Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabigh and Riyadh Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabigh and Riyadh

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,090 in Rabigh versus $1,734 in Riyadh.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,731 in Rabigh versus $2,582 in Riyadh.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,372 in Rabigh versus $3,429 in Riyadh.

Living in Rabigh costs roughly 37% less than in Riyadh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Rabigh is 21% below, Riyadh is 26% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.63 SAR 24.91

$7.79 SAR 29.24

-14.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.0 SAR 203

$64.8 SAR 243

-16.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 SAR 31.87

$8.87 SAR 33.31

-4.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.52 SAR 9.46

$1.99 SAR 7.46

26.63%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 SAR 9.72

$2.97 SAR 11.14

-12.79%

Cappuccino

$3.70 SAR 13.91

$4.23 SAR 15.87

-12.53%

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

$1.04 SAR 3.89

$0.85 SAR 3.19

22.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 SAR 0.90

$0.32 SAR 1.22

-25.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 SAR 6.57

$1.68 SAR 6.32

4.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 SAR 4.80

$1.25 SAR 4.70

2.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 SAR 8.38

$2.45 SAR 9.21

-8.98%

Eggs

$2.40 SAR 9.01

$3.19 SAR 11.98

-24.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.27 SAR 23.56

$9.69 SAR 36.38

-35.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.03 SAR 30.15

$9.95 SAR 37.36

-19.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.15 SAR 49.40

$15.17 SAR 57.0

-13.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 SAR 7.63

$2.62 SAR 9.84

-22.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 SAR 6.33

$1.95 SAR 7.31

-13.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.90

$2.36 SAR 8.87

-33.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 SAR 6.10

$1.73 SAR 6.51

-6.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 SAR 4.21

$1.20 SAR 4.50

-6.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 SAR 5.04

$1.43 SAR 5.37

-6.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 SAR 4.02

$1.71 SAR 6.43

-37.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 SAR 1.89

$0.59 SAR 2.21

-15.25%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.21 SAR 15.82

$7.75 SAR 29.11

-45.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 SAR 6.95

$1.85 SAR 6.93

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 SAR 9.78

$2.47 SAR 9.29

5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.52 SAR 24.48

$7.51 SAR 28.19

-13.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.00 SAR 3.77

$1.09 SAR 4.08

-8.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.97 SAR 116

$37.56 SAR 141

-17.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 SAR 11.86

$3.28 SAR 12.33

-3.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.69 SAR 6.34

$1.89 SAR 7.09

-10.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.67 SAR 51.4

$13.13 SAR 49.32

4.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.40

$0.59 SAR 2.23

8.47%

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

$48.0K SAR 180.2K

$35.9K SAR 134.7K

33.72%

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

$21.8K SAR 81.8K

$22.4K SAR 84.1K

-2.70%

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

$100 SAR 376

$97.0 SAR 364

3.19%

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

$38.76 SAR 146

$32.37 SAR 122

19.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 SAR 252

$68.6 SAR 258

-2.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 SAR 300

$89.7 SAR 337

-10.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.10 SAR 121

$54.9 SAR 206

-41.57%

Cinema Ticket

$12.12 SAR 45.50

$13.29 SAR 49.89

-8.80%

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

$730 SAR 2,740

$533 SAR 2,000

36.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K SAR 60.7K

$11.3K SAR 42.6K

42.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.9 SAR 259

$58.9 SAR 221

17.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.1 SAR 222

$56.1 SAR 211

5.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.8 SAR 364

$106 SAR 398

-8.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.1 SAR 368

$104 SAR 392

-6.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 SAR 1,227

$1,174 SAR 4,408

-72.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 SAR 902

$830 SAR 3,117

-71.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$609 SAR 2,287

$2,205 SAR 8,280

-72.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$424 SAR 1,592

$1,223 SAR 4,595

-65.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,584 SAR 9,704

$2,935 SAR 11.0K

-11.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 SAR 4,430

$1,962 SAR 7,367

-39.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,052 SAR 7,705

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

5.54

-2.71%

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

Last update for Rabigh: September 5, 2026

Last update for Riyadh: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $327 in Rabigh and $1,174 in Riyadh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $54.0 in Rabigh vs $65.0 in Riyadh for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $240 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 Riyadh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rabigh is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 59% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,635 in Rabigh and $2,601 in Riyadh 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: $327 in Rabigh versus $1,174 in Riyadh. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,090 per month in Rabigh versus $1,734 in Riyadh – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Rabigh runs roughly 21% less than in Riyadh. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,090 in Rabigh versus $1,734 in Riyadh, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Rabigh but tight or insufficient in Riyadh. The gap between the two cities makes Rabigh the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Rabigh is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Riyadh, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Rabigh and Riyadh 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 59% less than in Riyadh. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.