🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,101 in Unaizah versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,694 in Unaizah versus $1,828 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,286 in Unaizah versus $2,450 in Ad Dammam.
🌍Living in Unaizah costs roughly 9% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Unaizah19% lower, Ad Dammam12% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Unaizah
Ad Dammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.62SAR 24.85
$7.90SAR 29.66
-16.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.80SAR 149
$35.27SAR 132
12.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.98SAR 26.23
$6.78SAR 25.48
2.95%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.65SAR 6.19
$1.92SAR 7.23
-14.06%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37SAR 5.13
$2.22SAR 8.33
-38.29%
Cappuccino
$3.99SAR 14.99
$2.98SAR 11.18
33.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74SAR 2.77
$0.77SAR 2.90
-3.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28SAR 1.06
$0.20SAR 0.77
40.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Unaizah
Ad Dammam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47SAR 5.54
$1.80SAR 6.77
-18.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.31SAR 1.17
$1.27SAR 4.78
-75.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.14SAR 8.03
$1.87SAR 7.02
14.44%
Eggs
$2.40SAR 9.02
$2.18SAR 8.19
10.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.92SAR 22.23
$7.26SAR 27.26
-18.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.60SAR 17.26
$7.74SAR 29.06
-40.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.73SAR 47.81
$12.95SAR 48.63
-1.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.15SAR 8.08
$2.19SAR 8.23
-1.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58SAR 5.95
$1.66SAR 6.24
-4.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.54SAR 5.80
$1.58SAR 5.92
-2.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.68SAR 6.33
$1.56SAR 5.84
7.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18SAR 4.44
$1.11SAR 4.18
6.31%
Onion(1kg)
$2.62SAR 9.85
$1.16SAR 4.37
125.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14SAR 4.27
$1.27SAR 4.75
-10.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64SAR 2.42
$0.58SAR 2.19
10.34%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.84SAR 10.66
$4.20SAR 15.77
-32.38%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69SAR 6.35
$1.52SAR 5.70
11.18%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17SAR 8.14
$2.21SAR 8.31
-1.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56SAR 24.63
$7.58SAR 28.45
-13.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Unaizah
Ad Dammam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06SAR 3.98
$0.98SAR 3.69
8.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.06SAR 135
$35.71SAR 134
0.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.86SAR 10.72
$2.74SAR 10.28
4.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.81SAR 6.80
$2.62SAR 9.82
-30.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.51SAR 50.7
$13.54SAR 50.8
-0.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64SAR 2.42
$0.60SAR 2.27
6.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.3KSAR 174.1K
$66.7KSAR 250.4K
-30.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5KSAR 80.9K
$21.0KSAR 79.0K
2.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Unaizah
Ad Dammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$99.6SAR 374
$127SAR 478
-21.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.98SAR 120
$32.69SAR 123
-2.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.1SAR 256
$64.4SAR 242
5.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Unaizah
Ad Dammam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.8SAR 202
$77.7SAR 292
-30.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.87SAR 139
$28.77SAR 108
28.15%
Cinema Ticket
$13.10SAR 49.22
$13.58SAR 51.0
-3.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Unaizah
Ad Dammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$347SAR 1,303
$419SAR 1,574
-17.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,702SAR 25.2K
$7,803SAR 29.3K
-14.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Unaizah
Ad Dammam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.7SAR 190
$42.01SAR 158
20.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.1SAR 222
$49.62SAR 186
19.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.8SAR 364
$97.9SAR 368
-1.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.2SAR 335
$91.6SAR 344
-2.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Unaizah
Ad Dammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$576SAR 2,163
$584SAR 2,193
-1.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$339SAR 1,275
$369SAR 1,385
-7.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$893SAR 3,353
$985SAR 3,700
-9.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$556SAR 2,087
$673SAR 2,529
-17.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,401SAR 9,020
$1,416SAR 5,319
69.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,380SAR 5,182
$600SAR 2,253
129.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Unaizah
Ad Dammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,517SAR 9,453
$1,520SAR 5,708
65.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.47
5.9
-7.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Unaizah: September 13, 2026
Last update for Ad Dammam: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $576 in Unaizah and $584 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Unaizah pays 66% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $40.00 in Unaizah vs $35.00 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $171 vs $199, with Unaizah 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
Unaizah vs Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Unaizah or Ad Dammam?
Unaizah wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Unaizah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Unaizah or in Ad Dammam?
Average pay runs 66% higher in Unaizah, 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 Unaizah compared to Ad Dammam?
Rent for a central apartment: $576 in Unaizah versus $584 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 Unaizah compared to Ad Dammam?
All in, you'll spend $1,101 per month in Unaizah versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Unaizah compared to Ad Dammam?
A monthly transit pass in Unaizah runs roughly 1% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Unaizah or in Ad Dammam?
At $1,101 in Unaizah versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Unaizah but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Unaizah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Unaizah 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 Unaizah compared to Ad Dammam?
Safety-wise, Unaizah 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 Unaizah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.