Cost of Living Comparison Between Riyadh and Najran Cost of Living Comparison Between Riyadh and Najran

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,739 per month in Riyadh vs $1,057 in Najran, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,521 per month in Riyadh vs $1,649 in Najran, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,304 per month in Riyadh vs $2,241 in Najran, rent included.

Riyadh costs about 65% more than Najran, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Riyadh sits 30% above the global median, while Najran is 21% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Riyadh
Najran
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.21 SAR 30.82
$8.11 SAR 30.44
1.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.0 SAR 199
$22.94 SAR 86.1
130.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.11 SAR 30.45
$8.73 SAR 32.75
-7.10%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 SAR 6.41
$1.61 SAR 6.04
6.21%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 SAR 8.37
$1.36 SAR 5.09
63.97%
Cappuccino
$4.09 SAR 15.34
$4.28 SAR 16.07
-4.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 SAR 2.66
$0.80 SAR 2.99
-11.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 SAR 1.07
$0.26 SAR 0.96
11.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Riyadh
Najran
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 SAR 6.30
$2.23 SAR 8.37
-24.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.28 SAR 4.79
$0.99 SAR 3.71
29.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.35 SAR 8.83
$2.29 SAR 8.60
2.62%
Eggs
$2.73 SAR 10.23
$2.18 SAR 8.17
25.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.64 SAR 32.44
$7.08 SAR 26.55
22.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.02 SAR 37.62
$6.01 SAR 22.55
66.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.57 SAR 54.7
$14.52 SAR 54.5
0.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 SAR 8.82
$1.76 SAR 6.60
33.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 SAR 6.56
$1.97 SAR 7.40
-11.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 SAR 6.93
$1.74 SAR 6.52
6.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 SAR 5.73
$1.56 SAR 5.85
-1.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 SAR 4.82
$1.24 SAR 4.67
4.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.47 SAR 5.50
$1.27 SAR 4.78
15.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 SAR 5.44
$1.30 SAR 4.89
11.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 SAR 1.99
$0.70 SAR 2.63
-24.29%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$8.16 SAR 30.61
$2.73 SAR 10.26
198.90%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 SAR 6.42
$1.64 SAR 6.14
4.27%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 SAR 8.94
$2.07 SAR 7.78
14.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.54 SAR 28.29
$8.19 SAR 30.74
-7.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Riyadh
Najran
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.09 SAR 4.09
$1.04 SAR 3.91
4.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.73 SAR 138
$39.40 SAR 148
-6.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.28 SAR 12.29
$2.67 SAR 10.03
22.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 SAR 6.95
$1.92 SAR 7.22
-3.65%
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
$0.58 SAR 2.17
8.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K SAR 128.0K
$26.3K SAR 98.8K
29.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K SAR 87.9K
$22.2K SAR 83.3K
5.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Riyadh
Najran
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 SAR 391
$104 SAR 392
-0.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.25 SAR 129
$33.09 SAR 124
3.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.0 SAR 289
$73.3 SAR 275
5.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Riyadh
Najran
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$105 SAR 394
$88.0 SAR 330
19.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$58.3 SAR 219
$35.60 SAR 134
63.74%
Cinema Ticket
$16.17 SAR 60.7
$15.63 SAR 58.7
3.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Riyadh
Najran
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$457 SAR 1,716
$351 SAR 1,318
30.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,739 SAR 36.6K
$6,941 SAR 26.1K
40.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Riyadh
Najran
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 SAR 223
$60.4 SAR 227
-1.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.1 SAR 241
$59.6 SAR 224
7.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 SAR 400
$77.6 SAR 291
37.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 SAR 376
$80.9 SAR 304
23.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Riyadh
Najran
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,072 SAR 4,023
$340 SAR 1,277
215.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$841 SAR 3,158
$199 SAR 746
323.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,027 SAR 7,608
$602 SAR 2,260
236.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,090 SAR 4,092
$429 SAR 1,608
154.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,075 SAR 11.5K
$2,047 SAR 7,683
50.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,931 SAR 7,246
$1,395 SAR 5,235
38.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Riyadh
Najran
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,252 SAR 8,452
$1,709 SAR 6,413
31.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.31
4.42
20.14%

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

Last update for Riyadh: June 1, 2026

Last update for Najran: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,072 in Riyadh versus $340 in Najran. 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 32% 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 $23.00 in Najran. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $200 – making Najran 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 Najran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Riyadh or Najran?
Riyadh costs about 65% more than Najran, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Riyadh vs Najran?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,608 per month in Riyadh and $1,585 in Najran. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Riyadh or Najran?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Najran, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Riyadh vs Najran?
Public transport costs about 7% less in Najran. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Riyadh and Najran?
Kindergarten costs $457 per month in Riyadh and $351 in Najran. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Riyadh or Najran?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Najran, where all-in costs run around $1,057, than in Riyadh at $1,739. In Najran it covers expenses comfortably, while in Riyadh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Riyadh or Najran?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Najran costs $1,057 versus $1,739 in Riyadh. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Riyadh compared to Najran?
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.
Should I move to Riyadh or Najran?
If budget matters most, go with Najran. 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.

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