😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,237 in Umluj versus $1,237 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,848 in Umluj versus $1,905 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,460 in Umluj versus $2,574 in Ad Dammam.
😐Monthly costs are close between Umluj and Ad Dammam; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Umluj8% lower, Ad Dammam8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Umluj
Ad Dammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.58SAR 24.68
$7.31SAR 27.41
-9.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.36SAR 170
$53.9SAR 202
-15.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.21SAR 30.78
$8.13SAR 30.50
0.98%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.76SAR 6.60
$1.86SAR 6.97
-5.38%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79SAR 6.71
$1.84SAR 6.91
-2.72%
Cappuccino
$3.75SAR 14.08
$3.67SAR 13.78
2.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80SAR 2.99
$0.84SAR 3.15
-4.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31SAR 1.18
$0.37SAR 1.39
-16.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Umluj
Ad Dammam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70SAR 6.37
$1.72SAR 6.45
-1.16%
White Bread(500g)
$0.95SAR 3.55
$1.47SAR 5.50
-35.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.36SAR 8.86
$2.11SAR 7.91
11.85%
Eggs
$2.48SAR 9.31
$2.29SAR 8.58
8.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.76SAR 25.35
$6.28SAR 23.54
7.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.32SAR 27.44
$7.43SAR 27.85
-1.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.24SAR 49.64
$10.11SAR 37.91
30.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27SAR 8.51
$2.21SAR 8.27
2.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62SAR 6.08
$1.48SAR 5.57
9.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.67SAR 6.28
$1.45SAR 5.43
15.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.61SAR 6.03
$1.67SAR 6.25
-3.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.81
$1.28SAR 4.82
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.81
$1.33SAR 4.98
-3.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17SAR 4.40
$1.30SAR 4.88
-10.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55SAR 2.07
$0.59SAR 2.22
-6.78%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.22SAR 12.07
$4.24SAR 15.88
-24.06%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70SAR 6.36
$1.57SAR 5.87
8.28%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10SAR 7.87
$2.02SAR 7.56
3.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13SAR 26.75
$8.04SAR 30.17
-11.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Umluj
Ad Dammam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06SAR 3.97
$0.89SAR 3.33
19.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.24SAR 147
$39.57SAR 148
-0.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.69SAR 10.10
$3.31SAR 12.42
-18.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90SAR 7.13
$2.73SAR 10.22
-30.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.40SAR 50.3
$13.14SAR 49.27
1.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60SAR 2.24
$0.64SAR 2.40
-6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3KSAR 98.7K
$22.7KSAR 85.3K
15.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7KSAR 85.1K
$20.9KSAR 78.2K
8.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Umluj
Ad Dammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106SAR 398
$117SAR 438
-9.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.78SAR 127
$38.51SAR 144
-12.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.8SAR 273
$63.3SAR 237
15.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Umluj
Ad Dammam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$88.6SAR 332
$69.6SAR 261
27.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.32SAR 136
$30.63SAR 115
18.58%
Cinema Ticket
$15.81SAR 59.3
$15.02SAR 56.3
5.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Umluj
Ad Dammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$350SAR 1,312
$425SAR 1,592
-17.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,866SAR 25.7K
$8,339SAR 31.3K
-17.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Umluj
Ad Dammam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5SAR 219
$67.0SAR 251
-12.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.9SAR 225
$66.0SAR 248
-9.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.6SAR 302
$92.6SAR 347
-12.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.3SAR 305
$87.2SAR 327
-6.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Umluj
Ad Dammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$440SAR 1,649
$445SAR 1,670
-1.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$388SAR 1,456
$377SAR 1,414
2.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$861SAR 3,229
$799SAR 2,997
7.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$633SAR 2,372
$640SAR 2,398
-1.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,328SAR 8,731
$894SAR 3,352
160.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,358SAR 5,093
$778SAR 2,917
74.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Umluj
Ad Dammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,303SAR 16.1K
$1,974SAR 7,403
117.96%
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: April 28, 2026
Last update for Ad Dammam: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $440 in Umluj and $445 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Umluj pays 118% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Umluj vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $196 vs $189, 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
Are salaries higher in Umluj or Ad Dammam?
Umluj pays 118% more on average, 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 vs Ad Dammam?
Rent for a central apartment: $440 in Umluj versus $445 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Umluj vs Ad Dammam?
A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 1% less than in Umluj. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Are groceries more expensive in Umluj or Ad Dammam?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Umluj. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Umluj or Ad Dammam?
At $1,237 in Ad Dammam versus $1,237 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.
Should I move to Umluj or Ad Dammam?
It comes down to priorities – Ad Dammam wins on affordability, Umluj on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.