Cost of Living Comparison Between Qatif and Ad Dammam Cost of Living Comparison Between Qatif and Ad Dammam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,059 in Qatif versus $1,207 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,673 in Qatif versus $1,891 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,288 in Qatif versus $2,575 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Qatif costs roughly 12% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Qatif 21% lower, Ad Dammam 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.41 SAR 12.81

$7.49 SAR 28.11

-54.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.01 SAR 176

$54.1 SAR 203

-13.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 SAR 29.55

$7.78 SAR 29.21

1.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.86 SAR 6.96

$1.91 SAR 7.16

-2.62%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 SAR 7.11

$1.82 SAR 6.82

3.85%

Cappuccino

$3.55 SAR 13.31

$3.60 SAR 13.51

-1.39%

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

$0.82 SAR 3.07

$0.89 SAR 3.34

-7.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 SAR 0.98

$0.35 SAR 1.31

-25.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 SAR 6.47

$1.66 SAR 6.24

4.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 SAR 3.02

$1.45 SAR 5.45

-44.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.01 SAR 7.53

$2.00 SAR 7.52

0.50%

Eggs

$2.33 SAR 8.73

$2.24 SAR 8.41

4.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.30 SAR 23.62

$6.01 SAR 22.56

4.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.15 SAR 26.82

$7.22 SAR 27.11

-0.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.02 SAR 37.61

$9.97 SAR 37.41

0.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 SAR 7.83

$2.17 SAR 8.16

-3.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 SAR 5.51

$1.50 SAR 5.61

-2.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 SAR 5.27

$1.41 SAR 5.28

-0.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 SAR 2.64

$1.60 SAR 6.01

-56.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.80

$1.22 SAR 4.59

4.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 SAR 5.16

$1.39 SAR 5.22

-0.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 SAR 4.30

$1.36 SAR 5.10

-15.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 SAR 1.90

$0.59 SAR 2.22

-13.56%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.65 SAR 9.93

$4.19 SAR 15.71

-36.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 SAR 5.80

$1.62 SAR 6.08

-4.32%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 SAR 7.24

$2.00 SAR 7.49

-3.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.82 SAR 29.33

$7.84 SAR 29.43

-0.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 SAR 4.06

$0.95 SAR 3.56

13.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.34 SAR 148

$40.76 SAR 153

-3.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 SAR 12.24

$3.36 SAR 12.60

-2.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 SAR 6.06

$2.71 SAR 10.18

-40.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.20 SAR 49.52

$13.53 SAR 50.8

-2.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.26

$0.61 SAR 2.28

-1.64%

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

$22.2K SAR 83.5K

$22.9K SAR 85.8K

-2.70%

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

$19.8K SAR 74.2K

$20.7K SAR 77.6K

-4.48%

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

$105 SAR 396

$117 SAR 440

-10.01%

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

$36.22 SAR 136

$38.94 SAR 146

-6.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.0 SAR 229

$62.3 SAR 234

-2.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.3 SAR 358

$69.0 SAR 259

38.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$57.3 SAR 215

$30.82 SAR 116

85.76%

Cinema Ticket

$15.49 SAR 58.1

$15.05 SAR 56.5

2.92%

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

$393 SAR 1,476

$414 SAR 1,552

-4.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,396 SAR 31.5K

$8,178 SAR 30.7K

2.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 SAR 198

$69.0 SAR 259

-23.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.1 SAR 192

$67.6 SAR 254

-24.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.3 SAR 343

$90.7 SAR 340

0.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.2 SAR 323

$85.9 SAR 322

0.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$361 SAR 1,355

$445 SAR 1,669

-18.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$290 SAR 1,088

$385 SAR 1,446

-24.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$695 SAR 2,606

$800 SAR 3,002

-13.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$483 SAR 1,811

$635 SAR 2,382

-23.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$963 SAR 3,612

$1,331 SAR 4,995

-27.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$780 SAR 2,927

$804 SAR 3,019

-3.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,308 SAR 8,661

$1,884 SAR 7,071

22.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.33

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

Last update for Qatif: June 6, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $361 in Qatif and $445 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Qatif pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $47.00 in Qatif vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $185 per month, with Qatif 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

Qatif vs Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Qatif wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Qatif the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Qatif pays 22% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $361 in Qatif versus $445 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,059 per month in Qatif versus $1,207 in Ad Dammam – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Qatif runs roughly 4% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,059 in Qatif versus $1,207 in Ad Dammam, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Qatif but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Qatif the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Qatif and Ad Dammam are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Qatif gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.