Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabigh and Al Khobar Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabigh and Al Khobar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,121 in Rabigh versus $1,323 in Al Khobar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,674 in Rabigh versus $2,104 in Al Khobar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,228 in Rabigh versus $2,885 in Al Khobar.

Living in Rabigh costs roughly 15% less than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rabigh 16% lower, Al Khobar 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.04 SAR 15.16

$6.47 SAR 24.31

-37.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.35 SAR 80.2

$53.2 SAR 200

-59.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.26 SAR 27.25

$7.78 SAR 29.20

-6.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 SAR 5.11

$2.02 SAR 7.60

-32.67%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 SAR 2.90

$2.64 SAR 9.92

-70.83%

Cappuccino

$2.42 SAR 9.08

$4.38 SAR 16.45

-44.75%

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

$0.66 SAR 2.47

$1.02 SAR 3.84

-35.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 SAR 0.49

$0.51 SAR 1.92

-74.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 SAR 5.06

$1.75 SAR 6.57

-22.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.26 SAR 0.98

$1.39 SAR 5.22

-81.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 SAR 8.61

$2.40 SAR 9.01

-4.58%

Eggs

$2.20 SAR 8.25

$2.83 SAR 10.62

-22.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.23 SAR 19.63

$6.64 SAR 24.92

-21.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 SAR 17.68

$8.95 SAR 33.59

-47.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.71 SAR 47.73

$12.73 SAR 47.81

-0.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 SAR 7.96

$2.54 SAR 9.52

-16.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 SAR 6.09

$1.74 SAR 6.51

-6.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.88

$2.15 SAR 8.09

-26.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 SAR 5.07

$1.57 SAR 5.90

-14.01%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 SAR 4.98

$1.42 SAR 5.33

-6.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 SAR 4.74

$1.66 SAR 6.24

-24.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 SAR 4.01

$1.71 SAR 6.43

-37.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.23

$0.58 SAR 2.19

1.72%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.13 SAR 15.49

$2.61 SAR 9.81

58.24%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 SAR 7.37

$1.42 SAR 5.33

38.03%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 SAR 9.50

$1.98 SAR 7.42

27.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.63 SAR 9.86

$6.62 SAR 24.85

-60.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 SAR 3.92

$0.96 SAR 3.60

9.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.83 SAR 150

$61.6 SAR 231

-35.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 SAR 12.11

$2.23 SAR 8.38

44.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 SAR 6.91

$1.31 SAR 4.93

40.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.17 SAR 57.0

$6.79 SAR 25.48

123.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.35

$0.65 SAR 2.43

-3.08%

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

$26.9K SAR 100.9K

$21.2K SAR 79.8K

26.56%

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

$21.4K SAR 80.3K

$23.0K SAR 86.2K

-6.79%

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

$107 SAR 403

$122 SAR 457

-11.96%

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

$31.87 SAR 120

$34.21 SAR 128

-6.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.1 SAR 263

$81.4 SAR 305

-13.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.6 SAR 325

$106 SAR 400

-18.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.88 SAR 135

$36.66 SAR 138

-2.13%

Cinema Ticket

$13.39 SAR 50.3

$17.12 SAR 64.3

-21.79%

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

$402 SAR 1,508

$301 SAR 1,128

33.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,413 SAR 24.1K

$7,632 SAR 28.7K

-15.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 SAR 243

$63.6 SAR 239

1.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.9 SAR 217

$69.1 SAR 259

-16.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.2 SAR 354

$100.0 SAR 375

-5.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.1 SAR 319

$78.0 SAR 293

9.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 SAR 1,064

$430 SAR 1,615

-34.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 SAR 1,453

$394 SAR 1,478

-1.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$523 SAR 1,965

$1,049 SAR 3,937

-50.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$622 SAR 2,334

$800 SAR 3,003

-22.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,685 SAR 10.1K

$2,385 SAR 8,953

12.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,488 SAR 5,585

$1,459 SAR 5,478

1.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,822 SAR 6,841

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

3.84

17.19%

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

Last update for Rabigh: July 28, 2026

Last update for Al Khobar: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Rabigh and $430 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $21.00 in Rabigh vs $53.0 in Al Khobar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $163 vs $216 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 Al Khobar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rabigh wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Al Khobar. 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 $1,985 in Al Khobar 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 $430 in Al Khobar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Rabigh runs roughly 55% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $402 in Rabigh versus $301 in Al Khobar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,121 in Rabigh versus $1,323 in Al Khobar, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Rabigh but tight or insufficient in Al Khobar. 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 Al Khobar 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 18% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.