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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $922 in Taif versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,467 in Taif versus $1,872 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,011 in Taif versus $2,533 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Taif costs roughly 24% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Taif 31% lower, Ad Dammam 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.25 SAR 19.69

$7.31 SAR 27.42

-28.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.17 SAR 151

$53.6 SAR 201

-25.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 SAR 25.18

$7.98 SAR 29.94

-15.91%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 SAR 7.72

$1.83 SAR 6.86

12.57%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 SAR 5.94

$1.82 SAR 6.82

-13.19%

Cappuccino

$2.92 SAR 10.96

$3.70 SAR 13.89

-21.08%

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

$0.72 SAR 2.70

$0.92 SAR 3.43

-21.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 SAR 0.97

$0.35 SAR 1.30

-25.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 SAR 5.14

$1.71 SAR 6.43

-19.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.26 SAR 0.96

$1.45 SAR 5.43

-82.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.36 SAR 8.88

$2.09 SAR 7.85

12.92%

Eggs

$2.56 SAR 9.61

$2.24 SAR 8.42

14.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.38 SAR 27.70

$6.06 SAR 22.73

21.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.99 SAR 22.49

$7.15 SAR 26.85

-16.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 SAR 40.25

$9.62 SAR 36.12

11.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 SAR 8.55

$2.11 SAR 7.93

8.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 SAR 5.96

$1.50 SAR 5.62

6.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.02 SAR 7.59

$1.38 SAR 5.20

46.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 SAR 7.19

$1.66 SAR 6.24

15.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 SAR 5.48

$1.28 SAR 4.80

14.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 SAR 5.87

$1.33 SAR 4.99

17.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 SAR 3.19

$1.35 SAR 5.06

-37.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 SAR 3.65

$0.55 SAR 2.07

76.36%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.88 SAR 10.81

$4.19 SAR 15.73

-31.26%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 SAR 7.20

$1.60 SAR 6.01

20.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 SAR 6.14

$1.98 SAR 7.44

-17.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.55 SAR 24.56

$7.92 SAR 29.73

-17.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 SAR 4.07

$0.89 SAR 3.36

21.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.19 SAR 151

$40.16 SAR 151

0.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.72 SAR 10.21

$3.29 SAR 12.35

-17.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 SAR 7.67

$2.65 SAR 9.96

-23.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.18 SAR 49.45

$13.28 SAR 49.85

-0.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.26

$0.64 SAR 2.42

-6.25%

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

$19.7K SAR 74.0K

$23.1K SAR 86.6K

-14.49%

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

$20.0K SAR 75.0K

$21.3K SAR 79.8K

-5.99%

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

$73.2 SAR 275

$117 SAR 438

-37.24%

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

$28.41 SAR 107

$38.34 SAR 144

-25.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.5 SAR 332

$63.5 SAR 238

39.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.0 SAR 285

$70.9 SAR 266

7.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.04 SAR 139

$30.51 SAR 114

21.40%

Cinema Ticket

$17.58 SAR 66.0

$15.54 SAR 58.3

13.13%

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

$264 SAR 991

$415 SAR 1,559

-36.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,548 SAR 20.8K

$8,170 SAR 30.7K

-32.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.85 SAR 146

$66.9 SAR 251

-41.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.12 SAR 158

$68.2 SAR 256

-38.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 SAR 300

$90.8 SAR 341

-12.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.88 SAR 176

$85.5 SAR 321

-45.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$214 SAR 804

$447 SAR 1,678

-52.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 SAR 649

$375 SAR 1,408

-53.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$433 SAR 1,626

$800 SAR 3,002

-45.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 SAR 1,309

$641 SAR 2,407

-45.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,130 SAR 7,993

$1,309 SAR 4,914

62.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,248 SAR 4,685

$805 SAR 3,020

55.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,031 SAR 7,622

$1,895 SAR 7,110

7.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.6

4.33

6.24%

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

Last update for Taif: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $214 in Taif and $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Taif pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $40.00 in Taif vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $184 per month, with Taif 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

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

Taif wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Taif the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Taif pays 7% more on average, 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: $214 in Taif 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 $922 per month in Taif versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Taif runs roughly 0% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $922 in Taif versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Taif but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Taif 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, Taif 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 Taif gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.