😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,733 in Zagreb versus $1,355 in Al Khobar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,579 in Zagreb versus $2,119 in Al Khobar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,425 in Zagreb versus $2,883 in Al Khobar.
🌍Living in Zagreb is roughly 28% more expensive than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Zagreb30% above, Al Khobar1% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.39€10.00
$6.56SAR 24.61
73.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.0€61.4
$54.3SAR 204
28.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.20€8.07
$7.93SAR 29.76
16.02%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.99SAR 7.46
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.71SAR 10.16
-
Cappuccino
$2.43€2.14
$4.19SAR 15.71
-42.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05€2.68
$0.97SAR 3.63
214.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$0.48SAR 1.79
397.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.79€3.32
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.60€4.04
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34€1.18
$1.76SAR 6.61
-23.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.87€1.64
$1.39SAR 5.20
34.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.78€2.44
$2.28SAR 8.57
21.93%
Eggs
$3.79€3.32
$2.93SAR 10.99
29.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.83€9.50
$6.77SAR 25.41
59.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.66€8.47
$9.27SAR 34.79
4.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.77€11.20
$12.73SAR 47.78
0.31%
Apples(1kg)
$1.82€1.59
$2.44SAR 9.16
-25.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69€1.48
$1.79SAR 6.72
-5.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05€1.80
$2.20SAR 8.27
-6.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.03€2.66
$1.57SAR 5.90
92.99%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43€1.26
$1.47SAR 5.52
-2.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46€1.28
$1.65SAR 6.20
-11.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.27€1.11
$1.69SAR 6.35
-24.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34€1.17
$0.62SAR 2.34
116.13%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.70SAR 10.12
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.40SAR 5.26
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.97SAR 7.41
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.89€5.17
$6.47SAR 24.27
-8.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.17€8.05
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83€1.60
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€2.03
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59€0.52
$0.91SAR 3.41
-35.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.7€51.5
$60.3SAR 226
-2.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.28€2.00
$2.24SAR 8.42
1.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06€0.93
$1.36SAR 5.09
-22.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.29€9.02
$6.76SAR 25.37
52.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77€1.55
$0.64SAR 2.39
176.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K€30.8K
$21.5KSAR 80.5K
63.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K€23.5K
$23.4KSAR 87.8K
14.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$207€182
$123SAR 460
68.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.82€17.39
$34.44SAR 129
-42.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.48€28.50
$82.1SAR 308
-60.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.84€43.72
$107SAR 400
-53.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.42€12.65
$36.29SAR 136
-60.26%
Cinema Ticket
$8.94€7.84
$17.20SAR 64.6
-48.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$516€453
$308SAR 1,155
67.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4K€11.8K
$7,694SAR 28.9K
74.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€89.4
$62.8SAR 236
62.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.57€35.59
$70.4SAR 264
-42.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.7€84.8
$98.0SAR 368
-1.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118€104
$80.6SAR 302
46.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$875€768
$440SAR 1,652
98.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$670€588
$405SAR 1,520
65.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,515€1,329
$1,027SAR 3,856
47.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,070€939
$784SAR 2,941
36.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,016€4,401
$2,413SAR 9,055
107.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,262€2,862
$1,465SAR 5,499
122.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,957€1,717
$1,820SAR 6,831
7.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.72
3.84
-3.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zagreb: July 21, 2026
Last update for Al Khobar: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $875 in Zagreb and $440 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Zagreb pays 7% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Zagreb vs $54.0 in Al Khobar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $280 vs $219 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 – living expenses run 28% 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 in Al Khobar?
Average pay runs 7% higher in Zagreb, 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 compared to Al Khobar?
Rent for a central apartment: $875 in Zagreb versus $440 in Al Khobar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Zagreb compared to Al Khobar?
A monthly transit pass in Al Khobar runs roughly 3% 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 in Al Khobar?
Childcare runs $516 in Zagreb versus $308 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 in Al Khobar?
At $1,355 in Al Khobar versus $1,733 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 – similar infrastructure at $1,355 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 – expenses run 28% less than in Zagreb. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.