Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Qatif and Athens

For one person, living is cheaper in Qatif: $1,132 a month against $1,779 in Athens, rent and utilities included – about $7,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Qatif, Saudi Arabia
Athens, Greece
Qatif
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,132
/mo nomad
Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,779
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Qatif and in Athens

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Qatif and in Athens actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,132 in Qatif versus $1,779 in Athens.

  • Qatif $1,132
  • Athens $1,779

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,668 in Qatif versus $2,721 in Athens.

  • Qatif $1,668
  • Athens $2,721

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,203 in Qatif versus $3,663 in Athens.

  • Qatif $2,203
  • Athens $3,663

Living in Qatif costs roughly 36% less than in Athens, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Qatif is 16% below, Athens is 32% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Qatif
Athens
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.38 SAR 12.70
$16.83 €14.99
-79.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.57 SAR 130
$66.0 €58.8
-47.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.71 SAR 25.19
$11.21 €9.98
-40.14%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.84 SAR 6.92
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 SAR 8.69
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.09 SAR 11.61
$4.08 €3.64
-24.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 SAR 2.86
$2.77 €2.47
-72.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 SAR 0.63
$0.54 €0.48
-68.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$5.70 €5.07
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.26 €5.58
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Qatif
Athens
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 SAR 6.80
$1.84 €1.64
-1.63%
White Bread (500g)
$0.91 SAR 3.40
$1.43 €1.27
-36.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 SAR 7.02
$2.67 €2.38
-29.96%
Eggs
$2.17 SAR 8.16
$4.95 €4.41
-56.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.98 SAR 22.46
$15.09 €13.44
-60.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.89 SAR 29.60
$10.99 €9.79
-28.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.92 SAR 48.50
$19.77 €17.60
-34.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.23 SAR 8.35
$2.12 €1.89
5.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 SAR 6.45
$1.98 €1.76
-13.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 SAR 6.14
$1.33 €1.18
23.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.67 SAR 2.53
$2.16 €1.92
-68.98%
Potato (1kg)
$1.07 SAR 4.02
$1.06 €0.94
0.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 SAR 4.13
$1.15 €1.02
-4.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 SAR 3.38
$1.08 €0.96
-16.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 SAR 2.05
$0.85 €0.75
-35.29%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.61 SAR 9.81
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 SAR 5.43
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 SAR 8.03
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.26 SAR 23.48
$5.46 €4.86
14.65%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.03 €8.93
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.04 €1.82
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.38 €2.12
-
🚌 Getting Around
Qatif
Athens
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.09 SAR 4.09
$1.35 €1.20
-19.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.49 SAR 137
$30.52 €27.18
19.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.23 SAR 8.36
$3.81 €3.39
-41.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.51 SAR 1.93
$1.03 €0.92
-50.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.87 SAR 52.1
$16.49 €14.68
-15.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.58 SAR 2.19
$2.34 €2.09
-75.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K SAR 111.0K
$27.8K €24.7K
6.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K SAR 76.6K
$26.6K €23.7K
-23.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qatif
Athens
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 SAR 384
$202 €180
-49.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.29 SAR 121
$26.81 €23.87
20.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.3 SAR 215
$30.49 €27.14
88.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Qatif
Athens
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$79.4 SAR 298
$54.1 €48.14
46.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.92 SAR 78.5
$27.40 €24.40
-23.65%
Cinema Ticket
$13.51 SAR 50.7
$10.44 €9.30
29.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Qatif
Athens
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$261 SAR 981
$568 €505
-53.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,424 SAR 35.4K
$15.2K €13.5K
-37.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Qatif
Athens
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.04 SAR 120
$90.7 €80.7
-64.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.97 SAR 78.7
$39.32 €35.01
-46.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 SAR 354
$105 €93.7
-10.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.1 SAR 342
$129 €115
-29.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Qatif
Athens
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$565 SAR 2,119
$742 €661
-23.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$406 SAR 1,525
$648 €577
-37.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$888 SAR 3,334
$1,271 €1,132
-30.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$608 SAR 2,280
$1,122 €999
-45.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$965 SAR 3,623
$3,999 €3,561
-75.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$773 SAR 2,902
$3,281 €2,921
-76.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Qatif
Athens
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,222 SAR 8,339
$1,245 €1,109
78.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.5
4.44
23.87%

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

Last update for Qatif: November 3, 2026

Last update for Athens: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Qatif
$406
Athens
$648 59.6% $242
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qatif
$192
Athens
$260 35.2% $68
Groceries & Markets
Qatif
$186
Athens
$316 69.7% $130
Clothing & Footwear
Qatif
$107
Athens
$164 52.7% $57
Sport & Entertainment
Qatif
$106
Athens
$75 29.6% $32
Eating Out
Qatif
$88
Athens
$272 208% $183
Getting Around
Qatif
$46
Athens
$45 1.7% $0.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $565 in Qatif and $742 in Athens. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Qatif pays 78% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35 in Qatif vs $66 in Athens for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $316 per month, with Qatif cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇦 Qatif
🇬🇷 Athens
🕒 Local time
16:13 4:13 PM
15:13 3:13 PM
1 h behind Qatif
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
87,332
3,090,508 Capital
💱 Currency
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to SAR – Saudi Riyal Converter

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.22 SAR (1 SAR = 0.237 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 0.89 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Qatif Athens 2,760 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Qatif
  • Athens

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Athens: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Qatif or Athens?
Qatif wins on cost – living expenses run 36% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Qatif the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Qatif or in Athens?
Average pay runs 78% higher in Qatif, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Qatif compared to Athens?
Rent for a central apartment: $565 in Qatif versus $742 in Athens. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Qatif and in Athens?
Dining out is cheaper in Qatif – a meal for two runs $35 versus $66 in Athens. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Qatif compared to Athens?
All in, you’ll spend $1,132 per month in Qatif versus $1,779 in Athens – Qatif is about 36% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Qatif or in Athens?
Either city works on $2,000 a month, though Qatif gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Qatif or Athens?
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.
How safe is Qatif compared to Athens?
Safety-wise, Qatif and Athens are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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