Cost of Living Comparison Between Taif and Al Khobar Cost of Living Comparison Between Taif and Al Khobar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $916 in Taif versus $1,332 in Al Khobar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,470 in Taif versus $2,100 in Al Khobar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,023 in Taif versus $2,868 in Al Khobar.

Living in Taif costs roughly 31% less than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Taif is 31% below, Al Khobar is 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 SAR 19.91

$6.82 SAR 25.60

-22.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.54 SAR 152

$54.0 SAR 203

-24.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 SAR 25.53

$8.19 SAR 30.77

-16.97%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 SAR 7.35

$1.98 SAR 7.44

-1.01%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 SAR 5.95

$2.70 SAR 10.13

-41.48%

Cappuccino

$2.94 SAR 11.04

$4.26 SAR 16.01

-30.99%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.91

$0.96 SAR 3.61

-19.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 SAR 1.06

$0.49 SAR 1.83

-42.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 SAR 5.10

$1.69 SAR 6.34

-19.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 SAR 1.05

$1.40 SAR 5.24

-80.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 SAR 8.59

$2.32 SAR 8.72

-1.29%

Eggs

$2.58 SAR 9.70

$2.88 SAR 10.81

-10.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 SAR 27.28

$6.94 SAR 26.05

4.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.23 SAR 23.38

$9.12 SAR 34.26

-31.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.61 SAR 39.86

$12.61 SAR 47.34

-15.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 SAR 8.57

$2.54 SAR 9.53

-10.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 SAR 6.09

$1.72 SAR 6.45

-5.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 SAR 7.45

$2.13 SAR 8.00

-7.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 SAR 6.88

$1.57 SAR 5.88

16.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 SAR 5.40

$1.41 SAR 5.30

2.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 SAR 6.07

$1.72 SAR 6.47

-5.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 SAR 3.48

$1.70 SAR 6.38

-45.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 SAR 3.87

$0.60 SAR 2.24

71.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.87 SAR 10.79

$2.70 SAR 10.14

6.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 SAR 7.23

$1.46 SAR 5.48

32.19%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 SAR 6.07

$1.88 SAR 7.04

-13.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.73 SAR 25.26

$6.51 SAR 24.45

3.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.08

$0.92 SAR 3.44

18.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.58 SAR 149

$60.1 SAR 225

-34.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 SAR 9.85

$2.26 SAR 8.48

15.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 SAR 7.58

$1.35 SAR 5.06

49.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.06 SAR 49.03

$6.60 SAR 24.78

97.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$0.65 SAR 2.43

-3.08%

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

$20.0K SAR 75.1K

$21.4K SAR 80.2K

-6.47%

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

$20.6K SAR 77.2K

$22.7K SAR 85.4K

-9.56%

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

$75.3 SAR 283

$124 SAR 466

-39.32%

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

$28.59 SAR 107

$34.51 SAR 130

-17.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.9 SAR 323

$80.7 SAR 303

6.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 SAR 288

$109 SAR 410

-29.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.83 SAR 142

$36.80 SAR 138

2.80%

Cinema Ticket

$17.16 SAR 64.4

$17.36 SAR 65.2

-1.15%

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

$263 SAR 986

$306 SAR 1,147

-14.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,622 SAR 21.1K

$7,541 SAR 28.3K

-25.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.70 SAR 149

$63.4 SAR 238

-37.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.96 SAR 158

$69.8 SAR 262

-39.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 SAR 292

$100 SAR 376

-22.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.39 SAR 178

$80.4 SAR 302

-41.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$215 SAR 808

$433 SAR 1,627

-50.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 SAR 644

$401 SAR 1,505

-57.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 SAR 1,642

$1,059 SAR 3,977

-58.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 SAR 1,302

$813 SAR 3,054

-57.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,332 SAR 8,755

$2,442 SAR 9,169

-4.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,352 SAR 5,076

$1,423 SAR 5,344

-5.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,814 SAR 6,812

$1,856 SAR 6,971

-2.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.6

3.84

19.79%

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

Last update for Taif: July 12, 2026

Last update for Al Khobar: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $215 in Taif and $433 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 2% 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: $41.00 in Taif vs $54.0 in Al Khobar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $217 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 Al Khobar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Taif wins on cost – living expenses run 45% lower than in Al Khobar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Taif the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 2% lower in Al Khobar. 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: $215 in Taif versus $433 in Al Khobar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Taif runs roughly 52% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $263 in Taif versus $306 in Al Khobar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $916 in Taif versus $1,332 in Al Khobar, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Taif but tight or insufficient in Al Khobar. 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 Al Khobar 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 45% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.