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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,221 in Tabuk versus $1,198 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,862 in Tabuk versus $1,825 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,503 in Tabuk versus $2,452 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Tabuk is roughly 2% more expensive than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tabuk 11% lower, Ad Dammam 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.34 SAR 27.57

$8.09 SAR 30.38

-9.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.86 SAR 120

$37.23 SAR 140

-14.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 SAR 29.21

$6.79 SAR 25.50

14.58%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 SAR 4.85

$1.80 SAR 6.76

-28.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 SAR 6.16

$2.06 SAR 7.73

-20.39%

Cappuccino

$3.14 SAR 11.81

$3.04 SAR 11.42

3.29%

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

$0.74 SAR 2.77

$0.77 SAR 2.88

-3.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 SAR 0.97

$0.17 SAR 0.62

52.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 SAR 7.43

$1.77 SAR 6.66

11.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.86 SAR 3.22

$1.33 SAR 5.00

-35.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.68 SAR 10.06

$1.93 SAR 7.25

38.86%

Eggs

$2.97 SAR 11.15

$2.10 SAR 7.89

41.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.18 SAR 45.73

$7.34 SAR 27.57

65.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 SAR 25.66

$7.76 SAR 29.13

-11.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 SAR 49.01

$12.48 SAR 46.86

4.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 SAR 7.45

$2.18 SAR 8.20

-9.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 SAR 6.20

$1.71 SAR 6.44

-3.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 SAR 6.71

$1.64 SAR 6.15

9.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.22 SAR 8.32

$1.63 SAR 6.13

36.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.70 SAR 6.39

$1.08 SAR 4.04

57.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.08 SAR 7.82

$1.19 SAR 4.46

74.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 SAR 7.42

$1.32 SAR 4.96

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 SAR 2.11

$0.56 SAR 2.12

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.88 SAR 10.81

$4.20 SAR 15.78

-31.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 SAR 6.39

$1.49 SAR 5.59

14.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 SAR 7.77

$2.23 SAR 8.39

-7.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.75 SAR 25.34

$7.51 SAR 28.19

-10.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.08

$0.90 SAR 3.37

21.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.27 SAR 136

$35.24 SAR 132

2.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 SAR 11.14

$2.67 SAR 10.03

11.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 SAR 6.84

$2.62 SAR 9.83

-30.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.37 SAR 50.2

$13.43 SAR 50.4

-0.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 SAR 2.30

$0.60 SAR 2.24

1.67%

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

$45.5K SAR 170.8K

$66.9K SAR 251.2K

-32.00%

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

$21.1K SAR 79.2K

$20.9K SAR 78.4K

1.00%

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

$99.4 SAR 373

$126 SAR 472

-20.97%

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

$37.39 SAR 140

$33.14 SAR 124

12.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.3 SAR 286

$62.7 SAR 235

21.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.9 SAR 311

$76.1 SAR 286

8.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.30 SAR 140

$27.76 SAR 104

34.37%

Cinema Ticket

$13.11 SAR 49.24

$13.49 SAR 50.7

-2.82%

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

$338 SAR 1,269

$414 SAR 1,554

-18.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,501 SAR 31.9K

$7,996 SAR 30.0K

6.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.8 SAR 191

$41.25 SAR 155

23.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.2 SAR 226

$48.67 SAR 183

23.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.7 SAR 359

$97.3 SAR 365

-1.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.1 SAR 334

$91.8 SAR 345

-2.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 SAR 1,263

$566 SAR 2,126

-40.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 SAR 1,393

$376 SAR 1,410

-1.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$620 SAR 2,326

$988 SAR 3,709

-37.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$611 SAR 2,296

$672 SAR 2,523

-9.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,388 SAR 8,968

$1,376 SAR 5,167

73.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,398 SAR 5,248

$597 SAR 2,240

134.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,707 SAR 6,409

$1,528 SAR 5,737

11.72%

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 Tabuk: August 29, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $336 in Tabuk and $566 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tabuk pays 12% 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: $32.00 in Tabuk vs $37.00 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $223 vs $199, 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

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

Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Tabuk. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ad Dammam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 12% higher in Tabuk, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $336 in Tabuk versus $566 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,221 per month in Tabuk versus $1,198 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 Ad Dammam runs roughly 3% less than in Tabuk. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,198 in Ad Dammam versus $1,221 in Tabuk, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ad Dammam but tight or insufficient in Tabuk. The gap between the two cities makes Ad Dammam 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, Tabuk 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 Ad Dammam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Tabuk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.