🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,184 in Najran versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,826 in Najran versus $1,828 in Ad Dammam.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,468 in Najran versus $2,450 in Ad Dammam.
🌍Living in Najran costs roughly 2% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Najran13% lower, Ad Dammam12% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.10SAR 30.42
$7.90SAR 29.66
2.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.98SAR 139
$35.27SAR 132
4.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.57SAR 32.21
$6.78SAR 25.48
26.40%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.76SAR 6.62
$1.92SAR 7.23
-8.33%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36SAR 5.12
$2.22SAR 8.33
-38.74%
Cappuccino
$4.28SAR 16.08
$2.98SAR 11.18
43.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78SAR 2.92
$0.77SAR 2.90
1.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30SAR 1.11
$0.20SAR 0.77
50.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.61SAR 9.79
$1.80SAR 6.77
45.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.16SAR 4.36
$1.27SAR 4.78
-8.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.14SAR 8.03
$1.87SAR 7.02
14.44%
Eggs
$2.42SAR 9.09
$2.18SAR 8.19
11.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.44SAR 27.95
$7.26SAR 27.26
2.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.08SAR 22.83
$7.74SAR 29.06
-21.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.38SAR 54.0
$12.95SAR 48.63
11.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.07SAR 7.79
$2.19SAR 8.23
-5.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68SAR 6.32
$1.66SAR 6.24
1.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.61SAR 6.04
$1.58SAR 5.92
1.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.66SAR 6.25
$1.56SAR 5.84
6.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13SAR 4.24
$1.11SAR 4.18
1.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.31SAR 4.93
$1.16SAR 4.37
12.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37SAR 5.14
$1.27SAR 4.75
7.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64SAR 2.40
$0.58SAR 2.19
10.34%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.73SAR 10.24
$4.20SAR 15.77
-35.00%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62SAR 6.07
$1.52SAR 5.70
6.58%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14SAR 8.05
$2.21SAR 8.31
-3.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.70SAR 25.16
$7.58SAR 28.45
-11.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.04SAR 3.91
$0.98SAR 3.69
6.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.42SAR 137
$35.71SAR 134
1.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.00SAR 11.27
$2.74SAR 10.28
9.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75SAR 6.58
$2.62SAR 9.82
-33.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.41SAR 50.4
$13.54SAR 50.8
-0.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.50SAR 1.86
$0.60SAR 2.27
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.4KSAR 170.7K
$66.7KSAR 250.4K
-31.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5KSAR 80.8K
$21.0KSAR 79.0K
2.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$99.8SAR 375
$127SAR 478
-21.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.08SAR 120
$32.69SAR 123
-1.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.0SAR 252
$64.4SAR 242
4.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$83.9SAR 315
$77.7SAR 292
8.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.65SAR 141
$28.77SAR 108
30.87%
Cinema Ticket
$13.52SAR 50.8
$13.58SAR 51.0
-0.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$346SAR 1,298
$419SAR 1,574
-17.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,731SAR 25.3K
$7,803SAR 29.3K
-13.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.0SAR 188
$42.01SAR 158
19.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.2SAR 215
$49.62SAR 186
15.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.7SAR 363
$97.9SAR 368
-1.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0SAR 338
$91.6SAR 344
-1.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$585SAR 2,196
$584SAR 2,193
0.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$345SAR 1,294
$369SAR 1,385
-6.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$894SAR 3,359
$985SAR 3,701
-9.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$551SAR 2,070
$673SAR 2,529
-18.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,403SAR 9,025
$1,416SAR 5,319
69.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,387SAR 5,209
$600SAR 2,253
131.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,703SAR 6,398
$1,520SAR 5,709
12.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.47
5.9
-7.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Najran: September 13, 2026
Last update for Ad Dammam: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $585 in Najran and $584 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Najran pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $37.00 in Najran vs $35.00 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $199 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
Najran vs Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Najran or Ad Dammam?
Najran wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Najran the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Najran or in Ad Dammam?
Average pay runs 12% higher in Najran, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Najran compared to Ad Dammam?
Rent for a central apartment: $585 in Najran versus $584 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 Najran compared to Ad Dammam?
All in, you'll spend $1,184 per month in Najran versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Najran compared to Ad Dammam?
A monthly transit pass in Najran runs roughly 2% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Najran or in Ad Dammam?
At $1,184 in Najran versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Najran but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Najran the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Najran 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 Najran compared to Ad Dammam?
Safety-wise, Najran 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 Najran gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.