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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,087 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 – Qatif 18% lower, Jeddah 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 SAR 12.93
$6.57 SAR 24.68
-47.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.42 SAR 178
$39.91 SAR 150
18.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.05 SAR 30.22
$8.11 SAR 30.43
-0.74%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.86 SAR 6.97
$2.16 SAR 8.10
-13.89%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 SAR 6.83
$2.16 SAR 8.10
-15.74%
Cappuccino
$3.66 SAR 13.72
$3.62 SAR 13.61
1.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 SAR 2.91
$0.77 SAR 2.87
-
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 6.20
$1.65 SAR 6.21
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 SAR 3.04
$0.98 SAR 3.67
-17.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 SAR 7.64
$2.26 SAR 8.48
-10.18%
Eggs
$2.32 SAR 8.73
$2.66 SAR 9.98
-12.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.03 SAR 22.63
$7.41 SAR 27.83
-18.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.38 SAR 27.72
$7.49 SAR 28.13
-1.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.67 SAR 36.29
$12.52 SAR 47.01
-22.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.12 SAR 7.95
$2.20 SAR 8.27
-3.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 SAR 5.56
$1.66 SAR 6.22
-10.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 SAR 5.42
$1.61 SAR 6.06
-10.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.75 SAR 2.83
$1.54 SAR 5.80
-51.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 SAR 4.74
$1.28 SAR 4.80
-1.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.35 SAR 5.05
$1.22 SAR 4.57
10.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 SAR 4.13
$1.05 SAR 3.94
4.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 SAR 2.08
$0.59 SAR 2.23
-6.78%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.73 SAR 10.27
$4.21 SAR 15.81
-35.15%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 SAR 5.93
$1.98 SAR 7.42
-20.20%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 SAR 7.57
$2.47 SAR 9.28
-18.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.68 SAR 28.83
$6.51 SAR 24.45
17.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.10 SAR 4.14
$1.32 SAR 4.94
-16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.26 SAR 147
$40.04 SAR 150
-1.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 SAR 11.71
$3.17 SAR 11.92
-1.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 SAR 6.13
$1.85 SAR 6.96
-11.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.22 SAR 49.64
$14.91 SAR 56.0
-11.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.65 SAR 2.43
$0.63 SAR 2.35
3.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.6K SAR 84.7K
$26.5K SAR 99.3K
-14.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K SAR 73.8K
$21.8K SAR 81.8K
-9.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 SAR 392
$108 SAR 407
-3.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.20 SAR 140
$31.95 SAR 120
16.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.6 SAR 224
$70.1 SAR 263
-14.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$94.2 SAR 354
$90.5 SAR 340
4.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$56.9 SAR 214
$46.39 SAR 174
22.61%
Cinema Ticket
$15.36 SAR 57.7
$13.29 SAR 49.89
15.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$405 SAR 1,521
$410 SAR 1,538
-1.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,110 SAR 30.5K
$6,547 SAR 24.6K
23.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 SAR 192
$62.9 SAR 236
-18.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.9 SAR 191
$58.6 SAR 220
-13.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 SAR 343
$95.5 SAR 359
-4.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 SAR 322
$82.8 SAR 311
3.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$360 SAR 1,351
$505 SAR 1,898
-28.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$281 SAR 1,054
$380 SAR 1,426
-26.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$717 SAR 2,692
$928 SAR 3,484
-22.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$486 SAR 1,826
$617 SAR 2,315
-21.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$949 SAR 3,562
$1,747 SAR 6,561
-45.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$796 SAR 2,990
$1,117 SAR 4,194
-28.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Qatif
Jeddah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,248 SAR 8,439
$1,624 SAR 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.

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