🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,057 in Najran versus $1,344 in Al Khobar.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,649 in Najran versus $2,120 in Al Khobar.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,241 in Najran versus $2,897 in Al Khobar.
🙂Living in Najran costs roughly 21% less than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Najran is 21% below, Al Khobar is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.11SAR 30.44
$6.75SAR 25.34
20.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.94SAR 86.1
$52.6SAR 197
-56.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.73SAR 32.75
$8.05SAR 30.20
8.45%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.61SAR 6.04
$2.02SAR 7.59
-20.30%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36SAR 5.09
$2.72SAR 10.22
-50.00%
Cappuccino
$4.28SAR 16.07
$4.32SAR 16.23
-0.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80SAR 2.99
$1.00SAR 3.75
-20.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26SAR 0.96
$0.51SAR 1.93
-49.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23SAR 8.37
$1.69SAR 6.34
31.95%
White Bread(500g)
$0.99SAR 3.71
$1.38SAR 5.17
-28.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.29SAR 8.60
$2.33SAR 8.75
-1.72%
Eggs
$2.18SAR 8.17
$2.91SAR 10.91
-25.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.08SAR 26.55
$6.59SAR 24.72
7.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.01SAR 22.55
$9.17SAR 34.43
-34.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.52SAR 54.5
$12.70SAR 47.65
14.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.76SAR 6.60
$2.50SAR 9.38
-29.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.97SAR 7.40
$1.74SAR 6.54
13.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.74SAR 6.52
$2.11SAR 7.90
-17.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56SAR 5.85
$1.64SAR 6.17
-4.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24SAR 4.67
$1.43SAR 5.38
-13.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27SAR 4.78
$1.67SAR 6.26
-23.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30SAR 4.89
$1.76SAR 6.59
-26.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70SAR 2.63
$0.62SAR 2.33
12.90%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.73SAR 10.26
$2.68SAR 10.05
1.87%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64SAR 6.14
$1.42SAR 5.34
15.49%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07SAR 7.78
$1.97SAR 7.39
5.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.19SAR 30.74
$6.75SAR 25.35
21.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.04SAR 3.91
$0.92SAR 3.45
13.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.40SAR 148
$61.6SAR 231
-36.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.67SAR 10.03
$2.25SAR 8.44
18.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92SAR 7.22
$1.30SAR 4.87
47.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.39SAR 50.3
$6.59SAR 24.74
103.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.58SAR 2.17
$0.60SAR 2.25
-3.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3KSAR 98.8K
$21.2KSAR 79.4K
24.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2KSAR 83.3K
$22.7KSAR 85.1K
-2.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104SAR 392
$123SAR 461
-14.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.09SAR 124
$34.93SAR 131
-5.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.3SAR 275
$80.1SAR 301
-8.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$88.0SAR 330
$107SAR 400
-17.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.60SAR 134
$36.08SAR 135
-1.33%
Cinema Ticket
$15.63SAR 58.7
$17.66SAR 66.3
-11.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$351SAR 1,318
$307SAR 1,151
14.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,941SAR 26.1K
$7,553SAR 28.3K
-8.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.4SAR 227
$63.8SAR 239
-5.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.6SAR 224
$70.0SAR 263
-14.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.6SAR 291
$98.7SAR 370
-21.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9SAR 304
$80.8SAR 303
0.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$340SAR 1,277
$433SAR 1,624
-21.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$199SAR 746
$397SAR 1,489
-49.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$602SAR 2,260
$1,031SAR 3,869
-41.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$429SAR 1,608
$790SAR 2,965
-45.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,047SAR 7,683
$2,419SAR 9,077
-15.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,395SAR 5,235
$1,457SAR 5,468
-4.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,709SAR 6,413
$1,866SAR 7,005
-8.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.42
3.84
15.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Najran: June 1, 2026
Last update for Al Khobar: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $340 in Najran and $433 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Khobar pays 9% 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 $53.0 in Al Khobar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $200 vs $217 per month, with Najran 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 Al Khobar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Najran or Al Khobar?
Najran wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Al Khobar. 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 Al Khobar?
On paper, Al Khobar earns 9% 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 Al Khobar?
Rent for a central apartment: $340 in Najran versus $433 in Al Khobar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Najran vs Al Khobar?
A monthly transit pass in Najran runs roughly 56% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Najran and Al Khobar?
Childcare runs $351 in Najran versus $307 in Al Khobar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Najran or Al Khobar?
At $1,057 in Najran versus $1,344 in Al Khobar, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Najran but tight or insufficient in Al Khobar. 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 Al Khobar?
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 Al Khobar?
Safety-wise, Najran and Al Khobar 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 27% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.