Cost of Living Comparison Between Piscataway, NJ and AL Kharj Cost of Living Comparison Between Piscataway, NJ and AL Kharj

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,137 per month in Piscataway, NJ vs $969 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,525 per month in Piscataway, NJ vs $1,519 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,914 per month in Piscataway, NJ vs $2,068 in AL Kharj, rent included.

Piscataway, NJ costs about 224% more than AL Kharj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Piscataway, NJ sits 134% above the global median, while AL Kharj is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.30 $15.30

$6.47 SAR 24.27

136.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.5 $78.5

$26.35 SAR 98.9

197.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.69 $12.69

$7.97 SAR 29.91

59.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 SAR 6.64

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 SAR 5.13

Cappuccino

$4.38 $4.38

$2.48 SAR 9.31

76.61%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.75 SAR 2.83

229.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.13 SAR 0.47

1023.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.16 $6.16

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.63 SAR 6.10

-23.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 $3.56

$0.28 SAR 1.06

1171.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$2.37 SAR 8.89

37.97%

Eggs

$3.45 $3.45

$2.03 SAR 7.62

69.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.82 $10.82

$8.31 SAR 31.20

30.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.94 $9.94

$4.92 SAR 18.46

102.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.52 $13.52

$13.46 SAR 50.5

0.45%

Apples (1kg)

$3.73 $3.73

$1.98 SAR 7.43

88.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.23 SAR 4.60

18.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$0.89 SAR 3.33

275.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$1.37 SAR 5.13

218.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.96 SAR 3.60

103.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$0.88 SAR 3.32

154.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.82 SAR 3.10

136.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$0.56 SAR 2.10

171.43%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.19 SAR 8.22

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 SAR 5.14

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 SAR 8.93

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.74 $14.74

$6.42 SAR 24.09

129.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.91 $14.91

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.06 SAR 3.96

89.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.10 $30.10

$40.41 SAR 152

-25.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.69 SAR 10.11

9.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 $2.21

$0.55 SAR 2.08

301.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.82 $42.82

$13.39 SAR 50.3

219.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.59 SAR 2.20

59.32%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.3K $25.3K

$33.9K SAR 127.4K

-25.44%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.2K $20.2K

$23.2K SAR 87.2K

-13.19%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$159 $159

$106 SAR 398

50.08%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$54.6 $54.6

$26.15 SAR 98.2

108.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$51.2 SAR 192

29.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.79 $42.79

$65.7 SAR 247

-34.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.52 SAR 152

Cinema Ticket

$14.90 $14.90

$15.68 SAR 58.9

-4.97%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,917 $1,917

$178 SAR 668

976.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K $14.1K

$3,778 SAR 14.2K

274.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.72 $40.72

$59.6 SAR 224

-31.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.46 $40.46

$53.7 SAR 202

-24.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.6 $79.6

$53.3 SAR 200

49.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.9 $93.9

$78.6 SAR 295

19.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,172 $2,172

$637 SAR 2,391

240.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,982 $1,982

$229 SAR 861

764.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,335 $3,335

$488 SAR 1,833

583.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,256 $3,256

$501 SAR 1,879

550.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,666 $2,666

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,047 $2,047

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,492 $4,492

$2,845 SAR 10.7K

57.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

5.31

0.38%

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

Last update for Piscataway, NJ: June 2, 2026

Last update for AL Kharj: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,172 in Piscataway, NJ versus $637 in AL Kharj. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 58% higher in Piscataway, NJ, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Piscataway, NJ versus $26.00 in AL Kharj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $169 – making AL Kharj the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Piscataway, NJ vs AL Kharj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,137 in Piscataway, NJ, $969 in AL Kharj – roughly 224% apart. Piscataway, NJ costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,706 per month in Piscataway, NJ and $1,454 in AL Kharj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in AL Kharj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,917 per month in Piscataway, NJ and $178 in AL Kharj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 104% more in Piscataway, NJ, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in AL Kharj, where all-in costs run around $969, than in Piscataway, NJ at $3,137. In AL Kharj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Piscataway, NJ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward AL Kharj – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with AL Kharj. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Piscataway, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.