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: $992 in Ventspils versus $974 in Mecca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,535 in Ventspils versus $1,454 in Mecca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,078 in Ventspils versus $1,935 in Mecca.

Living in Ventspils is roughly 2% more expensive than in Mecca, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ventspils 28% lower, Mecca 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.77 €11.88

$4.63 SAR 17.38

197.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.7 €49.76

$26.73 SAR 100

115.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.13 €7.88

$6.72 SAR 25.23

35.86%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 SAR 5.71

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 SAR 5.72

Cappuccino

$2.67 €2.30

$2.62 SAR 9.83

1.91%

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

$1.66 €1.44

$0.67 SAR 2.53

147.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 €1.04

$0.23 SAR 0.86

421.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 €3.06

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 €2.06

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 €1.06

$1.79 SAR 6.71

-31.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 €0.99

$0.94 SAR 3.51

22.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.62 €2.26

$2.19 SAR 8.22

19.63%

Eggs

$3.13 €2.70

$2.39 SAR 8.98

30.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.95 €9.45

$6.20 SAR 23.27

76.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.80 €7.59

$8.26 SAR 31.03

6.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.55 €12.56

$12.60 SAR 47.31

15.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.22 €1.92

$1.98 SAR 7.43

12.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 €1.66

$1.67 SAR 6.27

14.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.53 €2.19

$1.49 SAR 5.59

69.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.23 €2.79

$1.68 SAR 6.29

92.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 €0.77

$1.15 SAR 4.32

-21.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 €0.90

$1.36 SAR 5.10

-22.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 €1.60

$1.03 SAR 3.86

79.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 €0.88

$0.50 SAR 1.89

104.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.07 SAR 15.29

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 SAR 6.69

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 SAR 8.14

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.78 €5.85

$6.66 SAR 25.01

1.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.25 €7.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 €1.83

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 €1.83

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.15 €0.99

$1.34 SAR 5.04

-14.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.30 €14.93

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 €2.99

$1.81 SAR 6.81

91.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 €0.88

$1.75 SAR 6.56

-41.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.66 €16.11

$13.42 SAR 50.4

39.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.90 €1.64

$0.60 SAR 2.27

216.67%

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

$28.3K €24.4K

$47.0K SAR 176.3K

-39.70%

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

$32.0K €27.6K

$21.4K SAR 80.3K

49.80%

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

$275 €237

$75.9 SAR 285

262.29%

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

$17.32 €14.94

$35.20 SAR 132

-50.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.33 €14.95

$67.6 SAR 254

-74.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.5 SAR 295

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.37 SAR 129

Cinema Ticket

$10.96 €9.45

$12.08 SAR 45.37

-9.27%

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

$638 €551

$391 SAR 1,467

63.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.5K €16.0K

$4,570 SAR 17.2K

305.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.2 €62.3

$22.43 SAR 84.2

221.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.3 €44.23

$58.6 SAR 220

-12.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.9 €59.4

$48.48 SAR 182

42.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 €89.5

$50.9 SAR 191

103.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$576 SAR 2,161

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$319 SAR 1,198

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,512 SAR 5,676

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 SAR 1,904

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,435 SAR 24.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,299 SAR 8,632

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 SAR 4,062

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

5.25

-20.00%

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

Last update for Ventspils: August 29, 2026

Last update for Mecca: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $58.0 in Ventspils vs $27.00 in Mecca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $194 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, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,488 in Ventspils and $1,460 in Mecca to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Ventspils. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $992 per month in Ventspils versus $974 in Mecca – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $974 in Mecca versus $992 in Ventspils, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mecca but tight or insufficient in Ventspils. The gap between the two cities makes Mecca the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 2% less than in Ventspils. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.