Cost of Living Comparison Between Ventspils and Mecca Cost of Living Comparison Between Ventspils and Mecca

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,254 in Ventspils versus $1,041 in Mecca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,895 in Ventspils versus $1,881 in Mecca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,537 in Ventspils versus $2,721 in Mecca.

Living in Ventspils is roughly 20% more expensive than in Mecca, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ventspils 6% lower, Mecca 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.51 €10.07

$4.88 SAR 18.32

135.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.0 €50.8

$40.07 SAR 150

44.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.14 €6.25

$9.21 SAR 34.60

-22.48%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.59 SAR 5.95

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 SAR 5.95

Cappuccino

$2.85 €2.49

$3.19 SAR 11.98

-10.66%

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

$1.83 €1.61

$0.91 SAR 3.41

101.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 €1.18

$0.29 SAR 1.08

365.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.52 €3.08

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 €2.54

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 €1.06

$1.67 SAR 6.25

-27.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 €1.06

$0.89 SAR 3.34

35.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.97 €2.60

$2.26 SAR 8.49

31.42%

Eggs

$2.88 €2.52

$2.97 SAR 11.17

-3.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 €8.38

$6.92 SAR 26.00

38.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.64 €6.69

$8.58 SAR 32.23

-10.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.36 €9.94

$13.57 SAR 51.0

-16.29%

Apples (1kg)

$0.89 €0.78

$2.31 SAR 8.67

-61.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 €1.42

$1.57 SAR 5.88

3.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 €1.84

$1.87 SAR 7.02

12.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.49 €3.05

$2.03 SAR 7.63

71.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.83 €0.73

$1.20 SAR 4.49

-30.83%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 €0.48

$1.22 SAR 4.57

-54.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 €1.07

$1.05 SAR 3.94

16.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 €0.73

$0.66 SAR 2.46

27.27%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.25 SAR 15.95

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 SAR 7.52

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 SAR 8.13

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.74 €4.15

$7.94 SAR 29.82

-40.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.00 €7.00

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 €1.08

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 €1.40

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 €0.74

$1.37 SAR 5.14

-37.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.78 €33.93

$39.83 SAR 150

-2.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 €2.10

$2.35 SAR 8.83

2.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 €0.63

$1.83 SAR 6.88

-60.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.40 €9.10

$10.56 SAR 39.65

-1.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.88 €1.65

$0.59 SAR 2.22

218.64%

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

$25.8K €22.6K

$26.3K SAR 98.8K

-1.88%

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

$24.6K €21.5K

$20.9K SAR 78.6K

17.69%

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

$325 €285

$77.1 SAR 289

322.18%

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

$17.65 €15.44

$35.21 SAR 132

-49.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.99 €17.49

$67.3 SAR 253

-70.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.55 €31.98

$84.8 SAR 318

-56.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.27 €17.73

$34.89 SAR 131

-41.90%

Cinema Ticket

$7.07 €6.18

$18.68 SAR 70.1

-62.15%

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

$353 €308

$399 SAR 1,500

-11.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.9K €12.1K

$4,631 SAR 17.4K

199.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.2 €46.58

$22.32 SAR 83.8

138.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.93 €37.56

$63.5 SAR 239

-32.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.6 €70.6

$59.2 SAR 222

36.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 €103

$51.3 SAR 192

130.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 €235

$226 SAR 849

18.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$247 €216

$290 SAR 1,090

-14.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 €375

$686 SAR 2,576

-37.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$457 €400

$1,041 SAR 3,909

-56.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$991 €867

$6,389 SAR 24.0K

-84.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$699 €611

$2,305 SAR 8,656

-69.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,029 €900

$1,089 SAR 4,088

-5.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.39

5.5

-38.36%

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

Last update for Ventspils: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mecca: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $269 in Ventspils and $226 in Mecca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mecca pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $58.0 in Ventspils vs $40.00 in Mecca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $208 per month, with Mecca 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

Ventspils vs Mecca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mecca is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 6% lower in Mecca. 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: $269 in Ventspils versus $226 in Mecca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,254 per month in Ventspils versus $1,041 in Mecca – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mecca runs roughly 3% less than in Ventspils. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Mecca gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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, Ventspils and Mecca 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 Mecca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Ventspils. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.