Cost of Living Comparison Between Qatif and JeddahCost of Living Comparison Between Qatif and Jeddah
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,080 per month in Qatif vs $1,392 in Jeddah, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,638 per month in Qatif vs $2,099 in Jeddah, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,196 per month in Qatif vs $2,805 in Jeddah, rent included.
🙂Qatif is about 22% cheaper than Jeddah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Qatif sits 21% below the global median, while Jeddah is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56SAR 13.38
$6.67SAR 25.06
-46.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.17SAR 132
$53.6SAR 201
-34.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.67SAR 25.07
$8.24SAR 30.94
-19.05%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.89SAR 7.10
$2.57SAR 9.65
-26.46%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20SAR 8.27
$2.59SAR 9.72
-15.06%
Cappuccino
$2.95SAR 11.07
$3.56SAR 13.38
-17.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73SAR 2.73
$0.99SAR 3.71
-26.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15SAR 0.58
$0.24SAR 0.90
-37.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76SAR 6.61
$1.77SAR 6.63
-0.56%
White Bread(500g)
$0.94SAR 3.53
$1.26SAR 4.74
-25.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.95SAR 7.31
$2.36SAR 8.87
-17.37%
Eggs
$2.11SAR 7.93
$2.32SAR 8.72
-9.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.70SAR 21.42
$6.54SAR 24.58
-12.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.80SAR 29.31
$8.36SAR 31.38
-6.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.98SAR 48.76
$13.14SAR 49.36
-1.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.18SAR 8.20
$2.11SAR 7.94
3.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72SAR 6.45
$1.78SAR 6.68
-3.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.59SAR 5.96
$1.62SAR 6.07
-1.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.64SAR 2.39
$1.68SAR 6.33
-61.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.12SAR 4.21
$1.14SAR 4.27
-1.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10SAR 4.12
$1.24SAR 4.66
-11.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91SAR 3.41
$1.13SAR 4.24
-19.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50SAR 1.89
$0.54SAR 2.03
-7.41%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.63SAR 9.87
$4.24SAR 15.93
-37.97%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49SAR 5.61
$1.85SAR 6.96
-19.46%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17SAR 8.14
$2.48SAR 9.33
-12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.62SAR 24.85
$6.68SAR 25.09
-0.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.04SAR 3.91
$0.89SAR 3.34
16.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.12SAR 136
$55.3SAR 208
-34.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.36SAR 8.86
$3.16SAR 11.87
-25.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.51SAR 1.92
$1.77SAR 6.65
-71.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.10SAR 49.20
$13.72SAR 51.5
-4.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.61SAR 2.30
$0.61SAR 2.29
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8KSAR 134.6K
$47.8KSAR 179.7K
-25.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8KSAR 78.2K
$21.6KSAR 81.2K
-3.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103SAR 388
$104SAR 392
-0.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.42SAR 126
$38.73SAR 145
-13.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.3SAR 219
$66.1SAR 248
-11.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$82.7SAR 311
$86.3SAR 324
-4.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.55SAR 141
$41.48SAR 156
-9.47%
Cinema Ticket
$13.21SAR 49.60
$11.89SAR 44.67
11.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$270SAR 1,015
$738SAR 2,773
-63.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,795SAR 29.3K
$15.7KSAR 58.9K
-50.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.48SAR 118
$68.5SAR 257
-54.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.90SAR 78.5
$60.0SAR 225
-65.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.6SAR 355
$97.7SAR 367
-3.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.4SAR 340
$98.8SAR 371
-8.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$574SAR 2,157
$781SAR 2,935
-26.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$346SAR 1,298
$538SAR 2,021
-35.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$873SAR 3,281
$1,329SAR 4,990
-34.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$547SAR 2,055
$856SAR 3,215
-36.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$951SAR 3,573
$1,772SAR 6,654
-46.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$783SAR 2,942
$1,149SAR 4,315
-31.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,249SAR 8,448
$1,621SAR 6,087
38.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.5
5.39
2.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Qatif: September 13, 2026
Last update for Jeddah: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $574 in Qatif versus $781 in Jeddah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 39% higher in Qatif, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Qatif versus $54.0 in Jeddah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $203 – making Qatif the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Jeddah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Qatif and in Jeddah compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,080 in Qatif, $1,392 in Jeddah – roughly 29% apart. Jeddah costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Qatif compared to Jeddah?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,620 per month in Qatif and $2,088 in Jeddah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Qatif and Jeddah?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Qatif, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Qatif and $54.0 in Jeddah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Qatif or Jeddah?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,080 in Qatif and $1,392 in Jeddah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Qatif, where all-in costs run around $1,080, than in Jeddah at $1,392. In Qatif it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jeddah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Qatif or Jeddah?
Families tend to lean toward Qatif – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Qatif or Jeddah safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Qatif and Jeddah?
If budget matters most, go with Qatif. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jeddah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.