Cost of Living Comparison Between Sakakah and Ad Dammam Cost of Living Comparison Between Sakakah and Ad Dammam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,165 in Sakakah versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,656 in Sakakah versus $1,872 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,147 in Sakakah versus $2,533 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Sakakah costs roughly 4% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sakakah 13% lower, Ad Dammam 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.70 SAR 21.39

$7.31 SAR 27.42

-22.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.82 SAR 168

$53.6 SAR 201

-16.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.88 SAR 29.56

$7.98 SAR 29.94

-1.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 SAR 8.07

$1.83 SAR 6.86

17.49%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 SAR 6.07

$1.82 SAR 6.82

-10.99%

Cappuccino

$3.65 SAR 13.70

$3.70 SAR 13.89

-1.35%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.64

$0.92 SAR 3.43

-23.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 SAR 1.18

$0.35 SAR 1.30

-11.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 SAR 6.16

$1.71 SAR 6.43

-4.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 SAR 3.69

$1.45 SAR 5.43

-32.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.39 SAR 8.96

$2.09 SAR 7.85

14.35%

Eggs

$2.50 SAR 9.39

$2.24 SAR 8.42

11.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.78 SAR 25.43

$6.06 SAR 22.73

11.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.27 SAR 27.27

$7.15 SAR 26.85

1.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 SAR 49.71

$9.62 SAR 36.12

37.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 SAR 8.11

$2.11 SAR 7.93

2.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 SAR 5.98

$1.50 SAR 5.62

6.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.72 SAR 6.46

$1.38 SAR 5.20

24.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 SAR 6.02

$1.66 SAR 6.24

-3.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 SAR 4.78

$1.28 SAR 4.80

-0.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.81

$1.33 SAR 4.99

-3.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 SAR 4.47

$1.35 SAR 5.06

-11.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.21

$0.55 SAR 2.07

7.27%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.97 SAR 11.16

$4.19 SAR 15.73

-29.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 SAR 6.32

$1.60 SAR 6.01

5.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 SAR 7.65

$1.98 SAR 7.44

3.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.89 SAR 25.88

$7.92 SAR 29.73

-13.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 SAR 4.13

$0.89 SAR 3.36

23.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.76 SAR 149

$40.16 SAR 151

-1.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 SAR 9.79

$3.29 SAR 12.35

-20.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 SAR 6.92

$2.65 SAR 9.96

-30.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.36 SAR 50.1

$13.28 SAR 49.85

0.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 SAR 2.19

$0.64 SAR 2.42

-9.38%

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

$26.8K SAR 100.6K

$23.1K SAR 86.6K

16.18%

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

$21.9K SAR 82.3K

$21.3K SAR 79.8K

3.15%

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

$105 SAR 392

$117 SAR 438

-10.42%

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

$33.71 SAR 127

$38.34 SAR 144

-12.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.8 SAR 273

$63.5 SAR 238

14.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.1 SAR 226

$70.9 SAR 266

-15.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.30 SAR 132

$30.51 SAR 114

15.70%

Cinema Ticket

$15.38 SAR 57.7

$15.54 SAR 58.3

-1.03%

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

$357 SAR 1,339

$415 SAR 1,559

-14.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,040 SAR 26.4K

$8,170 SAR 30.7K

-13.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 SAR 227

$66.9 SAR 251

-9.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.0 SAR 229

$68.2 SAR 256

-10.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.1 SAR 293

$90.8 SAR 341

-14.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.7 SAR 303

$85.5 SAR 321

-5.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$225 SAR 846

$447 SAR 1,678

-49.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 SAR 1,441

$375 SAR 1,408

2.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$344 SAR 1,291

$800 SAR 3,002

-56.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$301 SAR 1,131

$641 SAR 2,407

-52.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,070 SAR 7,767

$1,309 SAR 4,914

58.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,481 SAR 5,559

$805 SAR 3,020

84.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$918 SAR 3,446

$1,895 SAR 7,110

-51.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.42

4.33

2.08%

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

Last update for Sakakah: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $225 in Sakakah and $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 106% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $45.00 in Sakakah vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $196 vs $184, with Ad Dammam cheaper for home cooking.

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

Sakakah vs Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sakakah wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sakakah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Ad Dammam earns 106% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $225 in Sakakah versus $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,165 per month in Sakakah versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sakakah runs roughly 1% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,165 in Sakakah versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sakakah but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Sakakah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Sakakah and Ad Dammam 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 Sakakah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.