🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,150 in Unaizah versus $1,207 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,739 in Unaizah versus $1,891 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,327 in Unaizah versus $2,575 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Living in Unaizah costs roughly 5% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Unaizah14% lower, Ad Dammam10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Unaizah
Ad Dammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.78SAR 25.44
$7.49SAR 28.11
-9.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.62SAR 152
$54.1SAR 203
-24.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.14SAR 26.79
$7.78SAR 29.21
-8.23%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.65SAR 6.18
$1.91SAR 7.16
-13.61%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30SAR 4.88
$1.82SAR 6.82
-28.57%
Cappuccino
$4.01SAR 15.04
$3.60SAR 13.51
11.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68SAR 2.54
$0.89SAR 3.34
-23.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26SAR 0.97
$0.35SAR 1.31
-25.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Unaizah
Ad Dammam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47SAR 5.50
$1.66SAR 6.24
-11.45%
White Bread(500g)
$0.31SAR 1.18
$1.45SAR 5.45
-78.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.35SAR 8.81
$2.00SAR 7.52
17.50%
Eggs
$2.45SAR 9.20
$2.24SAR 8.41
9.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.89SAR 22.11
$6.01SAR 22.56
-2.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.73SAR 17.76
$7.22SAR 27.11
-34.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.18SAR 49.44
$9.97SAR 37.41
32.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.26SAR 8.50
$2.17SAR 8.16
4.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64SAR 6.16
$1.50SAR 5.61
9.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72SAR 6.46
$1.41SAR 5.28
21.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55SAR 5.82
$1.60SAR 6.01
-3.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24SAR 4.67
$1.22SAR 4.59
1.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.65SAR 9.93
$1.39SAR 5.22
90.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23SAR 4.60
$1.36SAR 5.10
-9.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70SAR 2.63
$0.59SAR 2.22
18.64%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.59SAR 9.72
$4.19SAR 15.71
-38.19%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72SAR 6.44
$1.62SAR 6.08
6.17%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01SAR 7.55
$2.00SAR 7.49
0.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.95SAR 26.10
$7.84SAR 29.43
-11.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Unaizah
Ad Dammam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.08SAR 4.05
$0.95SAR 3.56
13.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.73SAR 149
$40.76SAR 153
-2.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.70SAR 10.15
$3.36SAR 12.60
-19.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.84SAR 6.89
$2.71SAR 10.18
-32.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.57SAR 50.9
$13.53SAR 50.8
0.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64SAR 2.40
$0.61SAR 2.28
4.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KSAR 100.0K
$22.9KSAR 85.8K
16.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4KSAR 84.2K
$20.7KSAR 77.6K
8.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Unaizah
Ad Dammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106SAR 397
$117SAR 440
-9.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.99SAR 128
$38.94SAR 146
-12.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.3SAR 275
$62.3SAR 234
17.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Unaizah
Ad Dammam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.0SAR 199
$69.0SAR 259
-23.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.24SAR 136
$30.82SAR 116
17.59%
Cinema Ticket
$15.77SAR 59.2
$15.05SAR 56.5
4.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Unaizah
Ad Dammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$353SAR 1,324
$414SAR 1,552
-14.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,938SAR 26.0K
$8,178SAR 30.7K
-15.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Unaizah
Ad Dammam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1SAR 218
$69.0SAR 259
-15.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.6SAR 224
$67.6SAR 254
-11.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.8SAR 299
$90.7SAR 340
-12.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3SAR 301
$85.9SAR 322
-6.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Unaizah
Ad Dammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$431SAR 1,618
$445SAR 1,669
-3.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$381SAR 1,429
$385SAR 1,446
-1.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$864SAR 3,241
$800SAR 3,002
7.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$629SAR 2,361
$635SAR 2,382
-0.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,079SAR 7,800
$1,331SAR 4,995
56.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,529SAR 5,736
$804SAR 3,019
90.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Unaizah
Ad Dammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,517SAR 9,443
$1,884SAR 7,071
33.55%
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 Unaizah: June 7, 2026
Last update for Ad Dammam: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $431 in Unaizah and $445 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Unaizah pays 34% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $41.00 in Unaizah vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $176 vs $185 per month, with Unaizah 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
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 5% 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 Ad Dammam?
Unaizah pays 34% 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 Unaizah vs Ad Dammam?
Rent for a central apartment: $431 in Unaizah versus $445 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 $1,150 per month in Unaizah versus $1,207 in Ad Dammam – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Unaizah vs Ad Dammam?
A monthly transit pass in Unaizah runs roughly 3% 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 Ad Dammam?
At $1,150 in Unaizah versus $1,207 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 5% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.