🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,056 in Najran versus $1,211 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,657 in Najran versus $1,857 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,257 in Najran versus $2,503 in Ad Dammam.
🌍Living in Najran costs roughly 13% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Najran21% lower, Ad Dammam9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.18SAR 30.72
$7.45SAR 27.98
9.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.49SAR 84.5
$53.0SAR 199
-57.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.59SAR 32.24
$7.92SAR 29.72
8.46%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56SAR 5.86
$1.88SAR 7.07
-17.02%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30SAR 4.86
$1.85SAR 6.95
-29.73%
Cappuccino
$4.29SAR 16.10
$3.55SAR 13.33
20.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79SAR 2.95
$0.92SAR 3.44
-14.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28SAR 1.06
$0.38SAR 1.42
-26.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.25SAR 8.43
$1.64SAR 6.15
37.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01SAR 3.80
$1.42SAR 5.32
-28.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.38SAR 8.95
$2.12SAR 7.96
12.26%
Eggs
$2.20SAR 8.28
$2.31SAR 8.68
-4.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.74SAR 25.32
$5.99SAR 22.48
12.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.95SAR 22.33
$7.32SAR 27.49
-18.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.51SAR 54.5
$10.07SAR 37.80
44.09%
Apples(1kg)
$1.68SAR 6.32
$2.09SAR 7.85
-19.62%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05SAR 7.70
$1.55SAR 5.82
32.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.74SAR 6.54
$1.39SAR 5.23
25.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56SAR 5.88
$1.65SAR 6.20
-5.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.25SAR 4.68
$1.28SAR 4.79
-2.34%
Onion(1kg)
$1.26SAR 4.75
$1.37SAR 5.15
-8.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34SAR 5.05
$1.29SAR 4.86
3.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68SAR 2.56
$0.55SAR 2.08
23.64%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.83SAR 10.63
$4.12SAR 15.47
-31.31%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63SAR 6.10
$1.61SAR 6.05
1.24%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06SAR 7.75
$1.99SAR 7.47
3.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.07SAR 30.31
$7.76SAR 29.14
3.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05SAR 3.95
$0.94SAR 3.51
11.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.06SAR 150
$39.30SAR 148
1.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.59SAR 9.72
$3.31SAR 12.42
-21.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.89SAR 7.09
$2.73SAR 10.26
-30.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.22SAR 49.62
$13.58SAR 51.0
-2.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.57SAR 2.14
$0.61SAR 2.29
-6.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8KSAR 100.7K
$22.2KSAR 83.5K
20.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4KSAR 84.1K
$20.9KSAR 78.3K
7.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103SAR 388
$118SAR 444
-12.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.17SAR 128
$38.60SAR 145
-11.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.9SAR 274
$63.4SAR 238
14.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$87.3SAR 328
$70.7SAR 266
23.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.24SAR 136
$30.89SAR 116
17.32%
Cinema Ticket
$15.83SAR 59.4
$15.30SAR 57.5
3.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$357SAR 1,340
$427SAR 1,602
-16.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,950SAR 26.1K
$8,216SAR 30.8K
-15.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.2SAR 218
$68.0SAR 255
-14.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.8SAR 224
$67.8SAR 255
-11.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.6SAR 292
$90.5SAR 340
-14.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.6SAR 306
$86.1SAR 323
-5.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$346SAR 1,299
$452SAR 1,697
-23.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$203SAR 762
$376SAR 1,413
-46.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$601SAR 2,258
$792SAR 2,975
-24.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$429SAR 1,612
$636SAR 2,387
-32.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,513SAR 9,434
$1,320SAR 4,955
90.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,138SAR 4,275
$812SAR 3,051
40.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Najran
Ad Dammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,736SAR 6,517
$1,502SAR 5,639
15.57%
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Ad Dammam: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Najran and $452 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Najran pays 16% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $22.00 in Najran vs $53.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $200 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
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 15% 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 16% 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: $346 in Najran versus $452 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 $1,211 in Ad Dammam – a 15% 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 $1,056 in Najran versus $1,211 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 15% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.