Cost of Living Comparison Between Riyadh and Medina Cost of Living Comparison Between Riyadh and Medina

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,739 per month in Riyadh vs $1,478 in Medina, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,521 per month in Riyadh vs $1,848 in Medina, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,304 per month in Riyadh vs $2,219 in Medina, rent included.

Riyadh costs about 18% more than Medina, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Riyadh and Medina sit above the global median – Riyadh by 30%, Medina by 10%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.21 SAR 30.82

$5.48 SAR 20.56

49.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.0 SAR 199

$31.47 SAR 118

68.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.11 SAR 30.45

$8.18 SAR 30.68

-0.86%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 SAR 6.41

$1.64 SAR 6.17

4.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 SAR 8.37

$1.76 SAR 6.62

26.70%

Cappuccino

$4.09 SAR 15.34

$2.55 SAR 9.56

60.39%

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

$0.71 SAR 2.66

$0.82 SAR 3.07

-13.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 SAR 1.07

$0.39 SAR 1.45

-25.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SAR 6.30

$1.63 SAR 6.11

3.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 SAR 4.79

$0.98 SAR 3.68

30.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.35 SAR 8.83

$2.37 SAR 8.88

-0.84%

Eggs

$2.73 SAR 10.24

$2.12 SAR 7.97

28.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.64 SAR 32.44

$6.49 SAR 24.35

33.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.02 SAR 37.62

$6.96 SAR 26.14

43.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.57 SAR 54.7

$12.64 SAR 47.44

15.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 SAR 8.82

$2.41 SAR 9.05

-2.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 SAR 6.56

$2.11 SAR 7.94

-17.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 SAR 6.93

$2.26 SAR 8.49

-18.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 SAR 5.73

$1.64 SAR 6.14

-6.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 SAR 4.82

$1.37 SAR 5.15

-5.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 SAR 5.50

$1.45 SAR 5.45

1.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 SAR 5.44

$0.99 SAR 3.70

46.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 SAR 1.99

$0.87 SAR 3.27

-39.08%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.16 SAR 30.62

$1.31 SAR 4.91

522.90%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 SAR 6.42

$1.71 SAR 6.43

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 SAR 8.94

$1.65 SAR 6.18

44.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.54 SAR 28.29

$7.58 SAR 28.44

-0.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.09

$1.05 SAR 3.93

3.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.73 SAR 138

$37.18 SAR 140

-1.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 SAR 12.29

$1.31 SAR 4.91

150.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 SAR 6.95

$1.64 SAR 6.16

12.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.49 SAR 50.6

$5.46 SAR 20.48

147.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.36

$0.64 SAR 2.41

-1.56%

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

$34.1K SAR 128.1K

$21.1K SAR 79.3K

61.42%

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

$23.4K SAR 87.9K

$21.1K SAR 79.3K

10.80%

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

$104 SAR 391

$199 SAR 748

-47.70%

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

$34.25 SAR 129

$33.10 SAR 124

3.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.0 SAR 289

$104 SAR 392

-26.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$105 SAR 394

$75.4 SAR 283

39.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$58.3 SAR 219

$9.01 SAR 33.80

546.95%

Cinema Ticket

$16.17 SAR 60.7

$13.16 SAR 49.38

22.87%

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

$457 SAR 1,716

$290 SAR 1,088

57.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,739 SAR 36.6K

$7,586 SAR 28.5K

28.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 SAR 223

$37.12 SAR 139

60.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.1 SAR 241

$52.3 SAR 196

22.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 SAR 400

$65.8 SAR 247

62.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 SAR 376

$96.7 SAR 363

3.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 SAR 4,024

$424 SAR 1,591

152.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$841 SAR 3,158

$556 SAR 2,085

51.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,027 SAR 7,608

$711 SAR 2,670

184.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 SAR 4,093

$412 SAR 1,547

164.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,075 SAR 11.5K

$2,340 SAR 8,782

31.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,931 SAR 7,247

$1,313 SAR 4,929

47.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,252 SAR 8,453

$1,316 SAR 4,940

71.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.31

77.00%

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

Last update for Riyadh: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medina: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,072 in Riyadh versus $424 in Medina. 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 71% higher in Riyadh, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Riyadh versus $31.00 in Medina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $200 – making Medina 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 Medina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Riyadh costs about 18% more than Medina, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,608 per month in Riyadh and $2,217 in Medina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medina, 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 $290 in Medina. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Medina, where all-in costs run around $1,478, than in Riyadh at $1,739. In Medina it covers expenses comfortably, while in Riyadh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medina costs $1,478 versus $1,739 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 Medina. 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.