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: $1,191 in Sakakah versus $1,211 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,635 in Sakakah versus $1,857 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,079 in Sakakah versus $2,503 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Sakakah costs roughly 2% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sakakah 11% lower, Ad Dammam 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.89 SAR 22.10

$7.45 SAR 27.99

-20.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.60 SAR 167

$53.0 SAR 199

-15.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 SAR 29.12

$7.92 SAR 29.73

-2.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.10 SAR 7.90

$1.88 SAR 7.07

11.70%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 SAR 6.08

$1.85 SAR 6.95

-12.43%

Cappuccino

$3.66 SAR 13.75

$3.55 SAR 13.33

3.10%

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

$0.65 SAR 2.44

$0.92 SAR 3.44

-29.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 SAR 1.28

$0.38 SAR 1.42

-10.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 SAR 6.13

$1.64 SAR 6.15

-0.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 SAR 3.69

$1.42 SAR 5.32

-30.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 SAR 8.65

$2.12 SAR 7.96

8.49%

Eggs

$2.48 SAR 9.33

$2.31 SAR 8.68

7.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.07 SAR 26.56

$5.99 SAR 22.48

18.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.62 SAR 28.60

$7.32 SAR 27.49

4.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.82 SAR 48.15

$10.07 SAR 37.81

27.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 SAR 8.24

$2.09 SAR 7.85

4.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 SAR 6.19

$1.55 SAR 5.82

6.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 SAR 6.37

$1.39 SAR 5.23

22.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.89

$1.65 SAR 6.20

-4.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 SAR 4.60

$1.28 SAR 4.79

-4.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 SAR 4.76

$1.37 SAR 5.15

-7.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 SAR 4.62

$1.29 SAR 4.86

-4.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 SAR 2.04

$0.55 SAR 2.08

-1.82%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.49 SAR 9.36

$4.12 SAR 15.47

-39.56%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 SAR 6.39

$1.61 SAR 6.05

5.59%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 SAR 7.61

$1.99 SAR 7.47

2.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.19 SAR 26.99

$7.76 SAR 29.14

-7.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 SAR 3.92

$0.94 SAR 3.51

10.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.73 SAR 153

$39.30 SAR 148

3.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 SAR 10.14

$3.31 SAR 12.42

-18.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 SAR 7.08

$2.73 SAR 10.26

-30.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.30 SAR 49.93

$13.58 SAR 51.0

-2.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.36

$0.61 SAR 2.29

3.28%

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

$27.0K SAR 101.5K

$22.2K SAR 83.5K

21.62%

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

$22.6K SAR 84.7K

$20.9K SAR 78.3K

8.15%

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

$107 SAR 401

$118 SAR 444

-9.78%

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

$34.33 SAR 129

$38.60 SAR 145

-11.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.9 SAR 274

$63.4 SAR 238

14.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.6 SAR 224

$70.7 SAR 266

-15.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.80 SAR 134

$30.89 SAR 116

15.90%

Cinema Ticket

$15.68 SAR 58.9

$15.30 SAR 57.5

2.48%

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

$356 SAR 1,336

$427 SAR 1,602

-16.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,006 SAR 26.3K

$8,216 SAR 30.9K

-14.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 SAR 219

$68.0 SAR 255

-14.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.0 SAR 225

$67.8 SAR 255

-11.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.0 SAR 293

$90.5 SAR 340

-13.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.8 SAR 307

$86.1 SAR 323

-4.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$225 SAR 844

$452 SAR 1,697

-50.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 SAR 1,403

$376 SAR 1,413

-0.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$347 SAR 1,304

$792 SAR 2,976

-56.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 SAR 1,161

$636 SAR 2,388

-51.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,043 SAR 7,670

$1,320 SAR 4,956

54.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,506 SAR 5,654

$812 SAR 3,051

85.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$923 SAR 3,467

$1,502 SAR 5,640

-38.52%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $225 in Sakakah and $452 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: $45.00 in Sakakah vs $53.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $196 vs $185, 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 2% 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: $225 in Sakakah versus $452 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,191 per month in Sakakah versus $1,211 in Ad Dammam – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sakakah runs roughly 4% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,191 in Sakakah versus $1,211 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 2% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.