Cost of Living Comparison Between Najran and Al Khobar Cost of Living Comparison Between Najran and Al Khobar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,193 in Najran versus $1,402 in Al Khobar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,812 in Najran versus $2,205 in Al Khobar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,432 in Najran versus $3,008 in Al Khobar.

Living in Najran costs roughly 15% less than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Najran is 13% below, Al Khobar is 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.08 SAR 30.33
$6.53 SAR 24.53
23.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.75 SAR 142
$60.0 SAR 225
-37.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.51 SAR 31.95
$7.77 SAR 29.18
9.52%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 SAR 6.69
$2.66 SAR 10.00
-33.08%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 SAR 4.89
$2.70 SAR 10.15
-51.85%
Cappuccino
$4.28 SAR 16.08
$4.49 SAR 16.88
-4.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 SAR 2.87
$0.91 SAR 3.41
-16.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 SAR 1.20
$0.41 SAR 1.53
-21.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.64 SAR 9.92
$1.64 SAR 6.15
60.98%
White Bread (500g)
$0.98 SAR 3.69
$1.26 SAR 4.73
-22.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.22 SAR 8.35
$2.46 SAR 9.24
-9.76%
Eggs
$2.32 SAR 8.72
$2.39 SAR 8.97
-2.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.32 SAR 27.48
$7.18 SAR 26.95
1.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.09 SAR 22.87
$9.91 SAR 37.21
-38.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.49 SAR 54.4
$11.61 SAR 43.59
24.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.07 SAR 7.76
$2.67 SAR 10.01
-22.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 SAR 6.35
$1.74 SAR 6.54
-2.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.59 SAR 5.98
$2.05 SAR 7.70
-22.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 SAR 6.00
$1.83 SAR 6.86
-12.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 SAR 4.48
$1.39 SAR 5.23
-14.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.29 SAR 4.85
$1.65 SAR 6.18
-21.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 SAR 5.10
$1.64 SAR 6.16
-17.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 SAR 2.54
$0.57 SAR 2.15
19.30%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.75 SAR 10.33
$2.63 SAR 9.86
4.56%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 SAR 5.90
$1.64 SAR 6.17
-4.27%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 SAR 8.16
$1.89 SAR 7.10
14.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.80 SAR 25.52
$6.59 SAR 24.74
3.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.09 SAR 4.08
$0.78 SAR 2.95
39.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.64 SAR 134
$67.3 SAR 253
-47.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.84 SAR 10.68
$3.25 SAR 12.21
-12.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 SAR 6.70
$2.71 SAR 10.18
-34.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.47 SAR 50.6
$6.81 SAR 25.57
97.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.50 SAR 1.86
$0.63 SAR 2.38
-20.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.3K SAR 173.8K
$65.6K SAR 246.2K
-29.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5K SAR 80.6K
$21.9K SAR 82.2K
-2.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 SAR 379
$98.6 SAR 370
2.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.65 SAR 123
$32.61 SAR 122
0.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.3 SAR 245
$70.2 SAR 264
-6.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$84.9 SAR 319
$79.9 SAR 300
6.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.34 SAR 140
$36.21 SAR 136
3.12%
Cinema Ticket
$13.25 SAR 49.74
$15.15 SAR 56.9
-12.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$337 SAR 1,266
$600 SAR 2,253
-43.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,536 SAR 24.5K
$8,271 SAR 31.1K
-20.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.6 SAR 194
$63.5 SAR 238
-18.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.7 SAR 224
$81.4 SAR 306
-26.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.5 SAR 359
$97.5 SAR 366
-1.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 SAR 338
$92.5 SAR 347
-2.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$585 SAR 2,196
$620 SAR 2,328
-5.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$339 SAR 1,274
$499 SAR 1,872
-31.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$880 SAR 3,304
$1,184 SAR 4,445
-25.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$556 SAR 2,088
$847 SAR 3,180
-34.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,322 SAR 8,719
$2,411 SAR 9,054
-3.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,371 SAR 5,147
$1,423 SAR 5,342
-3.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,757 SAR 6,597
$1,843 SAR 6,920
-4.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.47
5.88
-6.97%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Najran: August 29, 2026

Last update for Al Khobar: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $585 in Najran and $620 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 5% 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: $38.00 in Najran vs $60.0 in Al Khobar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $216 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 18% 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 in Al Khobar?
On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Al Khobar. 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 compared to Al Khobar?
Rent for a central apartment: $585 in Najran versus $620 in Al Khobar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Najran compared to Al Khobar?
A monthly transit pass in Najran runs roughly 89% 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 in Al Khobar?
Childcare runs $337 in Najran versus $600 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 in Al Khobar?
At $1,193 in Najran versus $1,402 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 18% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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