๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,674 in Zagreb versus $1,363 in Al Khobar.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,514 in Zagreb versus $2,155 in Al Khobar.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,355 in Zagreb versus $2,946 in Al Khobar.
๐Living in Zagreb is roughly 23% more expensive than Al Khobar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Zagreb25% above, Al Khobar2% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.76โฌ10.03
$6.47SARย 24.25
81.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.3โฌ60.0
$54.2SARย 203
29.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.03โฌ7.70
$7.81SARย 29.27
15.62%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.96SARย 7.34
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.73SARย 10.24
-
Cappuccino
$2.53โฌ2.15
$4.33SARย 16.24
-41.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03โฌ2.58
$1.02SARย 3.82
197.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44โฌ2.08
$0.52SARย 1.96
369.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.72โฌ3.17
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68โฌ3.99
-
-
๐ Groceries & Markets
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34โฌ1.15
$1.71SARย 6.41
-21.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.96โฌ1.67
$1.32SARย 4.97
48.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.62โฌ2.24
$2.34SARย 8.77
11.97%
Eggs
$3.67โฌ3.13
$2.91SARย 10.91
26.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.01โฌ9.39
$6.73SARย 25.23
63.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.63โฌ8.21
$9.15SARย 34.31
5.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.74โฌ10.87
$12.45SARย 46.70
2.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.82โฌ1.55
$2.46SARย 9.22
-26.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73โฌ1.48
$1.73SARย 6.47
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05โฌ1.75
$2.12SARย 7.97
-3.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.96โฌ2.52
$1.64SARย 6.13
80.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43โฌ1.22
$1.43SARย 5.38
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.46โฌ1.25
$1.68SARย 6.31
-13.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31โฌ1.12
$1.69SARย 6.35
-22.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29โฌ1.10
$0.60SARย 2.23
115.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.63SARย 9.84
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.42SARย 5.32
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.95SARย 7.30
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.94โฌ5.07
$6.55SARย 24.56
-9.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.43โฌ7.19
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84โฌ1.57
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30โฌ1.96
-
-
๐ Getting Around
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60โฌ0.51
$0.89SARย 3.32
-32.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.0โฌ48.63
$61.3SARย 230
-6.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.25โฌ1.92
$2.25SARย 8.44
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02โฌ0.87
$1.36SARย 5.11
-25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.39โฌ8.86
$6.78SARย 25.44
53.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73โฌ1.48
$0.65SARย 2.43
166.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0Kโฌ29.9K
$21.4KSARย 80.1K
63.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2Kโฌ22.4K
$23.2KSARย 86.9K
13.24%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$203โฌ173
$122SARย 457
66.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.60โฌ16.72
$35.22SARย 132
-44.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.02โฌ27.32
$80.5SARย 302
-60.24%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.83โฌ42.50
$109SARย 408
-54.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.29โฌ12.19
$36.80SARย 138
-61.17%
Cinema Ticket
$8.74โฌ7.46
$17.50SARย 65.6
-50.06%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$498โฌ425
$305SARย 1,145
63.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3Kโฌ11.4K
$7,624SARย 28.6K
74.80%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.6โฌ84.1
$64.0SARย 240
54.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.51โฌ33.70
$69.5SARย 261
-43.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.9โฌ84.4
$97.9SARย 367
1.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116โฌ99.3
$80.0SARย 300
45.63%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$883โฌ754
$432SARย 1,621
104.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$684โฌ583
$393SARย 1,472
74.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,503โฌ1,282
$1,035SARย 3,881
45.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,051โฌ896
$801SARย 3,005
31.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,520โฌ4,709
$2,469SARย 9,261
123.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,448โฌ2,941
$1,461SARย 5,480
135.93%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,933โฌ1,649
$1,921SARย 7,202
0.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.72
3.84
-3.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zagreb: April 20, 2026
Last update for Al Khobar: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $883 in Zagreb and $432 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐZagreb pays 1% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $70 in Zagreb vs $54 in Al Khobar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $279 vs $216 per month, with Al Khobar 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
Zagreb vs Al Khobar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Zagreb or Al Khobar?
Al Khobar wins on cost โ living expenses run 23% lower than in Zagreb. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Al Khobar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Zagreb or Al Khobar?
Zagreb pays 1% 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 Zagreb vs Al Khobar?
Rent for a central apartment: $883 in Zagreb versus $432 in Al Khobar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Zagreb vs Al Khobar?
A monthly transit pass in Al Khobar runs roughly 7% less than in Zagreb. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Zagreb and Al Khobar?
Childcare runs $498 in Zagreb versus $305 in Al Khobar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Zagreb or Al Khobar?
At $1,363 in Al Khobar versus $1,674 in Zagreb, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Al Khobar but tight or insufficient in Zagreb. The gap between the two cities makes Al Khobar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Zagreb or Al Khobar?
Both work as nomad bases, but Al Khobar delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $1,363 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Al Khobar hard to pass up.
How safe is Zagreb compared to Al Khobar?
Safety-wise, Zagreb and Al Khobar 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 Al Khobar gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 23% less than in Zagreb. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.