Cost of Living Comparison Between Riyadh and Rabigh Cost of Living Comparison Between Riyadh and Rabigh

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,734 in Riyadh versus $1,090 in Rabigh.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,582 in Riyadh versus $1,731 in Rabigh.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,429 in Riyadh versus $2,372 in Rabigh.

Living in Riyadh is roughly 59% more expensive than in Rabigh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Riyadh is 26% above, Rabigh is 21% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.79 SAR 29.24

$6.63 SAR 24.91

17.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.8 SAR 243

$54.0 SAR 203

20.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 SAR 33.31

$8.49 SAR 31.87

4.48%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 SAR 7.46

$2.52 SAR 9.46

-21.03%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 SAR 11.14

$2.59 SAR 9.72

14.67%

Cappuccino

$4.23 SAR 15.87

$3.70 SAR 13.91

14.32%

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

$0.85 SAR 3.19

$1.04 SAR 3.89

-18.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 SAR 1.22

$0.24 SAR 0.90

33.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SAR 6.32

$1.75 SAR 6.57

-4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 SAR 4.70

$1.28 SAR 4.80

-2.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 SAR 9.21

$2.23 SAR 8.38

9.87%

Eggs

$3.19 SAR 11.98

$2.40 SAR 9.01

32.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 SAR 36.38

$6.27 SAR 23.56

54.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.95 SAR 37.36

$8.03 SAR 30.15

23.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.17 SAR 57.0

$13.15 SAR 49.40

15.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 SAR 9.84

$2.03 SAR 7.63

29.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 SAR 7.31

$1.69 SAR 6.33

15.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 SAR 8.87

$1.57 SAR 5.90

50.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.73 SAR 6.51

$1.62 SAR 6.10

6.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 SAR 4.50

$1.12 SAR 4.21

7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 SAR 5.37

$1.34 SAR 5.04

6.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 SAR 6.43

$1.07 SAR 4.02

59.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.21

$0.50 SAR 1.89

18.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$7.75 SAR 29.11

$4.21 SAR 15.82

84.09%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 SAR 6.93

$1.85 SAR 6.95

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 SAR 9.29

$2.60 SAR 9.78

-5.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.51 SAR 28.19

$6.52 SAR 24.48

15.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.08

$1.00 SAR 3.77

9.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.56 SAR 141

$30.97 SAR 116

21.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 SAR 12.33

$3.16 SAR 11.86

3.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 SAR 7.09

$1.69 SAR 6.34

11.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.13 SAR 49.32

$13.67 SAR 51.4

-3.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 SAR 2.23

$0.64 SAR 2.40

-7.81%

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

$35.9K SAR 134.7K

$48.0K SAR 180.2K

-25.22%

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

$22.4K SAR 84.1K

$21.8K SAR 81.8K

2.77%

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

$97.0 SAR 364

$100 SAR 376

-3.09%

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

$32.37 SAR 122

$38.76 SAR 146

-16.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.6 SAR 258

$67.2 SAR 252

2.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.7 SAR 337

$79.9 SAR 300

12.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$54.9 SAR 206

$32.10 SAR 121

71.15%

Cinema Ticket

$13.29 SAR 49.89

$12.12 SAR 45.50

9.65%

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

$533 SAR 2,000

$730 SAR 2,740

-26.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K SAR 42.6K

$16.2K SAR 60.7K

-29.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 SAR 221

$68.9 SAR 259

-14.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.1 SAR 211

$59.1 SAR 222

-5.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 SAR 398

$96.8 SAR 364

9.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 SAR 392

$98.1 SAR 368

6.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,174 SAR 4,408

$327 SAR 1,227

259.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$830 SAR 3,117

$240 SAR 902

245.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,205 SAR 8,280

$609 SAR 2,287

262.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 SAR 4,595

$424 SAR 1,592

188.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,935 SAR 11.0K

$2,584 SAR 9,704

13.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,962 SAR 7,367

$1,180 SAR 4,430

66.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,052 SAR 7,705

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.54

5.39

2.78%

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

Last update for Riyadh: September 5, 2026

Last update for Rabigh: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,174 in Riyadh and $327 in Rabigh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $65.0 in Riyadh vs $54.0 in Rabigh for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $198 per month, with Rabigh cheaper across the board.

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 Rabigh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rabigh is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 59% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,601 in Riyadh and $1,635 in Rabigh to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,174 in Riyadh versus $327 in Rabigh. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,734 per month in Riyadh versus $1,090 in Rabigh – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Rabigh runs roughly 21% less than in Riyadh. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,090 in Rabigh versus $1,734 in Riyadh, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Rabigh but tight or insufficient in Riyadh. The gap between the two cities makes Rabigh the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Rabigh is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Riyadh, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Riyadh and Rabigh are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Rabigh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Riyadh. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.