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: $1,137 in Sakakah versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,769 in Sakakah versus $1,828 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,400 in Sakakah versus $2,450 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Sakakah costs roughly 6% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sakakah 17% lower, Ad Dammam 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.76 SAR 21.64

$7.90 SAR 29.66

-27.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.38 SAR 140

$35.27 SAR 132

5.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 SAR 30.50

$6.78 SAR 25.48

19.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 SAR 8.09

$1.92 SAR 7.23

11.98%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 SAR 5.89

$2.22 SAR 8.33

-29.28%

Cappuccino

$3.53 SAR 13.25

$2.98 SAR 11.18

18.46%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.64

$0.77 SAR 2.90

-9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 SAR 1.18

$0.20 SAR 0.77

55.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 SAR 6.47

$1.80 SAR 6.77

-4.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 SAR 4.16

$1.27 SAR 4.78

-12.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 SAR 8.32

$1.87 SAR 7.02

18.18%

Eggs

$2.35 SAR 8.83

$2.18 SAR 8.19

7.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.58 SAR 28.47

$7.26 SAR 27.26

4.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.88 SAR 29.59

$7.74 SAR 29.06

1.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.71 SAR 47.75

$12.95 SAR 48.63

-1.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 SAR 8.23

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 SAR 6.34

$1.66 SAR 6.24

1.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 SAR 6.02

$1.58 SAR 5.92

1.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.68 SAR 6.32

$1.56 SAR 5.84

7.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 SAR 4.23

$1.11 SAR 4.18

1.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 SAR 4.96

$1.16 SAR 4.37

13.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 SAR 4.30

$1.27 SAR 4.75

-10.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 SAR 2.10

$0.58 SAR 2.19

-3.45%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.77 SAR 10.39

$4.20 SAR 15.77

-34.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 SAR 6.32

$1.52 SAR 5.70

10.53%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 SAR 8.21

$2.21 SAR 8.31

-0.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.53 SAR 24.54

$7.58 SAR 28.45

-13.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 SAR 4.07

$0.98 SAR 3.69

10.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.35 SAR 133

$35.71 SAR 134

-1.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 SAR 11.10

$2.74 SAR 10.28

8.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 SAR 6.68

$2.62 SAR 9.82

-32.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.12 SAR 49.28

$13.54 SAR 50.8

-3.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.62 SAR 2.34

$0.60 SAR 2.27

3.33%

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

$45.4K SAR 170.6K

$66.7K SAR 250.4K

-31.89%

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

$21.2K SAR 79.7K

$21.0K SAR 79.0K

0.81%

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

$102 SAR 383

$127 SAR 478

-19.73%

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

$32.65 SAR 123

$32.69 SAR 123

-0.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 SAR 249

$64.4 SAR 242

3.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.6 SAR 314

$77.7 SAR 292

7.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.48 SAR 137

$28.77 SAR 108

26.80%

Cinema Ticket

$13.47 SAR 50.6

$13.58 SAR 51.0

-0.81%

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

$343 SAR 1,286

$419 SAR 1,574

-18.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,627 SAR 24.9K

$7,803 SAR 29.3K

-15.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 SAR 190

$42.01 SAR 158

20.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.3 SAR 219

$49.62 SAR 186

17.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.8 SAR 364

$97.9 SAR 368

-1.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 SAR 339

$91.6 SAR 344

-1.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$586 SAR 2,201

$584 SAR 2,193

0.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 SAR 1,276

$369 SAR 1,385

-7.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$867 SAR 3,257

$985 SAR 3,700

-11.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$541 SAR 2,034

$673 SAR 2,529

-19.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,314 SAR 8,693

$1,416 SAR 5,319

63.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,398 SAR 5,249

$600 SAR 2,253

132.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$934 SAR 3,508

$1,520 SAR 5,708

-38.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.47

5.9

-7.29%

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

Last update for Sakakah: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $586 in Sakakah and $584 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 63% 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: $37.00 in Sakakah vs $35.00 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $200 vs $199 per month, with Ad Dammam 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

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

Sakakah wins on cost – living expenses run 6% 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, salaries run 63% lower in Ad Dammam. 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: $586 in Sakakah versus $584 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,137 per month in Sakakah versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam – a 6% 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 $1,137 in Sakakah versus $1,205 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 6% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.