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 $1,739 per month in Riyadh vs $969 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,521 per month in Riyadh vs $1,519 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,304 per month in Riyadh vs $2,068 in AL Kharj, rent included.

Riyadh costs about 79% more than AL Kharj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Riyadh sits 30% above the global median, while AL Kharj is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.21 SAR 30.82

$6.47 SAR 24.27

26.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.0 SAR 199

$26.35 SAR 98.9

101.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.11 SAR 30.45

$7.97 SAR 29.91

1.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 SAR 6.41

$1.77 SAR 6.64

-3.39%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 SAR 8.37

$1.37 SAR 5.13

62.77%

Cappuccino

$4.09 SAR 15.34

$2.48 SAR 9.31

64.92%

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

$0.71 SAR 2.66

$0.75 SAR 2.83

-5.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 SAR 1.07

$0.13 SAR 0.47

123.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SAR 6.30

$1.63 SAR 6.10

3.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 SAR 4.79

$0.28 SAR 1.06

357.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.35 SAR 8.83

$2.37 SAR 8.89

-0.84%

Eggs

$2.73 SAR 10.23

$2.03 SAR 7.62

34.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.64 SAR 32.44

$8.31 SAR 31.20

3.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.02 SAR 37.62

$4.92 SAR 18.46

103.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.57 SAR 54.7

$13.46 SAR 50.5

8.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 SAR 8.82

$1.98 SAR 7.43

18.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 SAR 6.56

$1.23 SAR 4.60

42.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 SAR 6.93

$0.89 SAR 3.33

107.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 SAR 5.73

$1.37 SAR 5.13

11.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 SAR 4.82

$0.96 SAR 3.60

34.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 SAR 5.50

$0.88 SAR 3.32

67.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 SAR 5.44

$0.82 SAR 3.10

76.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 SAR 1.99

$0.56 SAR 2.10

-5.36%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.16 SAR 30.61

$2.19 SAR 8.22

272.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 SAR 6.42

$1.37 SAR 5.14

24.82%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 SAR 8.94

$2.38 SAR 8.93

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.54 SAR 28.29

$6.42 SAR 24.09

17.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.09

$1.06 SAR 3.96

2.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.73 SAR 138

$40.41 SAR 152

-9.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 SAR 12.29

$2.69 SAR 10.11

21.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 SAR 6.95

$0.55 SAR 2.08

236.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.49 SAR 50.6

$13.39 SAR 50.3

0.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.36

$0.59 SAR 2.20

6.78%

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

$34.1K SAR 128.0K

$33.9K SAR 127.4K

0.50%

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

$23.4K SAR 87.9K

$23.2K SAR 87.2K

0.85%

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

$104 SAR 391

$106 SAR 398

-1.79%

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

$34.25 SAR 129

$26.15 SAR 98.2

30.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.0 SAR 289

$51.2 SAR 192

50.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$105 SAR 394

$65.7 SAR 247

59.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$58.3 SAR 219

$40.52 SAR 152

43.85%

Cinema Ticket

$16.17 SAR 60.7

$15.68 SAR 58.9

3.13%

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

$457 SAR 1,716

$178 SAR 668

156.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,739 SAR 36.6K

$3,778 SAR 14.2K

157.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 SAR 223

$59.6 SAR 224

-0.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.1 SAR 241

$53.7 SAR 202

19.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 SAR 400

$53.3 SAR 200

100.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 SAR 376

$78.6 SAR 295

27.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 SAR 4,023

$637 SAR 2,391

68.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$841 SAR 3,158

$229 SAR 861

266.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,027 SAR 7,608

$488 SAR 1,833

315.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 SAR 4,092

$501 SAR 1,879

117.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,075 SAR 11.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,931 SAR 7,246

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,252 SAR 8,452

$2,845 SAR 10.7K

-20.84%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for AL Kharj: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,072 in Riyadh versus $637 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 26% 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 $53.0 in Riyadh versus $26.00 in AL Kharj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $169 – 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: $1,739 in Riyadh, $969 in AL Kharj – roughly 79% apart. Riyadh costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,608 per month in Riyadh and $1,454 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 $457 per month in Riyadh and $178 in AL Kharj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% 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 $969, than in Riyadh at $1,739. 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 $969 in AL Kharj to $1,739 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.