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: $1,080 in Qatif versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,638 in Qatif versus $1,828 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,196 in Qatif versus $2,450 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Qatif costs roughly 10% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Qatif 21% lower, Ad Dammam 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 SAR 13.38

$7.90 SAR 29.66

-54.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.17 SAR 132

$35.27 SAR 132

-0.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 SAR 25.07

$6.78 SAR 25.48

-1.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.89 SAR 7.10

$1.92 SAR 7.23

-1.56%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 SAR 8.27

$2.22 SAR 8.33

-0.90%

Cappuccino

$2.95 SAR 11.07

$2.98 SAR 11.18

-1.01%

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

$0.73 SAR 2.73

$0.77 SAR 2.90

-5.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 SAR 0.58

$0.20 SAR 0.77

-25.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 SAR 6.61

$1.80 SAR 6.77

-2.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 SAR 3.53

$1.27 SAR 4.78

-25.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 SAR 7.31

$1.87 SAR 7.02

4.28%

Eggs

$2.11 SAR 7.93

$2.18 SAR 8.19

-3.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.70 SAR 21.42

$7.26 SAR 27.26

-21.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.80 SAR 29.31

$7.74 SAR 29.06

0.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.98 SAR 48.76

$12.95 SAR 48.63

0.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 SAR 8.20

$2.19 SAR 8.23

-0.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 SAR 6.45

$1.66 SAR 6.24

3.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 SAR 5.96

$1.58 SAR 5.92

0.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 SAR 2.39

$1.56 SAR 5.84

-58.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 SAR 4.21

$1.11 SAR 4.18

0.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 SAR 4.12

$1.16 SAR 4.37

-5.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 SAR 3.41

$1.27 SAR 4.75

-28.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 SAR 1.89

$0.58 SAR 2.19

-13.79%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.63 SAR 9.87

$4.20 SAR 15.77

-37.38%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 SAR 5.61

$1.52 SAR 5.70

-1.97%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 SAR 8.14

$2.21 SAR 8.31

-1.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.62 SAR 24.85

$7.58 SAR 28.45

-12.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 SAR 3.91

$0.98 SAR 3.69

6.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.12 SAR 136

$35.71 SAR 134

1.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 SAR 8.86

$2.74 SAR 10.28

-13.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 SAR 1.92

$2.62 SAR 9.82

-80.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.10 SAR 49.20

$13.54 SAR 50.8

-3.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 SAR 2.30

$0.60 SAR 2.27

1.67%

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

$35.8K SAR 134.6K

$66.7K SAR 250.4K

-46.25%

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

$20.8K SAR 78.2K

$21.0K SAR 79.0K

-1.06%

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

$103 SAR 388

$127 SAR 478

-18.82%

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

$33.42 SAR 126

$32.69 SAR 123

2.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.3 SAR 219

$64.4 SAR 242

-9.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.7 SAR 311

$77.7 SAR 292

6.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.55 SAR 141

$28.77 SAR 108

30.52%

Cinema Ticket

$13.21 SAR 49.60

$13.58 SAR 51.0

-2.72%

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

$270 SAR 1,015

$419 SAR 1,574

-35.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,795 SAR 29.3K

$7,803 SAR 29.3K

-0.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.48 SAR 118

$42.01 SAR 158

-25.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.90 SAR 78.5

$49.62 SAR 186

-57.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.6 SAR 355

$97.9 SAR 368

-3.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.4 SAR 340

$91.6 SAR 344

-1.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 SAR 2,157

$584 SAR 2,193

-1.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 SAR 1,298

$369 SAR 1,385

-6.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$873 SAR 3,281

$985 SAR 3,700

-11.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$547 SAR 2,055

$673 SAR 2,529

-18.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$951 SAR 3,573

$1,416 SAR 5,319

-32.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$783 SAR 2,942

$600 SAR 2,253

30.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,249 SAR 8,448

$1,520 SAR 5,708

48.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

5.9

-6.78%

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

Last update for Qatif: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $574 in Qatif and $584 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Qatif pays 48% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35.00 in Qatif vs $35.00 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $199 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 12% 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 48% 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: $574 in Qatif versus $584 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,080 per month in Qatif versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam – a 12% 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 $1,080 in Qatif versus $1,205 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 12% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.