Cost of Living Comparison Between Qatif and Jeddah Cost 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
$3.56 SAR 13.38
$6.67 SAR 25.06
-46.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.17 SAR 132
$53.6 SAR 201
-34.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.67 SAR 25.07
$8.24 SAR 30.94
-19.05%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.89 SAR 7.10
$2.57 SAR 9.65
-26.46%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 SAR 8.27
$2.59 SAR 9.72
-15.06%
Cappuccino
$2.95 SAR 11.07
$3.56 SAR 13.38
-17.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 SAR 2.73
$0.99 SAR 3.71
-26.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 SAR 0.58
$0.24 SAR 0.90
-37.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 SAR 6.61
$1.77 SAR 6.63
-0.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.94 SAR 3.53
$1.26 SAR 4.74
-25.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.95 SAR 7.31
$2.36 SAR 8.87
-17.37%
Eggs
$2.11 SAR 7.93
$2.32 SAR 8.72
-9.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.70 SAR 21.42
$6.54 SAR 24.58
-12.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.80 SAR 29.31
$8.36 SAR 31.38
-6.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.98 SAR 48.76
$13.14 SAR 49.36
-1.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.18 SAR 8.20
$2.11 SAR 7.94
3.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 SAR 6.45
$1.78 SAR 6.68
-3.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.59 SAR 5.96
$1.62 SAR 6.07
-1.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.64 SAR 2.39
$1.68 SAR 6.33
-61.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 SAR 4.21
$1.14 SAR 4.27
-1.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 SAR 4.12
$1.24 SAR 4.66
-11.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 SAR 3.41
$1.13 SAR 4.24
-19.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 SAR 1.89
$0.54 SAR 2.03
-7.41%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.63 SAR 9.87
$4.24 SAR 15.93
-37.97%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 SAR 5.61
$1.85 SAR 6.96
-19.46%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 SAR 8.14
$2.48 SAR 9.33
-12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.62 SAR 24.85
$6.68 SAR 25.09
-0.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.04 SAR 3.91
$0.89 SAR 3.34
16.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.12 SAR 136
$55.3 SAR 208
-34.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.36 SAR 8.86
$3.16 SAR 11.87
-25.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.51 SAR 1.92
$1.77 SAR 6.65
-71.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.10 SAR 49.20
$13.72 SAR 51.5
-4.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.61 SAR 2.30
$0.61 SAR 2.29
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K SAR 134.6K
$47.8K SAR 179.7K
-25.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K SAR 78.2K
$21.6K SAR 81.2K
-3.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 SAR 388
$104 SAR 392
-0.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.42 SAR 126
$38.73 SAR 145
-13.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.3 SAR 219
$66.1 SAR 248
-11.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$82.7 SAR 311
$86.3 SAR 324
-4.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.55 SAR 141
$41.48 SAR 156
-9.47%
Cinema Ticket
$13.21 SAR 49.60
$11.89 SAR 44.67
11.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$270 SAR 1,015
$738 SAR 2,773
-63.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,795 SAR 29.3K
$15.7K SAR 58.9K
-50.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.48 SAR 118
$68.5 SAR 257
-54.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.90 SAR 78.5
$60.0 SAR 225
-65.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.6 SAR 355
$97.7 SAR 367
-3.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.4 SAR 340
$98.8 SAR 371
-8.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$574 SAR 2,157
$781 SAR 2,935
-26.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$346 SAR 1,298
$538 SAR 2,021
-35.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$873 SAR 3,281
$1,329 SAR 4,990
-34.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$547 SAR 2,055
$856 SAR 3,215
-36.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$951 SAR 3,573
$1,772 SAR 6,654
-46.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$783 SAR 2,942
$1,149 SAR 4,315
-31.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,249 SAR 8,448
$1,621 SAR 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.

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