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