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: $916 in Taif versus $1,211 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,470 in Taif versus $1,857 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,023 in Taif versus $2,503 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 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 SAR 19.91

$7.45 SAR 27.99

-28.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.54 SAR 152

$53.0 SAR 199

-23.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 SAR 25.53

$7.92 SAR 29.73

-14.14%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 SAR 7.35

$1.88 SAR 7.07

4.26%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 SAR 5.95

$1.85 SAR 6.95

-14.59%

Cappuccino

$2.94 SAR 11.04

$3.55 SAR 13.33

-17.18%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.91

$0.92 SAR 3.44

-16.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 SAR 1.06

$0.38 SAR 1.42

-26.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 SAR 5.10

$1.64 SAR 6.15

-17.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 SAR 1.05

$1.42 SAR 5.32

-80.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 SAR 8.59

$2.12 SAR 7.96

8.02%

Eggs

$2.58 SAR 9.70

$2.31 SAR 8.68

11.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 SAR 27.28

$5.99 SAR 22.48

21.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.23 SAR 23.38

$7.32 SAR 27.49

-14.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.61 SAR 39.86

$10.07 SAR 37.81

5.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 SAR 8.57

$2.09 SAR 7.85

9.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 SAR 6.09

$1.55 SAR 5.82

4.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 SAR 7.45

$1.39 SAR 5.23

42.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 SAR 6.88

$1.65 SAR 6.20

10.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 SAR 5.40

$1.28 SAR 4.79

12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 SAR 6.07

$1.37 SAR 5.15

18.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 SAR 3.48

$1.29 SAR 4.86

-27.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 SAR 3.87

$0.55 SAR 2.08

87.27%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.87 SAR 10.79

$4.12 SAR 15.47

-30.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 SAR 7.23

$1.61 SAR 6.05

19.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 SAR 6.07

$1.99 SAR 7.47

-18.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.73 SAR 25.26

$7.76 SAR 29.14

-13.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.08

$0.94 SAR 3.51

15.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.58 SAR 149

$39.30 SAR 148

0.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 SAR 9.85

$3.31 SAR 12.42

-20.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 SAR 7.58

$2.73 SAR 10.26

-26.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.06 SAR 49.03

$13.58 SAR 51.0

-3.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$0.61 SAR 2.29

3.28%

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

$20.0K SAR 75.1K

$22.2K SAR 83.5K

-10.08%

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

$20.6K SAR 77.2K

$20.9K SAR 78.3K

-1.40%

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

$75.3 SAR 283

$118 SAR 444

-36.41%

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

$28.59 SAR 107

$38.60 SAR 145

-25.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.9 SAR 323

$63.4 SAR 238

35.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 SAR 288

$70.7 SAR 266

8.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.83 SAR 142

$30.89 SAR 116

22.47%

Cinema Ticket

$17.16 SAR 64.4

$15.30 SAR 57.5

12.16%

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

$263 SAR 986

$427 SAR 1,602

-38.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,622 SAR 21.1K

$8,216 SAR 30.9K

-31.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.70 SAR 149

$68.0 SAR 255

-41.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.96 SAR 158

$67.8 SAR 255

-38.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 SAR 292

$90.5 SAR 340

-14.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.39 SAR 178

$86.1 SAR 323

-44.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$215 SAR 808

$452 SAR 1,697

-52.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 SAR 644

$376 SAR 1,413

-54.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 SAR 1,642

$792 SAR 2,976

-44.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 SAR 1,302

$636 SAR 2,388

-45.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,332 SAR 8,755

$1,320 SAR 4,956

76.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,352 SAR 5,076

$812 SAR 3,051

66.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,814 SAR 6,812

$1,502 SAR 5,640

20.78%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $215 in Taif and $452 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Taif pays 21% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $41.00 in Taif vs $53.0 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $185 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 32% 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.

Average pay runs 21% higher in Taif, 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: $215 in Taif 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 $916 per month in Taif versus $1,211 in Ad Dammam – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Taif 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 $916 in Taif versus $1,211 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 32% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.