🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,056 in Najran versus $1,332 in Al Khobar.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,657 in Najran versus $2,100 in Al Khobar.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,257 in Najran versus $2,868 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
$8.18SAR 30.73
$6.82SAR 25.60
19.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.49SAR 84.5
$54.0SAR 203
-58.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.59SAR 32.25
$8.19SAR 30.77
4.88%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56SAR 5.87
$1.98SAR 7.44
-21.21%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30SAR 4.86
$2.70SAR 10.13
-51.85%
Cappuccino
$4.29SAR 16.10
$4.26SAR 16.01
0.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79SAR 2.95
$0.96SAR 3.61
-17.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28SAR 1.06
$0.49SAR 1.83
-42.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.25SAR 8.44
$1.69SAR 6.34
33.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01SAR 3.80
$1.40SAR 5.24
-27.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.38SAR 8.95
$2.32SAR 8.72
2.59%
Eggs
$2.20SAR 8.28
$2.88SAR 10.81
-23.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.74SAR 25.32
$6.94SAR 26.05
-2.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.95SAR 22.33
$9.12SAR 34.26
-34.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.51SAR 54.5
$12.61SAR 47.34
15.07%
Apples(1kg)
$1.68SAR 6.32
$2.54SAR 9.53
-33.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05SAR 7.70
$1.72SAR 6.45
19.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.74SAR 6.54
$2.13SAR 8.00
-18.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56SAR 5.88
$1.57SAR 5.88
-0.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.25SAR 4.68
$1.41SAR 5.31
-11.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.26SAR 4.75
$1.72SAR 6.47
-26.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34SAR 5.05
$1.70SAR 6.38
-21.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68SAR 2.56
$0.60SAR 2.24
13.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.83SAR 10.63
$2.70SAR 10.14
4.81%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63SAR 6.10
$1.46SAR 5.48
11.64%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06SAR 7.75
$1.88SAR 7.04
9.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.07SAR 30.32
$6.51SAR 24.45
23.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05SAR 3.95
$0.92SAR 3.44
14.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.06SAR 150
$60.1SAR 226
-33.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.59SAR 9.73
$2.26SAR 8.48
14.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.89SAR 7.10
$1.35SAR 5.06
40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.22SAR 49.63
$6.60SAR 24.78
100.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.57SAR 2.15
$0.65SAR 2.43
-12.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8KSAR 100.7K
$21.4KSAR 80.3K
25.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4KSAR 84.1K
$22.7KSAR 85.4K
-1.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103SAR 389
$124SAR 466
-16.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.17SAR 128
$34.51SAR 130
-0.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.9SAR 274
$80.7SAR 303
-9.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$87.3SAR 328
$109SAR 410
-20.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.24SAR 136
$36.80SAR 138
-1.52%
Cinema Ticket
$15.83SAR 59.5
$17.36SAR 65.2
-8.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$357SAR 1,340
$306SAR 1,147
16.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,950SAR 26.1K
$7,541SAR 28.3K
-7.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.2SAR 218
$63.4SAR 238
-8.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.8SAR 224
$69.8SAR 262
-14.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.6SAR 292
$100SAR 376
-22.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.6SAR 306
$80.4SAR 302
1.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$346SAR 1,300
$433SAR 1,628
-20.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$203SAR 762
$401SAR 1,505
-49.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$601SAR 2,258
$1,059SAR 3,978
-43.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$429SAR 1,612
$813SAR 3,054
-47.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,513SAR 9,436
$2,442SAR 9,170
2.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,138SAR 4,275
$1,423SAR 5,344
-20.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Najran
Al Khobar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,736SAR 6,518
$1,856SAR 6,971
-6.50%
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Al Khobar: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in Najran and $433 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Khobar pays 7% 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: $22.00 in Najran vs $54.0 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 26% 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 7% 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: $346 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 compared to Al Khobar?
A monthly transit pass in Najran runs roughly 50% 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 $357 in Najran versus $306 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 $1,056 in Najran versus $1,332 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 26% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.