😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,203 in Umluj versus $1,196 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,846 in Umluj versus $1,860 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Umluj versus $2,524 in Ad Dammam.
🌍Living in Umluj is roughly 1% more expensive than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Umluj10% lower, Ad Dammam10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Umluj
Ad Dammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.57SAR 24.67
$7.29SAR 27.37
-9.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.50SAR 167
$53.7SAR 202
-17.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.94SAR 29.83
$8.03SAR 30.16
-1.12%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69SAR 6.36
$1.82SAR 6.83
-7.14%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82SAR 6.85
$1.90SAR 7.14
-4.21%
Cappuccino
$3.74SAR 14.03
$3.73SAR 14.00
0.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80SAR 3.00
$0.92SAR 3.44
-13.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29SAR 1.07
$0.35SAR 1.30
-17.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Umluj
Ad Dammam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71SAR 6.41
$1.63SAR 6.13
4.91%
White Bread(500g)
$0.94SAR 3.51
$1.46SAR 5.49
-35.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.28SAR 8.56
$2.09SAR 7.86
9.09%
Eggs
$2.44SAR 9.16
$2.27SAR 8.53
7.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.84SAR 25.67
$6.12SAR 22.97
11.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.63SAR 28.65
$7.25SAR 27.23
5.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.88SAR 48.37
$9.70SAR 36.42
32.78%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25SAR 8.46
$2.12SAR 7.95
6.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65SAR 6.21
$1.49SAR 5.61
10.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72SAR 6.47
$1.40SAR 5.24
22.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55SAR 5.81
$1.59SAR 5.98
-2.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.25SAR 4.69
$1.28SAR 4.82
-2.34%
Onion(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.81
$1.32SAR 4.97
-3.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19SAR 4.49
$1.36SAR 5.12
-12.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56SAR 2.10
$0.59SAR 2.21
-5.08%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.73SAR 10.24
$4.13SAR 15.50
-33.90%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71SAR 6.44
$1.56SAR 5.85
9.62%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00SAR 7.51
$1.92SAR 7.22
4.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06SAR 26.51
$7.76SAR 29.13
-9.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Umluj
Ad Dammam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.08SAR 4.06
$0.95SAR 3.57
13.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.31SAR 151
$39.54SAR 148
1.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.69SAR 10.11
$3.38SAR 12.70
-20.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.88SAR 7.07
$2.62SAR 9.86
-28.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.34SAR 50.1
$13.54SAR 50.8
-1.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.65SAR 2.44
$0.60SAR 2.25
8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5KSAR 99.4K
$23.0KSAR 86.3K
15.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9KSAR 82.4K
$21.1KSAR 79.1K
4.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Umluj
Ad Dammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107SAR 402
$115SAR 432
-7.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.12SAR 128
$38.60SAR 145
-11.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.5SAR 269
$63.5SAR 239
12.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Umluj
Ad Dammam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$87.1SAR 327
$70.5SAR 265
23.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.17SAR 136
$31.26SAR 117
15.71%
Cinema Ticket
$15.56SAR 58.4
$15.06SAR 56.6
3.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Umluj
Ad Dammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$353SAR 1,324
$415SAR 1,558
-15.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,914SAR 26.0K
$8,157SAR 30.6K
-15.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Umluj
Ad Dammam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0SAR 225
$68.6SAR 258
-12.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.7SAR 224
$66.7SAR 250
-10.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9SAR 300
$92.6SAR 348
-13.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.1SAR 308
$85.7SAR 322
-4.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Umluj
Ad Dammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$438SAR 1,644
$447SAR 1,677
-1.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$380SAR 1,428
$378SAR 1,421
0.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$836SAR 3,139
$805SAR 3,021
3.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621SAR 2,331
$626SAR 2,350
-0.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,392SAR 8,983
$1,353SAR 5,082
76.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,226SAR 4,605
$816SAR 3,063
50.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Umluj
Ad Dammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,239SAR 15.9K
$1,510SAR 5,669
180.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.42
4.33
2.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Umluj: July 25, 2026
Last update for Ad Dammam: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $438 in Umluj and $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Umluj pays 181% 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: $44.00 in Umluj vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $196 vs $184, 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
Umluj vs Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Umluj or Ad Dammam?
Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Umluj. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ad Dammam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Umluj or in Ad Dammam?
Average pay runs 181% higher in Umluj, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Umluj compared to Ad Dammam?
Rent for a central apartment: $438 in Umluj versus $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Umluj compared to Ad Dammam?
All in, you'll spend $1,203 per month in Umluj versus $1,196 in Ad Dammam – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Umluj compared to Ad Dammam?
A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 2% less than in Umluj. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Umluj or in Ad Dammam?
At $1,196 in Ad Dammam versus $1,203 in Umluj, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ad Dammam but tight or insufficient in Umluj. The gap between the two cities makes Ad Dammam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Umluj or Ad Dammam?
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.
How safe is Umluj compared to Ad Dammam?
Safety-wise, Umluj 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ad Dammam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Umluj. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.