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: $1,055 in Qatif versus $1,341 in Al Khobar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,678 in Qatif versus $2,136 in Al Khobar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,301 in Qatif versus $2,931 in Al Khobar.

Living in Qatif costs roughly 21% less than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Qatif is 21% below, Al Khobar is 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.39 SAR 12.71

$6.80 SAR 25.51

-50.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.21 SAR 181

$52.4 SAR 196

-7.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.10 SAR 30.38

$7.81 SAR 29.27

3.71%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.88 SAR 7.05

$2.03 SAR 7.63

-7.39%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 SAR 6.89

$2.73 SAR 10.23

-32.60%

Cappuccino

$3.53 SAR 13.23

$4.23 SAR 15.84

-16.55%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.89

$1.02 SAR 3.84

-24.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 SAR 0.97

$0.49 SAR 1.83

-46.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 SAR 6.18

$1.77 SAR 6.63

-6.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 SAR 3.01

$1.34 SAR 5.02

-40.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.10 SAR 7.89

$2.40 SAR 9.01

-12.50%

Eggs

$2.33 SAR 8.73

$2.82 SAR 10.57

-17.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.20 SAR 23.26

$6.88 SAR 25.80

-9.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.16 SAR 26.83

$9.05 SAR 33.93

-20.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.02 SAR 37.58

$12.37 SAR 46.39

-19.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 SAR 8.01

$2.43 SAR 9.11

-11.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.76

$1.73 SAR 6.47

-10.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 SAR 5.38

$2.21 SAR 8.29

-34.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.72 SAR 2.68

$1.62 SAR 6.08

-55.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.78

$1.43 SAR 5.36

-10.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 SAR 4.99

$1.72 SAR 6.46

-22.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 SAR 4.15

$1.71 SAR 6.40

-35.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 SAR 1.90

$0.59 SAR 2.23

-13.56%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.60 SAR 9.73

$2.72 SAR 10.21

-4.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 SAR 5.87

$1.47 SAR 5.50

6.80%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 SAR 7.48

$1.87 SAR 7.02

6.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.51 SAR 28.17

$6.59 SAR 24.71

13.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.08

$0.91 SAR 3.40

19.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.91 SAR 150

$59.5 SAR 223

-32.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 SAR 11.71

$2.21 SAR 8.29

41.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 SAR 5.88

$1.31 SAR 4.90

19.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.41 SAR 50.3

$6.69 SAR 25.08

100.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$0.63 SAR 2.38

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

$22.5K SAR 84.3K

$21.0K SAR 78.7K

7.05%

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

$19.6K SAR 73.5K

$23.1K SAR 86.5K

-14.99%

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

$103 SAR 387

$123 SAR 461

-15.97%

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

$37.05 SAR 139

$34.30 SAR 129

8.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.9 SAR 221

$80.9 SAR 303

-27.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.3 SAR 357

$109 SAR 409

-12.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$57.2 SAR 214

$36.07 SAR 135

58.55%

Cinema Ticket

$15.22 SAR 57.1

$17.15 SAR 64.3

-11.25%

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

$392 SAR 1,470

$306 SAR 1,147

28.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,106 SAR 30.4K

$7,552 SAR 28.3K

7.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.4 SAR 196

$62.9 SAR 236

-16.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 SAR 190

$68.8 SAR 258

-26.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 SAR 343

$99.1 SAR 372

-7.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.4 SAR 320

$79.1 SAR 297

7.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$356 SAR 1,333

$437 SAR 1,639

-18.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 SAR 1,058

$394 SAR 1,479

-28.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$710 SAR 2,661

$1,054 SAR 3,952

-32.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 SAR 1,855

$788 SAR 2,955

-37.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$943 SAR 3,537

$2,411 SAR 9,040

-60.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$776 SAR 2,910

$1,432 SAR 5,370

-45.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,869 SAR 7,009

$1,942 SAR 7,283

-3.76%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Al Khobar: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $356 in Qatif and $437 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 4% 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 $52.0 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 27% 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.

On paper, Al Khobar earns 4% 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 $437 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 49% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $392 in Qatif versus $306 in Al Khobar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,055 in Qatif versus $1,341 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 27% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.