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: $1,248 in Ventspils versus $1,065 in Mecca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,896 in Ventspils versus $1,917 in Mecca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,544 in Ventspils versus $2,769 in Mecca.

Living in Ventspils is roughly 17% more expensive than Mecca, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ventspils 7% lower, Mecca 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.42 €9.83

$4.89 SAR 18.34

133.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.7 €50.5

$39.53 SAR 148

48.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.29 €6.27

$9.39 SAR 35.23

-22.36%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.62 SAR 6.08

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 SAR 6.00

Cappuccino

$2.80 €2.41

$3.16 SAR 11.87

-11.39%

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

$1.78 €1.53

$0.87 SAR 3.25

104.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 €1.13

$0.29 SAR 1.07

351.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.44 €2.96

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 €2.48

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 €1.00

$1.64 SAR 6.16

-28.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 €1.00

$0.89 SAR 3.34

30.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.01 €2.59

$2.24 SAR 8.41

34.37%

Eggs

$2.97 €2.56

$2.98 SAR 11.19

-0.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 €8.14

$7.04 SAR 26.43

34.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.75 €6.67

$8.39 SAR 31.48

-7.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.50 €9.89

$13.38 SAR 50.2

-14.05%

Apples (1kg)

$0.96 €0.82

$2.31 SAR 8.69

-58.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 €1.39

$1.61 SAR 6.06

Oranges (1kg)

$2.09 €1.80

$1.77 SAR 6.65

18.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.57 €3.07

$2.04 SAR 7.66

75.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 €0.67

$1.26 SAR 4.73

-38.10%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 €0.50

$1.24 SAR 4.67

-53.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.28 €1.10

$1.06 SAR 3.96

20.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 €0.76

$0.68 SAR 2.56

30.88%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.04 SAR 15.18

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 SAR 7.52

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 SAR 7.76

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.80 €4.13

$8.01 SAR 30.06

-40.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.20 €7.05

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 €1.08

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 €1.36

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 €0.72

$1.31 SAR 4.92

-36.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.16 €32.82

$40.59 SAR 152

-5.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 €2.06

$2.44 SAR 9.14

-1.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 €0.62

$1.83 SAR 6.89

-60.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.35 €8.90

$10.59 SAR 39.74

-2.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.88 €1.62

$0.60 SAR 2.26

213.33%

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

$25.6K €22.0K

$26.8K SAR 100.4K

-4.36%

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

$24.3K €20.9K

$21.4K SAR 80.5K

13.54%

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

$319 €275

$77.7 SAR 291

310.99%

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

$17.02 €14.64

$35.25 SAR 132

-51.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.40 €17.55

$65.8 SAR 247

-69.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.76 €30.76

$87.6 SAR 329

-59.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.02 €17.22

$34.97 SAR 131

-42.75%

Cinema Ticket

$7.02 €6.04

$18.59 SAR 69.8

-62.24%

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

$349 €301

$404 SAR 1,517

-13.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.9K €11.9K

$4,604 SAR 17.3K

201.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.6 €46.10

$22.51 SAR 84.5

138.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.95 €37.81

$62.5 SAR 235

-29.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.6 €70.2

$58.8 SAR 221

38.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €102

$51.1 SAR 192

132.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$267 €230

$231 SAR 867

15.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$245 €211

$282 SAR 1,058

-13.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 €368

$669 SAR 2,509

-35.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 €385

$1,026 SAR 3,851

-56.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,007 €866

$6,512 SAR 24.4K

-84.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$718 €617

$2,238 SAR 8,399

-67.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,036 €891

$1,075 SAR 4,034

-3.66%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mecca: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $267 in Ventspils and $231 in Mecca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mecca pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $59.0 in Ventspils vs $40.00 in Mecca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $207 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 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Mecca earns 4% less. 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: $267 in Ventspils versus $231 in Mecca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,248 per month in Ventspils versus $1,065 in Mecca – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mecca runs roughly 6% less than in Ventspils. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,065 in Mecca versus $1,248 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 17% less than in Ventspils. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.