Cost of Living Comparison Between Riyadh and AL Kharj Cost of Living Comparison Between Riyadh and AL Kharj

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,758 per month in Riyadh vs $943 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,475 per month in Riyadh vs $1,496 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,192 per month in Riyadh vs $2,050 in AL Kharj, rent included.

Riyadh costs about 86% more than AL Kharj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Riyadh sits 32% above the global median, while AL Kharj is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.19 SAR 30.76

$6.47 SAR 24.31

26.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 SAR 202

$26.66 SAR 100

101.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.97 SAR 29.91

$8.02 SAR 30.13

-0.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 SAR 6.33

$1.70 SAR 6.39

-0.59%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 SAR 8.68

$1.29 SAR 4.86

79.07%

Cappuccino

$3.98 SAR 14.94

$2.45 SAR 9.21

62.45%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.88

$0.78 SAR 2.94

-1.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 SAR 1.17

$0.13 SAR 0.47

138.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 SAR 6.34

$1.65 SAR 6.18

2.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 SAR 4.98

$0.26 SAR 0.97

411.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.36 SAR 8.85

$2.40 SAR 9.00

-1.67%

Eggs

$2.69 SAR 10.10

$1.95 SAR 7.31

37.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.48 SAR 31.84

$8.50 SAR 31.90

-0.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.90 SAR 37.17

$5.12 SAR 19.24

93.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 SAR 54.4

$13.52 SAR 50.8

7.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 SAR 8.73

$2.01 SAR 7.55

15.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 SAR 6.52

$1.23 SAR 4.61

41.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 SAR 7.06

$0.95 SAR 3.57

97.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 SAR 5.96

$1.31 SAR 4.92

21.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 SAR 4.68

$0.90 SAR 3.40

38.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 SAR 5.49

$0.97 SAR 3.63

50.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.43 SAR 5.38

$0.78 SAR 2.94

83.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 SAR 1.94

$0.51 SAR 1.93

1.96%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$7.87 SAR 29.54

$2.12 SAR 7.96

271.23%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 SAR 6.70

$1.36 SAR 5.09

31.62%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 SAR 9.06

$2.43 SAR 9.12

-0.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.41 SAR 27.83

$6.58 SAR 24.72

12.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 SAR 4.07

$1.05 SAR 3.95

2.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.88 SAR 138

$39.90 SAR 150

-7.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.22 SAR 12.09

$2.73 SAR 10.25

17.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 SAR 6.93

$0.55 SAR 2.07

234.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.19 SAR 49.53

$13.58 SAR 51.0

-2.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.39

$0.64 SAR 2.40

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

$35.1K SAR 131.7K

$34.6K SAR 129.8K

1.49%

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

$23.4K SAR 88.0K

$22.9K SAR 86.0K

2.36%

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

$106 SAR 398

$105 SAR 393

1.09%

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

$35.14 SAR 132

$27.04 SAR 102

29.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.9 SAR 289

$49.84 SAR 187

54.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$106 SAR 399

$67.5 SAR 253

57.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$59.9 SAR 225

$40.77 SAR 153

46.95%

Cinema Ticket

$16.22 SAR 60.9

$16.29 SAR 61.2

-0.43%

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

$465 SAR 1,747

$179 SAR 671

160.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,542 SAR 35.8K

$3,754 SAR 14.1K

154.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 SAR 219

$59.6 SAR 224

-2.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.1 SAR 244

$54.2 SAR 204

20.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 SAR 413

$53.6 SAR 201

105.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 SAR 378

$81.1 SAR 305

24.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,110 SAR 4,166

$653 SAR 2,454

69.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$843 SAR 3,164

$233 SAR 875

261.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,026 SAR 7,608

$484 SAR 1,819

318.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,127 SAR 4,233

$492 SAR 1,847

129.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,911 SAR 10.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,938 SAR 7,279

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,020 SAR 7,587

$2,831 SAR 10.6K

-28.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.31

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

Last update for Riyadh: July 12, 2026

Last update for AL Kharj: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,110 in Riyadh versus $653 in AL Kharj. 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 40% higher in AL Kharj, 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 $54.0 in Riyadh versus $27.00 in AL Kharj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $225 vs $170 – making AL Kharj the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Riyadh vs AL Kharj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,758 in Riyadh, $943 in AL Kharj – roughly 86% apart. Riyadh costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,637 per month in Riyadh and $1,414 in AL Kharj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in AL Kharj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $465 per month in Riyadh and $179 in AL Kharj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% more in Riyadh, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in AL Kharj, where all-in costs run around $943, than in Riyadh at $1,758. In AL Kharj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Riyadh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Riyadh has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $943 in AL Kharj to $1,758 in Riyadh. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with AL Kharj. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Riyadh makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.