Cost of Living Comparison Between Riyadh and Buraydah Cost of Living Comparison Between Riyadh and Buraydah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,734 per month in Riyadh vs $1,235 in Buraydah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,582 per month in Riyadh vs $2,064 in Buraydah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,429 per month in Riyadh vs $2,893 in Buraydah, rent included.

Riyadh costs about 40% more than Buraydah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Riyadh sits 26% above the global median, while Buraydah is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.79 SAR 29.24

$13.38 SAR 50.3

-41.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.8 SAR 243

$40.45 SAR 152

60.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 SAR 33.31

$8.22 SAR 30.87

7.91%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 SAR 7.46

$1.90 SAR 7.13

4.74%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 SAR 11.14

$1.36 SAR 5.10

118.38%

Cappuccino

$4.23 SAR 15.87

$3.58 SAR 13.45

18.16%

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

$0.85 SAR 3.19

$0.76 SAR 2.85

11.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 SAR 1.22

$0.26 SAR 0.96

23.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SAR 6.32

$1.64 SAR 6.17

2.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 SAR 4.70

$1.15 SAR 4.30

8.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 SAR 9.21

$2.47 SAR 9.27

-0.81%

Eggs

$3.19 SAR 11.98

$2.91 SAR 10.92

9.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 SAR 36.38

$8.54 SAR 32.07

13.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.95 SAR 37.36

$6.61 SAR 24.83

50.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.17 SAR 57.0

$13.49 SAR 50.7

12.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 SAR 9.84

$2.31 SAR 8.69

13.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 SAR 7.31

$1.84 SAR 6.89

5.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 SAR 8.87

$1.73 SAR 6.48

36.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.73 SAR 6.51

$1.65 SAR 6.20

4.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 SAR 4.50

$1.40 SAR 5.27

-14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 SAR 5.37

$1.37 SAR 5.14

4.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 SAR 6.43

$1.09 SAR 4.10

56.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.21

$0.61 SAR 2.29

-3.28%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$7.75 SAR 29.11

$1.88 SAR 7.06

312.23%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 SAR 6.93

$1.53 SAR 5.76

20.92%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 SAR 9.29

$2.59 SAR 9.72

-4.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.51 SAR 28.19

$6.52 SAR 24.49

15.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.08

$1.05 SAR 3.95

3.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.56 SAR 141

$35.26 SAR 132

6.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 SAR 12.33

$2.71 SAR 10.17

21.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 SAR 7.09

$2.69 SAR 10.10

-29.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.13 SAR 49.32

$16.88 SAR 63.4

-22.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 SAR 2.23

$0.59 SAR 2.22

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

$35.9K SAR 134.7K

$41.4K SAR 155.6K

-13.42%

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

$22.4K SAR 84.1K

$23.2K SAR 87.2K

-3.53%

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

$97.0 SAR 364

$71.7 SAR 269

35.33%

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

$32.37 SAR 122

$32.13 SAR 121

0.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.6 SAR 258

$71.0 SAR 266

-3.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.7 SAR 337

$133 SAR 500

-32.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$54.9 SAR 206

$36.59 SAR 137

50.15%

Cinema Ticket

$13.29 SAR 49.89

$15.33 SAR 57.6

-13.31%

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

$533 SAR 2,000

$266 SAR 999

100.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K SAR 42.6K

$3,788 SAR 14.2K

199.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 SAR 221

$51.5 SAR 193

14.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.1 SAR 211

$58.1 SAR 218

-3.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 SAR 398

$79.7 SAR 299

32.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 SAR 392

$70.1 SAR 263

49.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,174 SAR 4,408

$694 SAR 2,607

69.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$830 SAR 3,117

$331 SAR 1,244

150.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,205 SAR 8,280

$886 SAR 3,328

148.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 SAR 4,595

$820 SAR 3,081

49.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,935 SAR 11.0K

$2,400 SAR 9,012

22.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,962 SAR 7,367

$1,394 SAR 5,236

40.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,052 SAR 7,705

$2,506 SAR 9,410

-18.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.54

3.98

39.20%

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

Last update for Riyadh: September 5, 2026

Last update for Buraydah: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,174 in Riyadh versus $694 in Buraydah. 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 22% higher in Buraydah, 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 $40.00 in Buraydah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $205 – making Buraydah 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 Buraydah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Riyadh costs about 40% more than Buraydah, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,601 per month in Riyadh and $1,852 in Buraydah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,734 in Riyadh and $1,235 in Buraydah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 7% less in Buraydah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Buraydah, where all-in costs run around $1,235, than in Riyadh at $1,734. In Buraydah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Riyadh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Buraydah costs $1,235 versus $1,734 in Riyadh. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Buraydah. 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.