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 $1,734 per month in Riyadh vs $957 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,582 per month in Riyadh vs $1,461 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,429 per month in Riyadh vs $1,965 in AL Kharj, rent included.

Riyadh costs about 81% more than AL Kharj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Riyadh sits 26% above the global median, while AL Kharj is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.79 SAR 29.24

$4.86 SAR 18.27

60.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.8 SAR 243

$26.27 SAR 98.7

146.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 SAR 33.31

$8.84 SAR 33.20

0.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 SAR 7.46

$2.02 SAR 7.60

-1.49%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 SAR 11.14

$1.36 SAR 5.12

118.38%

Cappuccino

$4.23 SAR 15.87

$3.09 SAR 11.61

36.89%

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

$0.85 SAR 3.19

$0.90 SAR 3.39

-5.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 SAR 1.22

$0.13 SAR 0.50

146.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SAR 6.32

$1.43 SAR 5.39

17.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 SAR 4.70

$0.28 SAR 1.06

346.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 SAR 9.21

$2.48 SAR 9.30

-1.21%

Eggs

$3.19 SAR 11.98

$2.12 SAR 7.94

50.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 SAR 36.38

$9.49 SAR 35.64

2.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.95 SAR 37.36

$5.20 SAR 19.53

91.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.17 SAR 57.0

$13.23 SAR 49.69

14.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 SAR 9.84

$1.74 SAR 6.54

50.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 SAR 7.31

$1.35 SAR 5.09

44.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 SAR 8.87

$1.22 SAR 4.57

93.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.73 SAR 6.51

$1.30 SAR 4.90

33.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 SAR 4.50

$1.06 SAR 3.97

13.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 SAR 5.37

$1.05 SAR 3.93

36.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 SAR 6.43

$0.54 SAR 2.04

216.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.21

$0.56 SAR 2.10

5.36%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$7.75 SAR 29.11

$2.09 SAR 7.85

270.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 SAR 6.93

$1.05 SAR 3.96

76.19%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 SAR 9.29

$2.57 SAR 9.64

-3.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.51 SAR 28.19

$6.62 SAR 24.88

13.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.08

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.56 SAR 141

$23.39 SAR 87.9

60.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 SAR 12.33

$2.60 SAR 9.76

26.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 SAR 7.09

$0.51 SAR 1.93

270.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.13 SAR 49.32

$13.36 SAR 50.2

-1.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 SAR 2.23

$0.61 SAR 2.29

-3.28%

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

$35.9K SAR 134.7K

$36.1K SAR 135.7K

-0.67%

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

$22.4K SAR 84.1K

$22.3K SAR 83.7K

0.44%

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

$97.0 SAR 364

$95.9 SAR 360

1.13%

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

$32.37 SAR 122

$26.51 SAR 99.6

22.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.6 SAR 258

$49.70 SAR 187

38.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.7 SAR 337

$73.0 SAR 274

22.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$54.9 SAR 206

$40.22 SAR 151

36.60%

Cinema Ticket

$13.29 SAR 49.89

$13.56 SAR 50.9

-1.99%

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

$533 SAR 2,000

$285 SAR 1,071

86.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K SAR 42.6K

$3,774 SAR 14.2K

200.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 SAR 221

$57.9 SAR 217

1.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.1 SAR 211

$52.4 SAR 197

6.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 SAR 398

$45.70 SAR 172

131.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 SAR 392

$79.3 SAR 298

31.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,174 SAR 4,408

$698 SAR 2,620

68.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$830 SAR 3,117

$264 SAR 990

214.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,205 SAR 8,280

$592 SAR 2,222

272.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 SAR 4,595

$460 SAR 1,729

165.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,935 SAR 11.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,962 SAR 7,367

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,052 SAR 7,705

$2,845 SAR 10.7K

-27.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.54

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

Last update for Riyadh: September 5, 2026

Last update for AL Kharj: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,174 in Riyadh versus $698 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 39% 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 $65.0 in Riyadh versus $26.00 in AL Kharj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $172 – 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: $1,734 in Riyadh, $957 in AL Kharj – roughly 81% apart. Riyadh costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,601 per month in Riyadh and $1,436 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 $533 per month in Riyadh and $285 in AL Kharj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 39% 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 $957, than in Riyadh at $1,734. 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 $957 in AL Kharj to $1,734 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.