Cost of Living Comparison Between Qatif and JeddahCost of Living Comparison Between Qatif and Jeddah
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,087 per month in Qatif vs $1,203 in Jeddah, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,707 per month in Qatif vs $1,864 in Jeddah, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,328 per month in Qatif vs $2,526 in Jeddah, rent included.
🙂Qatif is about 10% cheaper than Jeddah, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Qatif and Jeddah are more affordable than the global median – Qatif18% lower, Jeddah10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44SAR 12.93
$6.57SAR 24.68
-47.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.42SAR 178
$39.91SAR 150
18.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.05SAR 30.22
$8.11SAR 30.43
-0.74%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.86SAR 6.97
$2.16SAR 8.10
-13.89%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82SAR 6.83
$2.16SAR 8.10
-15.74%
Cappuccino
$3.66SAR 13.72
$3.62SAR 13.61
1.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77SAR 2.91
$0.77SAR 2.87
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26SAR 0.97
$0.25SAR 0.94
4.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65SAR 6.20
$1.65SAR 6.21
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.81SAR 3.04
$0.98SAR 3.67
-17.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.03SAR 7.64
$2.26SAR 8.48
-10.18%
Eggs
$2.32SAR 8.73
$2.66SAR 9.98
-12.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.03SAR 22.63
$7.41SAR 27.83
-18.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.38SAR 27.72
$7.49SAR 28.13
-1.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.67SAR 36.29
$12.52SAR 47.01
-22.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.12SAR 7.95
$2.20SAR 8.27
-3.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48SAR 5.56
$1.66SAR 6.22
-10.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44SAR 5.42
$1.61SAR 6.06
-10.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.75SAR 2.83
$1.54SAR 5.80
-51.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.26SAR 4.74
$1.28SAR 4.80
-1.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35SAR 5.05
$1.22SAR 4.57
10.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10SAR 4.13
$1.05SAR 3.94
4.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55SAR 2.08
$0.59SAR 2.23
-6.78%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.73SAR 10.27
$4.21SAR 15.81
-35.15%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58SAR 5.93
$1.98SAR 7.42
-20.20%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02SAR 7.57
$2.47SAR 9.28
-18.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.68SAR 28.83
$6.51SAR 24.45
17.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.10SAR 4.14
$1.32SAR 4.94
-16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.26SAR 147
$40.04SAR 150
-1.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12SAR 11.71
$3.17SAR 11.92
-1.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.63SAR 6.13
$1.85SAR 6.96
-11.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.22SAR 49.64
$14.91SAR 56.0
-11.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.65SAR 2.43
$0.63SAR 2.35
3.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.6KSAR 84.7K
$26.5KSAR 99.3K
-14.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7KSAR 73.8K
$21.8KSAR 81.8K
-9.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104SAR 392
$108SAR 407
-3.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.20SAR 140
$31.95SAR 120
16.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.6SAR 224
$70.1SAR 263
-14.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$94.2SAR 354
$90.5SAR 340
4.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$56.9SAR 214
$46.39SAR 174
22.61%
Cinema Ticket
$15.36SAR 57.7
$13.29SAR 49.89
15.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$405SAR 1,521
$410SAR 1,538
-1.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,110SAR 30.5K
$6,547SAR 24.6K
23.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3SAR 192
$62.9SAR 236
-18.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.9SAR 191
$58.6SAR 220
-13.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.5SAR 343
$95.5SAR 359
-4.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8SAR 322
$82.8SAR 311
3.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$360SAR 1,351
$505SAR 1,898
-28.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$281SAR 1,054
$380SAR 1,426
-26.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$717SAR 2,692
$928SAR 3,484
-22.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$486SAR 1,826
$617SAR 2,315
-21.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$949SAR 3,562
$1,747SAR 6,561
-45.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$796SAR 2,990
$1,117SAR 4,194
-28.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,248SAR 8,439
$1,624SAR 6,096
38.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.33
4.5
-3.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Qatif: July 26, 2026
Last update for Jeddah: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $360 in Qatif versus $505 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 38% 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 $47.00 in Qatif versus $40.00 in Jeddah. Groceries tell a different story – $173 in Qatif vs $196 in Jeddah – so Qatif wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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: $1,087 in Qatif, $1,203 in Jeddah – roughly 11% apart. Jeddah costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Qatif compared to Jeddah?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,630 per month in Qatif and $1,804 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 $47.00 in Qatif and $40.00 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 $1,087 in Qatif and $1,203 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 $1,087, than in Jeddah at $1,203. 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.