🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $986 in Yanbu versus $1,237 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,533 in Yanbu versus $1,905 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,081 in Yanbu versus $2,574 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Living in Yanbu costs roughly 20% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Yanbu26% lower, Ad Dammam8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yanbu
Ad Dammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.73SAR 25.25
$7.31SAR 27.41
-7.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.95SAR 142
$53.9SAR 202
-29.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.59SAR 24.70
$8.13SAR 30.50
-18.94%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99SAR 7.45
$1.86SAR 6.97
6.99%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63SAR 6.10
$1.84SAR 6.91
-11.41%
Cappuccino
$3.68SAR 13.78
$3.67SAR 13.78
0.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76SAR 2.84
$0.84SAR 3.15
-9.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23SAR 0.86
$0.37SAR 1.39
-37.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yanbu
Ad Dammam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72SAR 6.45
$1.72SAR 6.45
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.92SAR 3.44
$1.47SAR 5.50
-37.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24SAR 8.42
$2.11SAR 7.91
6.16%
Eggs
$2.71SAR 10.16
$2.29SAR 8.58
18.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.87SAR 22.03
$6.28SAR 23.54
-6.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.63SAR 28.62
$7.43SAR 27.85
2.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93SAR 44.75
$10.11SAR 37.91
18.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17SAR 8.13
$2.21SAR 8.27
-1.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65SAR 6.18
$1.48SAR 5.57
11.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45SAR 5.42
$1.45SAR 5.43
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.53SAR 5.72
$1.67SAR 6.25
-8.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.26SAR 4.71
$1.28SAR 4.82
-1.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01SAR 3.78
$1.33SAR 4.98
-24.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06SAR 3.99
$1.30SAR 4.88
-18.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51SAR 1.92
$0.59SAR 2.22
-13.56%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.32SAR 4.95
$4.24SAR 15.88
-68.87%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36SAR 5.11
$1.57SAR 5.87
-13.38%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70SAR 6.37
$2.02SAR 7.56
-15.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.26SAR 23.48
$8.04SAR 30.17
-22.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Yanbu
Ad Dammam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05SAR 3.95
$0.89SAR 3.33
17.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.80SAR 123
$39.57SAR 148
-17.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.15SAR 11.82
$3.31SAR 12.42
-4.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84SAR 3.14
$2.73SAR 10.22
-69.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.32SAR 57.4
$13.14SAR 49.27
16.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.62SAR 2.32
$0.64SAR 2.40
-3.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6KSAR 96.1K
$22.7KSAR 85.3K
12.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5KSAR 80.6K
$20.9KSAR 78.2K
3.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yanbu
Ad Dammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108SAR 403
$117SAR 438
-7.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.12SAR 82.9
$38.51SAR 144
-42.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.5SAR 264
$63.3SAR 237
11.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yanbu
Ad Dammam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.9SAR 364
$69.6SAR 261
39.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.37SAR 133
$30.63SAR 115
15.48%
Cinema Ticket
$13.13SAR 49.25
$15.02SAR 56.3
-12.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yanbu
Ad Dammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$322SAR 1,209
$425SAR 1,592
-24.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,842SAR 14.4K
$8,339SAR 31.3K
-53.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yanbu
Ad Dammam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.59SAR 84.7
$67.0SAR 251
-66.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.69SAR 81.4
$66.0SAR 248
-67.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.6SAR 250
$92.6SAR 347
-28.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.14SAR 177
$87.2SAR 327
-45.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yanbu
Ad Dammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$307SAR 1,153
$445SAR 1,670
-30.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$242SAR 907
$377SAR 1,414
-35.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607SAR 2,277
$799SAR 2,997
-24.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405SAR 1,517
$640SAR 2,398
-36.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$894SAR 3,352
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$778SAR 2,917
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yanbu
Ad Dammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,459SAR 13.0K
$1,974SAR 7,403
75.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.3
4.33
-23.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yanbu: April 26, 2026
Last update for Ad Dammam: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $307 in Yanbu and $445 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Yanbu pays 75% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Yanbu vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $189 per month, with Yanbu 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
Yanbu vs Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Yanbu or Ad Dammam?
Yanbu wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Yanbu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Yanbu or Ad Dammam?
Yanbu pays 75% 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 Yanbu vs Ad Dammam?
Rent for a central apartment: $307 in Yanbu 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 Yanbu compared to Ad Dammam?
All in, you'll spend $986 per month in Yanbu versus $1,237 in Ad Dammam – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Yanbu vs Ad Dammam?
A monthly transit pass in Yanbu runs roughly 21% 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 $1,000/month in Yanbu or Ad Dammam?
At $986 in Yanbu versus $1,237 in Ad Dammam, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Yanbu but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Yanbu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Yanbu 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 Yanbu compared to Ad Dammam?
Safety-wise, Yanbu 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 Yanbu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.