Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabigh and Ad Dammam Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabigh and Ad Dammam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,121 in Rabigh versus $1,196 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,674 in Rabigh versus $1,860 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,228 in Rabigh versus $2,524 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Rabigh costs roughly 6% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rabigh 16% lower, Ad Dammam 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.04 SAR 15.16

$7.29 SAR 27.36

-44.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.35 SAR 80.2

$53.7 SAR 202

-60.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.26 SAR 27.25

$8.03 SAR 30.15

-9.59%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 SAR 5.11

$1.82 SAR 6.83

-25.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 SAR 2.90

$1.90 SAR 7.14

-59.47%

Cappuccino

$2.42 SAR 9.08

$3.73 SAR 14.00

-35.12%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 SAR 2.47

$0.92 SAR 3.44

-28.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 SAR 0.49

$0.35 SAR 1.30

-62.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 SAR 5.06

$1.63 SAR 6.13

-17.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.26 SAR 0.98

$1.46 SAR 5.49

-82.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 SAR 8.61

$2.09 SAR 7.86

9.57%

Eggs

$2.20 SAR 8.25

$2.27 SAR 8.53

-3.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.23 SAR 19.63

$6.12 SAR 22.97

-14.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 SAR 17.68

$7.25 SAR 27.22

-35.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.71 SAR 47.73

$9.70 SAR 36.41

31.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 SAR 7.96

$2.12 SAR 7.95

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 SAR 6.09

$1.49 SAR 5.60

8.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.88

$1.40 SAR 5.24

12.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 SAR 5.07

$1.59 SAR 5.98

-15.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 SAR 4.98

$1.28 SAR 4.82

3.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 SAR 4.74

$1.32 SAR 4.97

-4.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 SAR 4.01

$1.36 SAR 5.12

-21.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.23

$0.59 SAR 2.21

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.13 SAR 15.49

$4.13 SAR 15.50

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 SAR 7.37

$1.56 SAR 5.84

25.64%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 SAR 9.50

$1.92 SAR 7.22

31.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.63 SAR 9.86

$7.76 SAR 29.12

-66.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 SAR 3.92

$0.95 SAR 3.57

10.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.83 SAR 150

$39.54 SAR 148

0.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 SAR 12.11

$3.38 SAR 12.70

-4.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 SAR 6.91

$2.62 SAR 9.85

-29.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.17 SAR 57.0

$13.54 SAR 50.8

12.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.35

$0.60 SAR 2.25

5.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.9K SAR 100.9K

$23.0K SAR 86.3K

16.94%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.4K SAR 80.3K

$21.1K SAR 79.1K

1.58%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$107 SAR 403

$115 SAR 432

-6.72%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$31.87 SAR 120

$38.60 SAR 145

-17.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.1 SAR 263

$63.5 SAR 239

10.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.6 SAR 325

$70.5 SAR 265

22.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.88 SAR 135

$31.26 SAR 117

14.78%

Cinema Ticket

$13.39 SAR 50.3

$15.06 SAR 56.5

-11.09%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$402 SAR 1,508

$415 SAR 1,558

-3.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,413 SAR 24.1K

$8,157 SAR 30.6K

-21.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 SAR 243

$68.6 SAR 258

-5.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.9 SAR 217

$66.7 SAR 250

-13.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.2 SAR 354

$92.6 SAR 347

1.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.1 SAR 319

$85.7 SAR 322

-0.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 SAR 1,064

$447 SAR 1,677

-36.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 SAR 1,453

$378 SAR 1,421

2.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$523 SAR 1,965

$805 SAR 3,021

-34.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$622 SAR 2,334

$626 SAR 2,349

-0.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,685 SAR 10.1K

$1,353 SAR 5,080

98.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,488 SAR 5,585

$816 SAR 3,062

82.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,510 SAR 5,667

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

4.33

3.93%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Rabigh: July 28, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Rabigh and $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $21.00 in Rabigh vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $163 vs $184 per month, with Rabigh cheaper across the board.

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

Rabigh vs Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rabigh wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rabigh the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,681 in Rabigh and $1,794 in Ad Dammam to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $284 in Rabigh versus $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,121 per month in Rabigh versus $1,196 in Ad Dammam – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Rabigh runs roughly 1% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,121 in Rabigh versus $1,196 in Ad Dammam, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Rabigh but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Rabigh the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Rabigh and Ad Dammam are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Rabigh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.