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: $1,057 in Qatif versus $1,353 in Al Khobar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,683 in Qatif versus $2,112 in Al Khobar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,308 in Qatif versus $2,870 in Al Khobar.

Living in Qatif costs roughly 22% less than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Qatif is 21% below, Al Khobar is 1% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.41 SAR 12.78

$6.61 SAR 24.80

-48.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.84 SAR 183

$54.0 SAR 203

-9.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.03 SAR 30.13

$8.05 SAR 30.20

-0.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 SAR 7.20

$1.97 SAR 7.39

-2.54%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 SAR 6.82

$2.60 SAR 9.74

-30.00%

Cappuccino

$3.57 SAR 13.40

$4.23 SAR 15.86

-15.60%

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

$0.76 SAR 2.87

$0.94 SAR 3.51

-19.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 SAR 0.97

$0.48 SAR 1.81

-45.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 SAR 6.44

$1.70 SAR 6.38

1.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 SAR 3.11

$1.40 SAR 5.24

-40.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 SAR 7.93

$2.37 SAR 8.90

-10.97%

Eggs

$2.23 SAR 8.35

$2.83 SAR 10.62

-21.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.30 SAR 23.63

$6.79 SAR 25.46

-7.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.33 SAR 27.52

$9.15 SAR 34.33

-19.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.15 SAR 38.08

$12.28 SAR 46.09

-17.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 SAR 7.83

$2.50 SAR 9.39

-16.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 SAR 5.57

$1.73 SAR 6.50

-14.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 SAR 5.40

$2.21 SAR 8.29

-34.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 SAR 2.65

$1.58 SAR 5.92

-55.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.81

$1.49 SAR 5.60

-14.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 SAR 5.18

$1.74 SAR 6.51

-20.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 SAR 4.13

$1.75 SAR 6.58

-37.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 SAR 1.91

$0.60 SAR 2.24

-15.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.68 SAR 10.07

$2.70 SAR 10.12

-0.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 SAR 6.05

$1.48 SAR 5.56

8.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 SAR 7.31

$1.96 SAR 7.35

-0.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.84 SAR 29.43

$6.68 SAR 25.08

17.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.11

$0.89 SAR 3.32

22.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.62 SAR 149

$59.6 SAR 224

-33.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 SAR 11.84

$2.24 SAR 8.41

40.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 SAR 5.85

$1.36 SAR 5.11

14.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.37 SAR 50.2

$6.83 SAR 25.65

95.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$0.63 SAR 2.38

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

$22.6K SAR 84.9K

$21.7K SAR 81.6K

4.06%

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

$20.2K SAR 75.7K

$23.1K SAR 86.9K

-12.84%

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

$106 SAR 396

$122 SAR 457

-13.35%

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

$36.23 SAR 136

$34.14 SAR 128

6.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.2 SAR 222

$80.5 SAR 302

-26.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.6 SAR 355

$108 SAR 404

-12.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$57.5 SAR 216

$36.22 SAR 136

58.83%

Cinema Ticket

$15.54 SAR 58.3

$17.10 SAR 64.2

-9.12%

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

$401 SAR 1,505

$311 SAR 1,169

28.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,166 SAR 30.6K

$7,735 SAR 29.0K

5.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 SAR 194

$64.5 SAR 242

-19.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 SAR 191

$71.1 SAR 267

-28.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 SAR 338

$99.0 SAR 372

-9.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.8 SAR 326

$80.7 SAR 303

7.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$356 SAR 1,336

$432 SAR 1,619

-17.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 SAR 1,070

$393 SAR 1,476

-27.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$703 SAR 2,639

$1,052 SAR 3,949

-33.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 SAR 1,856

$804 SAR 3,016

-38.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$970 SAR 3,639

$2,374 SAR 8,910

-59.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$795 SAR 2,983

$1,456 SAR 5,464

-45.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,237 SAR 8,396

$1,847 SAR 6,931

21.12%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Al Khobar: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $356 in Qatif and $432 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Qatif pays 21% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $49.00 in Qatif vs $54.0 in Al Khobar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $175 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 28% 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.

Qatif pays 21% 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: $356 in Qatif versus $432 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 50% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $401 in Qatif versus $311 in Al Khobar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,057 in Qatif versus $1,353 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 28% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.