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: $1,087 in Qatif versus $1,196 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,707 in Qatif versus $1,860 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,328 in Qatif versus $2,524 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Qatif costs roughly 9% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Qatif 18% lower, Ad Dammam 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 SAR 12.93

$7.29 SAR 27.36

-52.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.42 SAR 178

$53.7 SAR 202

-11.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.05 SAR 30.22

$8.03 SAR 30.16

0.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.86 SAR 6.97

$1.82 SAR 6.83

2.20%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 SAR 6.83

$1.90 SAR 7.14

-4.21%

Cappuccino

$3.66 SAR 13.72

$3.73 SAR 14.00

-1.88%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.91

$0.92 SAR 3.44

-16.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 SAR 0.97

$0.35 SAR 1.30

-25.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 SAR 6.20

$1.63 SAR 6.13

1.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 SAR 3.04

$1.46 SAR 5.49

-44.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 SAR 7.64

$2.09 SAR 7.86

-2.87%

Eggs

$2.32 SAR 8.73

$2.27 SAR 8.53

2.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 SAR 22.63

$6.12 SAR 22.97

-1.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.38 SAR 27.72

$7.25 SAR 27.23

1.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.67 SAR 36.29

$9.70 SAR 36.41

-0.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 SAR 7.95

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 SAR 5.56

$1.49 SAR 5.61

-0.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 SAR 5.42

$1.40 SAR 5.24

2.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 SAR 2.83

$1.59 SAR 5.98

-52.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 SAR 4.74

$1.28 SAR 4.82

-1.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 SAR 5.05

$1.32 SAR 4.97

2.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 SAR 4.13

$1.36 SAR 5.12

-19.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 SAR 2.08

$0.59 SAR 2.21

-6.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.73 SAR 10.27

$4.13 SAR 15.50

-33.90%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 SAR 5.93

$1.56 SAR 5.84

1.28%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 SAR 7.57

$1.92 SAR 7.22

5.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.68 SAR 28.83

$7.76 SAR 29.12

-1.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 SAR 4.14

$0.95 SAR 3.57

15.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.26 SAR 147

$39.54 SAR 148

-0.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 SAR 11.71

$3.38 SAR 12.70

-7.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 SAR 6.13

$2.62 SAR 9.85

-37.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.22 SAR 49.64

$13.54 SAR 50.8

-2.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 SAR 2.43

$0.60 SAR 2.25

8.33%

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

$22.6K SAR 84.7K

$23.0K SAR 86.3K

-1.83%

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

$19.7K SAR 73.8K

$21.1K SAR 79.1K

-6.70%

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

$104 SAR 392

$115 SAR 432

-9.31%

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

$37.20 SAR 140

$38.60 SAR 145

-3.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.6 SAR 224

$63.5 SAR 239

-6.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.2 SAR 354

$70.5 SAR 265

33.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$56.9 SAR 214

$31.26 SAR 117

81.96%

Cinema Ticket

$15.36 SAR 57.7

$15.06 SAR 56.6

1.99%

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

$405 SAR 1,521

$415 SAR 1,558

-2.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,110 SAR 30.5K

$8,157 SAR 30.6K

-0.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 SAR 192

$68.6 SAR 258

-25.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.9 SAR 191

$66.7 SAR 250

-23.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 SAR 343

$92.6 SAR 347

-1.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 SAR 322

$85.7 SAR 322

0.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 SAR 1,351

$447 SAR 1,677

-19.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 SAR 1,054

$378 SAR 1,421

-25.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$717 SAR 2,692

$805 SAR 3,021

-10.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$486 SAR 1,826

$626 SAR 2,350

-22.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$949 SAR 3,562

$1,353 SAR 5,081

-29.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$796 SAR 2,990

$816 SAR 3,062

-2.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,248 SAR 8,439

$1,510 SAR 5,668

48.89%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $360 in Qatif and $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Qatif pays 49% 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 $184 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 10% 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.

Average pay runs 49% higher in Qatif, 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: $360 in Qatif versus $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,087 per month in Qatif versus $1,196 in Ad Dammam – a 10% 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 $1,087 in Qatif versus $1,196 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 10% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.