😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,815 in Zagreb versus $1,415 in Al Khobar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,718 in Zagreb versus $2,187 in Al Khobar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,620 in Zagreb versus $2,960 in Al Khobar.
🌍Living in Zagreb is roughly 28% more expensive than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Zagreb32% above, Al Khobar3% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.88€11.96
$6.69SAR 25.13
107.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.3€51.9
$59.3SAR 223
1.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.30€7.16
$7.92SAR 29.73
4.80%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.59SAR 9.74
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.70SAR 10.15
-
Cappuccino
$2.63€2.26
$4.32SAR 16.21
-39.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17€2.73
$1.00SAR 3.74
217.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64€2.28
$0.38SAR 1.42
594.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.93
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.72€4.07
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35€1.16
$1.62SAR 6.08
-16.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.73€1.49
$1.26SAR 4.75
37.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.07€2.65
$2.43SAR 9.13
26.34%
Eggs
$4.10€3.53
$2.40SAR 9.02
70.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.57€14.28
$7.11SAR 26.72
133.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.71€10.96
$10.25SAR 38.48
24.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.87€15.41
$11.75SAR 44.13
52.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.30€1.98
$2.78SAR 10.44
-17.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90€1.64
$1.72SAR 6.45
10.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.18€1.88
$1.97SAR 7.42
10.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.71€2.34
$1.83SAR 6.87
48.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.45€1.25
$1.35SAR 5.05
7.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07€0.92
$1.63SAR 6.13
-34.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.33€1.14
$1.68SAR 6.30
-20.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34€1.15
$0.55SAR 2.05
143.64%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.60SAR 9.75
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.59SAR 5.96
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.81SAR 6.79
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.78€4.98
$6.54SAR 24.56
-11.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.15€7.89
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73€1.49
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.15
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60€0.51
$0.74SAR 2.79
-18.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.2€50.2
$66.6SAR 250
-12.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.26€1.95
$3.40SAR 12.78
-33.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.43€1.24
$2.62SAR 9.83
-45.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.00€9.49
$6.75SAR 25.36
62.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86€1.60
$0.60SAR 2.25
210.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K€24.1K
$67.2KSAR 252.4K
-58.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K€23.8K
$22.3KSAR 83.7K
24.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$218€188
$100SAR 376
117.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.03€18.99
$32.10SAR 121
-31.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.41€34.84
$68.3SAR 256
-40.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.8€46.37
$81.6SAR 306
-34.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.46€16.78
$36.00SAR 135
-45.94%
Cinema Ticket
$9.40€8.11
$15.59SAR 58.6
-39.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$555€478
$590SAR 2,216
-5.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.9K€9,364
$8,568SAR 32.2K
26.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109€94.4
$62.4SAR 234
75.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.46€40.05
$83.5SAR 313
-44.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.8€85.2
$95.7SAR 359
3.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111€96.0
$91.4SAR 343
21.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$916€789
$645SAR 2,423
41.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$700€603
$496SAR 1,864
40.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,460€1,259
$1,188SAR 4,463
22.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,067€920
$876SAR 3,289
21.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,291€4,561
$2,382SAR 8,944
122.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,520€3,034
$1,464SAR 5,498
140.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zagreb
Al Khobar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,954€1,685
$1,812SAR 6,806
7.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.25
5.88
-44.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zagreb: September 6, 2026
Last update for Al Khobar: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $916 in Zagreb and $645 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Zagreb pays 8% 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: $60.0 in Zagreb vs $59.0 in Al Khobar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $331 vs $218 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 8% 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: $916 in Zagreb versus $645 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 14% 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 $555 in Zagreb versus $590 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 $1,415 in Al Khobar versus $1,815 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 $1,415 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.