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: $1,055 in Qatif versus $1,237 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,678 in Qatif versus $1,905 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,301 in Qatif versus $2,574 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Qatif costs roughly 15% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Qatif 21% lower, Ad Dammam 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.39 SAR 12.71

$7.31 SAR 27.41

-53.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.21 SAR 181

$53.9 SAR 202

-10.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.10 SAR 30.38

$8.13 SAR 30.50

-0.37%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.88 SAR 7.05

$1.86 SAR 6.97

1.08%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 SAR 6.89

$1.84 SAR 6.91

Cappuccino

$3.53 SAR 13.23

$3.67 SAR 13.78

-3.81%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.89

$0.84 SAR 3.15

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 SAR 0.97

$0.37 SAR 1.39

-29.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 SAR 6.18

$1.72 SAR 6.45

-4.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 SAR 3.01

$1.47 SAR 5.50

-45.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.10 SAR 7.89

$2.11 SAR 7.91

-0.47%

Eggs

$2.33 SAR 8.73

$2.29 SAR 8.58

1.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.20 SAR 23.26

$6.28 SAR 23.54

-1.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.16 SAR 26.83

$7.43 SAR 27.85

-3.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.02 SAR 37.58

$10.11 SAR 37.91

-0.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 SAR 8.01

$2.21 SAR 8.27

-3.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.76

$1.48 SAR 5.57

4.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 SAR 5.38

$1.45 SAR 5.43

-0.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.72 SAR 2.68

$1.67 SAR 6.25

-56.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.78

$1.28 SAR 4.82

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 SAR 4.99

$1.33 SAR 4.98

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 SAR 4.15

$1.30 SAR 4.88

-14.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 SAR 1.90

$0.59 SAR 2.22

-13.56%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.60 SAR 9.73

$4.24 SAR 15.88

-38.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 SAR 5.87

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 SAR 7.48

$2.02 SAR 7.56

-1.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.51 SAR 28.17

$8.04 SAR 30.17

-6.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.08

$0.89 SAR 3.33

22.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.91 SAR 150

$39.57 SAR 148

0.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 SAR 11.71

$3.31 SAR 12.42

-5.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 SAR 5.88

$2.73 SAR 10.22

-42.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.41 SAR 50.3

$13.14 SAR 49.27

2.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$0.64 SAR 2.40

-1.56%

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

$22.5K SAR 84.3K

$22.7K SAR 85.3K

-1.19%

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

$19.6K SAR 73.5K

$20.9K SAR 78.2K

-5.97%

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

$103 SAR 387

$117 SAR 438

-11.65%

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

$37.05 SAR 139

$38.51 SAR 144

-3.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.9 SAR 221

$63.3 SAR 237

-6.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.3 SAR 357

$69.6 SAR 261

36.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$57.2 SAR 214

$30.63 SAR 115

86.71%

Cinema Ticket

$15.22 SAR 57.1

$15.02 SAR 56.3

1.33%

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

$392 SAR 1,470

$425 SAR 1,592

-7.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,106 SAR 30.4K

$8,339 SAR 31.3K

-2.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.4 SAR 196

$67.0 SAR 251

-21.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 SAR 190

$66.0 SAR 248

-23.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 SAR 343

$92.6 SAR 347

-1.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.4 SAR 320

$87.2 SAR 327

-2.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$356 SAR 1,333

$445 SAR 1,670

-20.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 SAR 1,058

$377 SAR 1,414

-25.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$710 SAR 2,661

$799 SAR 2,997

-11.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 SAR 1,855

$640 SAR 2,398

-22.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$943 SAR 3,537

$894 SAR 3,352

5.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$776 SAR 2,910

$778 SAR 2,917

-0.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,869 SAR 7,009

$1,974 SAR 7,403

-5.31%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $356 in Qatif and $445 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 6% 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: $48.00 in Qatif vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $189 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 17% 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.

On paper, Ad Dammam earns 6% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $356 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 $1,055 per month in Qatif versus $1,237 in Ad Dammam – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Qatif runs roughly 1% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,055 in Qatif versus $1,237 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 17% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.