Cost of Living Comparison Between Qatif and Jeddah Cost of Living Comparison Between Qatif and Jeddah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,055 per month in Qatif vs $1,207 in Jeddah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,678 per month in Qatif vs $1,851 in Jeddah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,301 per month in Qatif vs $2,494 in Jeddah, rent included.

Qatif is about 13% cheaper than Jeddah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Qatif and Jeddah are more affordable than the global median – Qatif 21% lower, Jeddah 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.39 SAR 12.71
$6.65 SAR 24.92
-49.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.21 SAR 181
$39.22 SAR 147
22.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.10 SAR 30.38
$8.15 SAR 30.56
-0.61%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.88 SAR 7.05
$2.08 SAR 7.79
-9.62%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 SAR 6.89
$2.17 SAR 8.15
-15.21%
Cappuccino
$3.53 SAR 13.23
$3.59 SAR 13.47
-1.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 SAR 2.89
$0.71 SAR 2.68
8.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 SAR 0.97
$0.25 SAR 0.94
4.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 SAR 6.18
$1.74 SAR 6.53
-5.17%
White Bread (500g)
$0.80 SAR 3.01
$0.91 SAR 3.42
-12.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.10 SAR 7.89
$2.22 SAR 8.33
-5.41%
Eggs
$2.33 SAR 8.73
$2.74 SAR 10.27
-14.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.20 SAR 23.26
$7.08 SAR 26.54
-12.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.16 SAR 26.83
$7.73 SAR 28.98
-7.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.02 SAR 37.58
$12.42 SAR 46.57
-19.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.14 SAR 8.01
$2.09 SAR 7.85
2.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 SAR 5.76
$1.58 SAR 5.91
-2.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 SAR 5.38
$1.62 SAR 6.07
-11.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.72 SAR 2.68
$1.60 SAR 5.99
-55.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 SAR 4.78
$1.26 SAR 4.74
1.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 SAR 4.99
$1.27 SAR 4.75
4.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.11 SAR 4.15
$1.07 SAR 4.00
3.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 SAR 1.90
$0.58 SAR 2.19
-12.07%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.60 SAR 9.73
$4.27 SAR 16.00
-39.11%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 SAR 5.87
$1.98 SAR 7.41
-20.71%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 SAR 7.48
$2.49 SAR 9.35
-20.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.51 SAR 28.17
$6.72 SAR 25.20
11.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.09 SAR 4.08
$1.34 SAR 5.04
-18.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.91 SAR 150
$39.19 SAR 147
1.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 SAR 11.71
$3.17 SAR 11.87
-1.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 SAR 5.88
$1.90 SAR 7.13
-17.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.41 SAR 50.3
$15.03 SAR 56.4
-10.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.63 SAR 2.37
$0.64 SAR 2.40
-1.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K SAR 84.3K
$26.1K SAR 97.9K
-13.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K SAR 73.5K
$21.6K SAR 81.1K
-9.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 SAR 387
$106 SAR 396
-2.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.05 SAR 139
$31.41 SAR 118
17.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.9 SAR 221
$69.3 SAR 260
-14.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$95.3 SAR 357
$90.3 SAR 339
5.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$57.2 SAR 214
$45.51 SAR 171
25.66%
Cinema Ticket
$15.22 SAR 57.1
$13.07 SAR 49.01
16.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$392 SAR 1,470
$411 SAR 1,540
-4.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,106 SAR 30.4K
$6,461 SAR 24.2K
25.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.4 SAR 196
$64.3 SAR 241
-18.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 SAR 190
$57.2 SAR 215
-11.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 SAR 343
$95.4 SAR 358
-4.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.4 SAR 320
$84.8 SAR 318
0.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$356 SAR 1,333
$492 SAR 1,846
-27.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$282 SAR 1,058
$382 SAR 1,434
-26.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$710 SAR 2,661
$927 SAR 3,475
-23.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$495 SAR 1,855
$605 SAR 2,269
-18.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$943 SAR 3,537
$1,585 SAR 5,942
-40.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$776 SAR 2,910
$1,015 SAR 3,807
-23.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,869 SAR 7,009
$2,024 SAR 7,588
-7.63%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Jeddah: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $356 in Qatif versus $492 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 8% higher in Jeddah, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Qatif versus $39.00 in Jeddah. Groceries tell a different story – $173 in Qatif vs $195 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 Jeddah compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,055 in Qatif, $1,207 in Jeddah – roughly 14% 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 $1,583 per month in Qatif and $1,811 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 $48.00 in Qatif and $39.00 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 $1,055 in Qatif and $1,207 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 $1,055, than in Jeddah at $1,207. 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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