🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,056 in Najran versus $1,237 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,657 in Najran versus $1,905 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,259 in Najran versus $2,574 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Living in Najran costs roughly 15% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Najran21% lower, Ad Dammam8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.08SAR 30.30
$7.31SAR 27.41
10.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.81SAR 85.5
$53.9SAR 202
-57.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.70SAR 32.62
$8.13SAR 30.50
7.01%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.62SAR 6.08
$1.86SAR 6.97
-12.90%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29SAR 4.85
$1.84SAR 6.91
-29.89%
Cappuccino
$4.39SAR 16.47
$3.67SAR 13.78
19.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79SAR 2.94
$0.84SAR 3.15
-5.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26SAR 0.97
$0.37SAR 1.39
-29.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.33SAR 8.72
$1.72SAR 6.45
35.47%
White Bread(500g)
$0.94SAR 3.51
$1.47SAR 5.50
-36.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.31SAR 8.64
$2.11SAR 7.91
9.48%
Eggs
$2.11SAR 7.90
$2.29SAR 8.58
-7.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.82SAR 25.59
$6.28SAR 23.54
8.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88SAR 22.03
$7.43SAR 27.85
-20.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.81SAR 55.5
$10.11SAR 37.91
46.49%
Apples(1kg)
$1.75SAR 6.58
$2.21SAR 8.27
-20.81%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06SAR 7.71
$1.48SAR 5.57
39.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69SAR 6.34
$1.45SAR 5.43
16.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60SAR 6.01
$1.67SAR 6.25
-4.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.81
$1.28SAR 4.82
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.27SAR 4.78
$1.33SAR 4.98
-4.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36SAR 5.10
$1.30SAR 4.88
4.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66SAR 2.46
$0.59SAR 2.22
11.86%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.88SAR 10.80
$4.24SAR 15.88
-32.08%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57SAR 5.88
$1.57SAR 5.87
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01SAR 7.52
$2.02SAR 7.56
-0.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.16SAR 30.60
$8.04SAR 30.17
1.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.09SAR 4.07
$0.89SAR 3.33
22.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.24SAR 151
$39.57SAR 148
1.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.72SAR 10.20
$3.31SAR 12.42
-17.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.89SAR 7.07
$2.73SAR 10.22
-30.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.51SAR 50.7
$13.14SAR 49.27
2.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.57SAR 2.14
$0.64SAR 2.40
-10.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2KSAR 98.4K
$22.7KSAR 85.3K
15.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2KSAR 83.4K
$20.9KSAR 78.2K
6.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106SAR 399
$117SAR 438
-9.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.82SAR 127
$38.51SAR 144
-12.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.6SAR 272
$63.3SAR 237
14.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$87.6SAR 329
$69.6SAR 261
25.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.23SAR 132
$30.63SAR 115
15.02%
Cinema Ticket
$15.87SAR 59.5
$15.02SAR 56.3
5.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$355SAR 1,333
$425SAR 1,592
-16.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,854SAR 25.7K
$8,339SAR 31.3K
-17.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7SAR 220
$67.0SAR 251
-12.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4SAR 223
$66.0SAR 248
-10.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.6SAR 295
$92.6SAR 347
-15.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3SAR 301
$87.2SAR 327
-8.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$333SAR 1,249
$445SAR 1,670
-25.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$197SAR 738
$377SAR 1,414
-47.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607SAR 2,276
$799SAR 2,997
-24.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$419SAR 1,572
$640SAR 2,398
-34.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,391SAR 8,967
$894SAR 3,352
167.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,316SAR 4,935
$778SAR 2,917
69.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,714SAR 6,429
$1,974SAR 7,403
-13.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.42
4.33
2.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Najran: April 25, 2026
Last update for Ad Dammam: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $333 in Najran and $445 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ad Dammam pays 15% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $23.00 in Najran vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $200 vs $189, 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
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 17% 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 Ad Dammam?
On paper, Ad Dammam earns 15% 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 Najran vs Ad Dammam?
Rent for a central apartment: $333 in Najran 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 Najran compared to Ad Dammam?
All in, you'll spend $1,056 per month in Najran versus $1,237 in Ad Dammam – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Najran vs 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 Ad Dammam?
At $1,056 in Najran versus $1,237 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 17% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.