😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,844 in Montijo versus $1,207 in Ad Dammam.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,625 in Montijo versus $1,891 in Ad Dammam.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,405 in Montijo versus $2,575 in Ad Dammam.
😐Living in Montijo is roughly 53% more expensive than Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Montijo is 37% above, Ad Dammam is 10% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montijo
Ad Dammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.56€10.85
$7.49SAR 28.11
67.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.14€40.74
$54.1SAR 203
-12.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.28€8.02
$7.78SAR 29.21
19.28%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.91SAR 7.16
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.82SAR 6.82
-
Cappuccino
$2.59€2.24
$3.60SAR 13.51
-28.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82€1.58
$0.89SAR 3.34
104.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26€1.09
$0.35SAR 1.31
260.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.29€1.98
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.93
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montijo
Ad Dammam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10€0.95
$1.66SAR 6.24
-33.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47€1.27
$1.45SAR 5.45
1.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.08€1.80
$2.00SAR 7.52
4.00%
Eggs
$3.44€2.97
$2.24SAR 8.41
53.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.39€9.84
$6.01SAR 22.56
89.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.67€6.63
$7.22SAR 27.11
6.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.15€12.23
$9.97SAR 37.41
41.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.67€2.31
$2.17SAR 8.16
23.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46€1.26
$1.50SAR 5.61
-2.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69€1.46
$1.41SAR 5.28
19.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.07€2.65
$1.60SAR 6.01
91.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53€1.32
$1.22SAR 4.59
25.41%
Onion(1kg)
$2.30€1.99
$1.39SAR 5.22
65.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.60€1.39
$1.36SAR 5.10
17.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.76
$0.59SAR 2.22
49.15%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$4.19SAR 15.72
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.62SAR 6.09
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.00SAR 7.49
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.13€5.30
$7.84SAR 29.44
-21.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.02€6.07
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26€1.09
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15€0.99
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Montijo
Ad Dammam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02€1.75
$0.95SAR 3.56
112.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.48
$40.76SAR 153
14.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.68€3.18
$3.36SAR 12.60
9.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.20€1.04
$2.71SAR 10.18
-55.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.14€14.81
$13.53SAR 50.8
26.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.97€1.70
$0.61SAR 2.28
222.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$22.9KSAR 85.8K
53.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9K€34.5K
$20.7KSAR 77.6K
93.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montijo
Ad Dammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$135€116
$117SAR 440
14.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.63€18.69
$38.94SAR 146
-44.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.1€44.14
$62.3SAR 234
-18.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montijo
Ad Dammam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.10€19.96
$69.0SAR 259
-66.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$30.82SAR 116
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.25€7.13
$15.05SAR 56.5
-45.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montijo
Ad Dammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$474€409
$414SAR 1,552
14.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,200€6,222
$8,178SAR 30.7K
-11.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montijo
Ad Dammam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.3€59.9
$69.0SAR 259
0.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.82€34.41
$67.6SAR 254
-41.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.1€60.6
$90.7SAR 340
-22.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.4€80.7
$85.9SAR 322
8.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montijo
Ad Dammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,369€1,183
$445SAR 1,669
207.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$975€843
$385SAR 1,446
153.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,779€1,538
$800SAR 3,002
122.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,446€1,250
$635SAR 2,382
127.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,274€2,829
$1,331SAR 4,995
145.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,422€2,092
$804SAR 3,019
201.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montijo
Ad Dammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,134€979
$1,884SAR 7,071
-39.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.01
4.33
15.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Montijo: June 8, 2026
Last update for Ad Dammam: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,369 in Montijo and $445 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ad Dammam pays 66% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Montijo vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $256 vs $185, with Ad Dammam cheaper for home cooking.
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 53% 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 Ad Dammam?
On paper, Ad Dammam earns 66% less. 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 vs Ad Dammam?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,369 in Montijo versus $445 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 $1,844 per month in Montijo versus $1,207 in Ad Dammam – a 53% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Montijo vs Ad Dammam?
A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 15% 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 Ad Dammam?
At $1,207 in Ad Dammam versus $1,844 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 53% less than in Montijo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.