Cost of Living Comparison Between Qatif and Al Khobar Cost of Living Comparison Between Qatif and Al Khobar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,087 in Qatif versus $1,323 in Al Khobar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,707 in Qatif versus $2,104 in Al Khobar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,328 in Qatif versus $2,885 in Al Khobar.

Living in Qatif costs roughly 18% less than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Qatif 18% lower, Al Khobar 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 SAR 12.94

$6.47 SAR 24.31

-46.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.42 SAR 178

$53.2 SAR 200

-10.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.05 SAR 30.22

$7.78 SAR 29.21

3.47%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.86 SAR 6.97

$2.02 SAR 7.60

-7.92%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 SAR 6.83

$2.64 SAR 9.92

-31.06%

Cappuccino

$3.66 SAR 13.73

$4.38 SAR 16.46

-16.44%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.91

$1.02 SAR 3.84

-24.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 SAR 0.97

$0.51 SAR 1.92

-49.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 SAR 6.20

$1.75 SAR 6.58

-5.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 SAR 3.04

$1.39 SAR 5.22

-41.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 SAR 7.64

$2.40 SAR 9.01

-15.42%

Eggs

$2.32 SAR 8.73

$2.83 SAR 10.62

-18.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 SAR 22.64

$6.64 SAR 24.92

-9.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.38 SAR 27.72

$8.95 SAR 33.60

-17.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.67 SAR 36.30

$12.73 SAR 47.82

-24.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 SAR 7.95

$2.54 SAR 9.52

-16.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 SAR 5.56

$1.74 SAR 6.52

-14.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 SAR 5.42

$2.15 SAR 8.09

-33.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 SAR 2.83

$1.57 SAR 5.90

-52.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 SAR 4.74

$1.42 SAR 5.33

-11.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 SAR 5.05

$1.66 SAR 6.24

-18.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 SAR 4.13

$1.71 SAR 6.43

-35.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 SAR 2.08

$0.58 SAR 2.19

-5.17%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.73 SAR 10.27

$2.61 SAR 9.82

4.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 SAR 5.93

$1.42 SAR 5.34

11.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 SAR 7.58

$1.98 SAR 7.43

2.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.68 SAR 28.83

$6.62 SAR 24.86

16.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 SAR 4.14

$0.96 SAR 3.60

14.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.26 SAR 147

$61.6 SAR 231

-36.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 SAR 11.72

$2.23 SAR 8.39

39.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 SAR 6.13

$1.31 SAR 4.93

24.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.22 SAR 49.64

$6.79 SAR 25.48

94.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 SAR 2.43

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

$22.6K SAR 84.8K

$21.2K SAR 79.8K

6.24%

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

$19.7K SAR 73.8K

$23.0K SAR 86.2K

-14.39%

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

$104 SAR 392

$122 SAR 458

-14.40%

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

$37.20 SAR 140

$34.21 SAR 128

8.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.6 SAR 224

$81.4 SAR 306

-26.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.2 SAR 354

$106 SAR 400

-11.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$56.9 SAR 214

$36.66 SAR 138

55.16%

Cinema Ticket

$15.36 SAR 57.7

$17.12 SAR 64.3

-10.28%

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

$405 SAR 1,521

$301 SAR 1,129

34.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,110 SAR 30.5K

$7,632 SAR 28.7K

6.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 SAR 192

$63.6 SAR 239

-19.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.9 SAR 191

$69.1 SAR 259

-26.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 SAR 343

$100.0 SAR 375

-8.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 SAR 322

$78.0 SAR 293

10.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 SAR 1,351

$430 SAR 1,615

-16.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 SAR 1,054

$394 SAR 1,479

-28.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$717 SAR 2,693

$1,049 SAR 3,939

-31.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$486 SAR 1,826

$800 SAR 3,004

-39.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$949 SAR 3,563

$2,385 SAR 8,955

-60.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$796 SAR 2,990

$1,459 SAR 5,479

-45.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,248 SAR 8,440

$1,822 SAR 6,843

23.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.33

3.84

12.76%

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

Last update for Qatif: July 26, 2026

Last update for Al Khobar: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $360 in Qatif and $430 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Qatif pays 23% 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 $53.0 in Al Khobar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $216 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 Al Khobar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Qatif wins on cost – living expenses run 22% lower than in Al Khobar. 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 23% 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 $430 in Al Khobar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Qatif runs roughly 57% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $405 in Qatif versus $301 in Al Khobar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,087 in Qatif versus $1,323 in Al Khobar, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Qatif but tight or insufficient in Al Khobar. 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 Al Khobar 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 22% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.