Last update: Oct 2026 Saudi Arabia 1.1M

Cost of Living in Medina

For one person, living costs in Medina are estimated at $1,339 a month, including rent and utilities, which take about half of the total. Other living expenses average about $22 a day.

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medina

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medina actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends around $1,339 per month with rent, or $673 for everyday expenses alone.

$1,339 /mo

A couple spends around $1,801 per month with rent, or $1,103 for everyday expenses alone.

$1,801 /mo

A family of three spends around $2,263 per month with rent, or $1,533 without housing.

$2,263 /mo

Overall, Medina is 1–20% below the global median across household types. Within Asia, costs are 26% above average – pricier than most cities in the region.

Currency
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🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.56 SAR 20.86
$4.06 SAR 15.25
$21.68 SAR 81.4
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.40 SAR 118
$20.93 SAR 78.5
$49.15 SAR 184
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.76 SAR 29.11
$7.76 SAR 29.11
$9.71 SAR 36.44
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.59 SAR 5.95
$1.05 SAR 3.94
$3.97 SAR 14.88
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 SAR 6.36
$1.57 SAR 5.88
$1.96 SAR 7.35
Cappuccino
$2.69 SAR 10.11
$1.90 SAR 7.15
$4.09 SAR 15.33
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 SAR 3.00
$0.70 SAR 2.61
$4.14 SAR 15.54
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 SAR 0.94
$0.14 SAR 0.51
$1.39 SAR 5.21
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 SAR 5.35
$1.04 SAR 3.89
$2.60 SAR 9.76
White Bread (500g)
$0.94 SAR 3.53
$0.27 SAR 1.00
$1.05 SAR 3.93
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.31 SAR 8.66
$1.84 SAR 6.91
$3.16 SAR 11.86
Eggs
$2.03 SAR 7.61
$1.58 SAR 5.94
$2.22 SAR 8.31
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.42 SAR 20.35
$4.07 SAR 15.26
$6.78 SAR 25.44
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.21 SAR 27.04
$4.60 SAR 17.25
$9.46 SAR 35.49
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.61 SAR 47.32
$7.97 SAR 29.91
$13.28 SAR 49.83
Apples (1kg)
$2.44 SAR 9.15
$1.89 SAR 7.09
$2.70 SAR 10.14
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 SAR 7.13
$1.30 SAR 4.86
$2.07 SAR 7.78
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 SAR 8.55
$1.31 SAR 4.92
$2.62 SAR 9.85
Tomato (1kg)
$1.47 SAR 5.53
$1.04 SAR 3.88
$2.08 SAR 7.81
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 SAR 5.16
$0.79 SAR 2.95
$1.83 SAR 6.86
Onion (1kg)
$1.29 SAR 4.84
$0.78 SAR 2.91
$1.80 SAR 6.77
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.86 SAR 3.22
$0.26 SAR 0.98
$1.28 SAR 4.81
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 SAR 2.85
$0.55 SAR 2.07
$2.22 SAR 8.32
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.34 SAR 5.04
$1.34 SAR 5.04
$1.34 SAR 5.04
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 SAR 5.52
$1.30 SAR 4.86
$1.56 SAR 5.85
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 SAR 6.13
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.31 SAR 27.42
$4.70 SAR 17.63
$7.31 SAR 27.42
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 SAR 4.06
$1.08 SAR 4.06
$1.36 SAR 5.10
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.53 SAR 141
$26.81 SAR 101
$80.4 SAR 302
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 SAR 5.07
$0.81 SAR 3.05
$4.06 SAR 15.22
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 SAR 6.11
$0.66 SAR 2.47
$2.61 SAR 9.79
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.68 SAR 21.32
$4.05 SAR 15.22
$7.31 SAR 27.42
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 SAR 2.41
$0.60 SAR 2.25
$0.64 SAR 2.41
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.7K SAR 156.4K
$17.2K SAR 64.5K
$66.1K SAR 248.2K
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6K SAR 77.2K
$20.6K SAR 77.2K
$21.1K SAR 79.1K
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$152 SAR 570
$76.7 SAR 288
$271 SAR 1,016
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.74 SAR 104
$16.04 SAR 60.2
$40.11 SAR 151
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$89.7 SAR 337
$77.2 SAR 290
$121 SAR 453
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$80.2 SAR 301
$24.28 SAR 91.1
$108 SAR 405
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.94 SAR 33.54
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.39 SAR 50.2
$10.71 SAR 40.19
$13.39 SAR 50.2
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$288 SAR 1,080
$199 SAR 748
$443 SAR 1,661
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,525 SAR 20.7K
$3,208 SAR 12.0K
$6,684 SAR 25.1K
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.85 SAR 138
$11.84 SAR 44.44
$52.6 SAR 198
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.0 SAR 199
$13.25 SAR 49.70
$66.2 SAR 249
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.5 SAR 253
$67.5 SAR 253
$67.5 SAR 253
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4 SAR 260
$48.04 SAR 180
$93.4 SAR 351
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$556 SAR 2,088
$318 SAR 1,193
$800 SAR 3,003
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$514 SAR 1,929
$209 SAR 785
$1,177 SAR 4,418
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 SAR 2,836
$527 SAR 1,977
$1,317 SAR 4,942
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$579 SAR 2,172
$404 SAR 1,517
$1,482 SAR 5,563
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,251 SAR 8,446
$2,221 SAR 8,335
$2,266 SAR 8,502
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,324 SAR 4,967
$1,279 SAR 4,799
$1,346 SAR 5,051
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,209 SAR 4,537
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.17
3
6.5

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Medina $1,339
Accommodation & Living
$514
Monthly Utilities & Internet
$269
Groceries & Markets
$190
Sport & Entertainment
$107
Eating Out
$104
Clothing & Footwear
$102
Getting Around
$51

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $556, dropping to $514 outside central areas. Housing accounts for roughly 46% of the average salary ($1,209) – well above the 30% international benchmark.

