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 $3,100 per month in Piscataway, NJ vs $943 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,469 per month in Piscataway, NJ vs $1,496 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,838 per month in Piscataway, NJ vs $2,050 in AL Kharj, rent included.

Piscataway, NJ costs about 229% more than AL Kharj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Piscataway, NJ sits 132% above the global median, while AL Kharj is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.19 $15.19

$6.47 SAR 24.31

134.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.0 $79.0

$26.66 SAR 100

196.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$8.02 SAR 30.13

53.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.70 SAR 6.39

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 SAR 4.86

Cappuccino

$4.39 $4.39

$2.45 SAR 9.21

79.18%

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

$2.52 $2.52

$0.78 SAR 2.94

223.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 $1.49

$0.13 SAR 0.47

1046.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.10 $6.10

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.65 SAR 6.18

-20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.78 $3.78

$0.26 SAR 0.97

1353.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$2.40 SAR 9.00

36.25%

Eggs

$3.47 $3.47

$1.95 SAR 7.31

77.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.11 $11.11

$8.50 SAR 31.90

30.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.89 $9.89

$5.12 SAR 19.24

93.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.89 $13.89

$13.52 SAR 50.8

2.74%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.01 SAR 7.55

83.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.23 SAR 4.61

18.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$0.95 SAR 3.57

251.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$1.31 SAR 4.92

238.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.90 SAR 3.40

124.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$0.97 SAR 3.63

122.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$0.78 SAR 2.94

155.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.51 SAR 1.93

201.96%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.12 SAR 7.96

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 SAR 5.09

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 SAR 9.12

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.84 $14.84

$6.58 SAR 24.72

125.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.12 $15.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.59 $2.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.05 SAR 3.95

93.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.38 $30.38

$39.90 SAR 150

-23.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.73 SAR 10.25

8.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 $2.23

$0.55 SAR 2.07

305.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.56 $41.56

$13.58 SAR 51.0

206.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.64 SAR 2.40

46.87%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$34.6K SAR 129.8K

-28.09%

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

$19.7K $19.7K

$22.9K SAR 86.0K

-14.07%

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

$159 $159

$105 SAR 393

51.35%

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

$56.0 $56.0

$27.04 SAR 102

106.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$49.84 SAR 187

33.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.75 $43.75

$67.5 SAR 253

-35.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.77 SAR 153

Cinema Ticket

$15.18 $15.18

$16.29 SAR 61.2

-6.81%

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

$1,885 $1,885

$179 SAR 671

954.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K $14.2K

$3,754 SAR 14.1K

277.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.11 $40.11

$59.6 SAR 224

-32.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.09 $40.09

$54.2 SAR 204

-26.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.3 $79.3

$53.6 SAR 201

47.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.3 $96.3

$81.1 SAR 305

18.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 $2,094

$653 SAR 2,454

220.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,022 $2,022

$233 SAR 875

767.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,357 $3,357

$484 SAR 1,819

592.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,257 $3,257

$492 SAR 1,847

562.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,702 $2,702

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,088 $2,088

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,601 $4,601

$2,831 SAR 10.6K

62.51%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for AL Kharj: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,094 in Piscataway, NJ versus $653 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 63% 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 $79.0 in Piscataway, NJ versus $27.00 in AL Kharj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $351 vs $170 – 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: $3,100 in Piscataway, NJ, $943 in AL Kharj – roughly 229% apart. Piscataway, NJ costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,650 per month in Piscataway, NJ and $1,414 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 $1,885 per month in Piscataway, NJ and $179 in AL Kharj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 107% 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 $943, than in Piscataway, NJ at $3,100. 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.