Cost of Living Comparison Between Riyadh and NajranCost 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
$8.21SAR 30.82
$8.11SAR 30.44
1.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.0SAR 199
$22.94SAR 86.1
130.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.11SAR 30.45
$8.73SAR 32.75
-7.10%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.71SAR 6.41
$1.61SAR 6.04
6.21%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23SAR 8.37
$1.36SAR 5.09
63.97%
Cappuccino
$4.09SAR 15.34
$4.28SAR 16.07
-4.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71SAR 2.66
$0.80SAR 2.99
-11.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29SAR 1.07
$0.26SAR 0.96
11.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Riyadh
Najran
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68SAR 6.30
$2.23SAR 8.37
-24.66%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28SAR 4.79
$0.99SAR 3.71
29.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.35SAR 8.83
$2.29SAR 8.60
2.62%
Eggs
$2.73SAR 10.23
$2.18SAR 8.17
25.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.64SAR 32.44
$7.08SAR 26.55
22.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.02SAR 37.62
$6.01SAR 22.55
66.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.57SAR 54.7
$14.52SAR 54.5
0.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35SAR 8.82
$1.76SAR 6.60
33.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75SAR 6.56
$1.97SAR 7.40
-11.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85SAR 6.93
$1.74SAR 6.52
6.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.53SAR 5.73
$1.56SAR 5.85
-1.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.29SAR 4.82
$1.24SAR 4.67
4.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.47SAR 5.50
$1.27SAR 4.78
15.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45SAR 5.44
$1.30SAR 4.89
11.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53SAR 1.99
$0.70SAR 2.63
-24.29%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$8.16SAR 30.61
$2.73SAR 10.26
198.90%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71SAR 6.42
$1.64SAR 6.14
4.27%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38SAR 8.94
$2.07SAR 7.78
14.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.54SAR 28.29
$8.19SAR 30.74
-7.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Riyadh
Najran
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.09SAR 4.09
$1.04SAR 3.91
4.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.73SAR 138
$39.40SAR 148
-6.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.28SAR 12.29
$2.67SAR 10.03
22.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.85SAR 6.95
$1.92SAR 7.22
-3.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.49SAR 50.6
$13.39SAR 50.3
0.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63SAR 2.36
$0.58SAR 2.17
8.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1KSAR 128.0K
$26.3KSAR 98.8K
29.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KSAR 87.9K
$22.2KSAR 83.3K
5.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Riyadh
Najran
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104SAR 391
$104SAR 392
-0.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.25SAR 129
$33.09SAR 124
3.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.0SAR 289
$73.3SAR 275
5.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Riyadh
Najran
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$105SAR 394
$88.0SAR 330
19.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$58.3SAR 219
$35.60SAR 134
63.74%
Cinema Ticket
$16.17SAR 60.7
$15.63SAR 58.7
3.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Riyadh
Najran
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$457SAR 1,716
$351SAR 1,318
30.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,739SAR 36.6K
$6,941SAR 26.1K
40.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Riyadh
Najran
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5SAR 223
$60.4SAR 227
-1.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.1SAR 241
$59.6SAR 224
7.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107SAR 400
$77.6SAR 291
37.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100SAR 376
$80.9SAR 304
23.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Riyadh
Najran
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,072SAR 4,023
$340SAR 1,277
215.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$841SAR 3,158
$199SAR 746
323.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,027SAR 7,608
$602SAR 2,260
236.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,090SAR 4,092
$429SAR 1,608
154.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,075SAR 11.5K
$2,047SAR 7,683
50.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,931SAR 7,246
$1,395SAR 5,235
38.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Riyadh
Najran
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,252SAR 8,452
$1,709SAR 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.