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: $1,150 in Taif versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,631 in Taif versus $1,828 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,113 in Taif versus $2,450 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Taif costs roughly 5% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Taif 16% lower, Ad Dammam 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 SAR 17.39

$7.90 SAR 29.66

-41.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.25 SAR 140

$35.27 SAR 132

5.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.87 SAR 25.79

$6.78 SAR 25.47

1.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.84 SAR 6.90

$1.92 SAR 7.22

-4.17%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 SAR 6.13

$2.22 SAR 8.33

-26.58%

Cappuccino

$2.96 SAR 11.13

$2.98 SAR 11.18

-0.67%

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

$0.69 SAR 2.57

$0.77 SAR 2.89

-10.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 SAR 0.79

$0.20 SAR 0.77

5.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 SAR 5.46

$1.80 SAR 6.77

-19.44%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 SAR 1.06

$1.27 SAR 4.78

-77.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.39 SAR 8.97

$1.87 SAR 7.02

27.81%

Eggs

$2.53 SAR 9.51

$2.18 SAR 8.19

16.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.29 SAR 27.38

$7.26 SAR 27.26

0.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.27 SAR 23.55

$7.74 SAR 29.06

-18.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 SAR 39.73

$12.95 SAR 48.62

-18.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.21 SAR 8.30

$2.19 SAR 8.22

0.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 SAR 6.77

$1.66 SAR 6.24

8.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 SAR 6.73

$1.58 SAR 5.92

13.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 SAR 6.88

$1.56 SAR 5.84

17.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 SAR 5.72

$1.11 SAR 4.18

36.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.72 SAR 6.45

$1.16 SAR 4.37

48.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 SAR 3.14

$1.27 SAR 4.75

-34.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 SAR 3.59

$0.58 SAR 2.19

65.52%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.76 SAR 10.38

$4.20 SAR 15.76

-34.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 SAR 6.66

$1.52 SAR 5.70

16.45%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 SAR 5.61

$2.21 SAR 8.31

-32.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.85 SAR 25.72

$7.58 SAR 28.45

-9.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 SAR 4.07

$0.98 SAR 3.69

10.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.56 SAR 134

$35.71 SAR 134

-0.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 SAR 4.92

$2.74 SAR 10.28

-52.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.70 SAR 10.16

$2.62 SAR 9.82

3.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.42 SAR 50.4

$13.54 SAR 50.8

-0.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 SAR 2.29

$0.60 SAR 2.27

1.67%

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

$44.9K SAR 168.6K

$66.7K SAR 250.4K

-32.66%

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

$19.0K SAR 71.3K

$21.0K SAR 79.0K

-9.77%

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

$110 SAR 412

$127 SAR 478

-13.84%

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

$27.79 SAR 104

$32.69 SAR 123

-14.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.5 SAR 321

$64.4 SAR 242

32.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 SAR 459

$77.7 SAR 292

57.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.23 SAR 114

$28.77 SAR 108

5.07%

Cinema Ticket

$17.24 SAR 64.8

$13.58 SAR 51.0

26.95%

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

$244 SAR 918

$419 SAR 1,574

-41.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,487 SAR 16.9K

$7,803 SAR 29.3K

-42.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.26 SAR 76.1

$42.01 SAR 158

-51.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.8 SAR 213

$49.62 SAR 186

14.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 SAR 355

$97.9 SAR 368

-3.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.33 SAR 174

$91.6 SAR 344

-49.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,250 SAR 4,693

$584 SAR 2,193

114.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 SAR 1,279

$369 SAR 1,385

-7.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$869 SAR 3,264

$985 SAR 3,700

-11.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 SAR 1,262

$673 SAR 2,529

-50.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,386 SAR 8,959

$1,416 SAR 5,318

68.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,366 SAR 5,131

$600 SAR 2,253

127.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,790 SAR 6,723

$1,520 SAR 5,707

17.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.6

5.9

-38.98%

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

Last update for Taif: September 14, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,250 in Taif and $584 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Taif pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $37.00 in Taif vs $35.00 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $183 vs $199, with Taif 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

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

Taif wins on cost – living expenses run 5% 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 18% 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: $1,250 in Taif 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 $1,150 per month in Taif versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam – a 5% 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 $1,150 in Taif versus $1,205 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 5% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.