The average net salary is $1,209 – below monthly costs of $1,339. Most locals rely on shared housing or dual incomes. Remote workers earning abroad will find stronger purchasing power.

Groceries cost around $190 per month for one person. A mid-range dinner for two is priced at $31.00 – broadly in line with the Asian average.

A monthly public transport pass costs about $37.53 – roughly in line with the Asian average of $33.00.

Cost Highlights

Internet is more expensive than 99% of cities in Asia

Gym membership is more expensive than 93% of cities in Asia

Good to know
🕒 Local time
18:55 6:55 PM
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,100,093
💱 Currency
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SAR – Saudi Riyal Converter

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.22 SAR (1 SAR = 0.237 EUR).

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Medina Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

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Cost of Living in Medina - Frequently Asked Questions
How does Medina compare in terms of overall affordability for travelers, expats, and digital nomads?
Medina offers a balance of comfort and value that's appealing to many on a tight budget or on a longer stay. You’ll find a mix of affordable local eateries, grocery options, and mid-range housing compared with bigger Gulf cities. Expect savings in everyday services if you shop at traditional markets and cook at home, while imported goods or modern amenities can push costs higher. Cultural seasonality and religious events can alter prices and availability, so plan for intermittent busy periods. Cost of Living in Medina, Saudi Arabia reflects this blend of practicality and regional flavors. Tip: Map your priorities, compare districts, and set a monthly cap for nonessential spend.
What does a typical day look like for housing search, food options, transport, and coworking in Medina?
Day-to-day budgeting in Medina tends to favor flexible options. Housing search often centers on mid-size apartments in established neighborhoods or newer compounds; work with a local agent, visit several blocks, and compare proximity to markets and services. Food choices range from affordable local eateries to casual cafes; cooking at home helps you control costs. Transport often relies on car ownership or ride-hailing, with walking viable in dense areas. If you need a productive space, several coworking options offer varied hours and communities. Medina, Saudi Arabia living cost can vary by neighborhood depending on demand. Tip: Start with a short trial month to calibrate your budget and workspace needs.
What strategies help maximize quality of life in Medina while budgeting effectively?
Quality of life in Medina can be enhanced by a simple budgeting framework and neighborhood fit. Try zero-based budgeting to justify every expense, and allocate a regular portion for housing, food, and local transport. Favor neighborhoods near services to save time and commute costs; explore expat-friendly communities if you prefer English-speaking networks. Make the most of outdoor markets and seasonal produce while avoiding peak shopping hours. Plan for religious and cultural calendars that influence retail and dining. Tip: Build a flexible routine that mirrors your work tempo and social needs.
Is Medina worth the cost of living?
Medina is mid-range – monthly costs with rent reach about $1,339. For most residents, that's a fair trade: urban amenities, services, and job access without major-hub prices.
Is Medina expensive to live in?
Medina sits squarely in the middle of the price spectrum – not cheap, not expensive. Monthly costs with rent tend to hover around $1,339, which most working professionals can handle without feeling financially squeezed.
Can you save money on an average salary in Medina?
The average net salary in Medina is about $1,209, while comfortable living starts around $2,008. With total costs hitting $1,339 monthly, saving is possible if you earn above average – but it takes intentional budgeting.
How much is rent in Medina?
A central one-bedroom apartment in Medina runs about $556 per month. Move further out and that drops to around $514. Location makes a big difference here – and furnished places or short-term rentals will cost more on top of these figures.
Is food expensive in Medina?
Grocery spending in Medina lands around $190 per month for one person – not cheap, not expensive. Local produce and staples are fairly priced, though imported goods and specialty items cost more. Overall, food is a manageable part of the budget.
How much is public transport in Medina?
Getting around Medina by public transport costs about $37.53 per month. A monthly pass generally covers buses, trams, and metro – much cheaper than owning a car for the daily commute.
Can a person live on $1,000 monthly in Medina?
$1,000 is below the $1,339 average in Medina, so it's tight but not impossible. You'll need to keep rent low – sharing an apartment, cooking at home, and sticking to public transport are the main levers.
What is quality of life like in Medina?
Quality of life in Medina is solid. Standout factors include fast internet, low crime rates, café culture, backed by good public transport, varied dining and leisure, and well-maintained infrastructure. At about $1,339 monthly all-in, it suits mid-range budgets for a comfortable – if not luxurious – lifestyle.
How affordable is Medina?
Medina is neither cheap nor expensive – it sits comfortably in the middle. Monthly costs with rent run about $1,339, a figure most working professionals can handle without major financial stress.

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