.39
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Montijo
Ad Dammam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.96
$0.97SAR 3.63
135.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.10€39.74
$35.89SAR 135
28.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.37€2.04
$2.60SAR 9.75
-8.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$2.60SAR 9.78
-56.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.60€15.17
$13.41SAR 50.4
31.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11€1.82
$0.64SAR 2.42
229.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K€29.8K
$67.7KSAR 254.2K
-48.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.0K€33.7K
$21.3KSAR 79.9K
83.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montijo
Ad Dammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$139€120
$128SAR 482
8.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.68€18.69
$33.46SAR 126
-35.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.0€52.6
$62.1SAR 233
-1.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montijo
Ad Dammam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.60€20.34
$77.8SAR 292
-69.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.85SAR 108
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.15€7.02
$13.40SAR 50.3
-39.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montijo
Ad Dammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$471€406
$417SAR 1,566
12.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.8K€10.2K
$7,868SAR 29.5K
49.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montijo
Ad Dammam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.3€60.6
$41.40SAR 155
69.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.98€33.60
$49.15SAR 185
-20.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.9€63.7
$95.8SAR 360
-22.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.8€84.3
$90.5SAR 340
8.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montijo
Ad Dammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,067
$567SAR 2,128
118.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,044€900
$369SAR 1,388
182.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,778€1,533
$1,007SAR 3,781
76.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,459€1,257
$663SAR 2,490
120.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,144€2,710
$1,379SAR 5,179
127.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,348€2,024
$595SAR 2,235
294.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montijo
Ad Dammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,182€1,019
$1,532SAR 5,754
-22.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.67
5.9
-37.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Montijo: September 5, 2026
Last update for Ad Dammam: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,238 in Montijo and $567 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ad Dammam pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Montijo vs $34.00 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $200 per month, with Ad Dammam 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
Montijo vs Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montijo or Ad Dammam?
Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 61% lower than in Montijo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ad Dammam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Montijo or in Ad Dammam?
On paper, salaries run 30% lower in Ad Dammam. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Montijo compared to Ad Dammam?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,238 in Montijo versus $567 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Montijo compared to Ad Dammam?
All in, you'll spend $1,954 per month in Montijo versus $1,215 in Ad Dammam – a 61% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Montijo compared to Ad Dammam?
A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 28% less than in Montijo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Montijo or in Ad Dammam?
At $1,215 in Ad Dammam versus $1,954 in Montijo, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ad Dammam but tight or insufficient in Montijo. The gap between the two cities makes Ad Dammam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Montijo or Ad Dammam?
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.
How safe is Montijo compared to Ad Dammam?
Safety-wise, Montijo and Ad Dammam 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ad Dammam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Montijo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.