Cost of Living in Saudi Arabia - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Saudi Arabia
Address: SA

Monthly Cost of Living

Average monthly costs for a single person come to about $1,177 including rent across Saudi Arabia.

Estimated average monthly cost for a couple: $1,802 including rent across Saudi Arabia.

Average monthly costs for a family of three come to about $2,426 including rent across Saudi Arabia.

Living costs in Saudi Arabia vary widely – from $896 in more affordable cities to $1,776 in major hubs, spanning a $880 range across 33 cities.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.63 SAR 24.89

$3.98 SAR 14.95

$13.27 SAR 49.79

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.25 SAR 147

$26.16 SAR 98.2

$79.3 SAR 298

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.02 SAR 30.11

$6.69 SAR 25.10

$9.37 SAR 35.16

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.91 SAR 7.17

$1.09 SAR 4.10

$3.27 SAR 12.27

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 SAR 7.09

$1.34 SAR 5.05

$3.23 SAR 12.14

Cappuccino

$3.71 SAR 13.91

$1.63 SAR 6.13

$6.13 SAR 22.99

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 SAR 2.74

$0.66 SAR 2.48

$1.05 SAR 3.96

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 SAR 1.02

$0.16 SAR 0.59

$0.56 SAR 2.08

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 SAR 6.44

$1.35 SAR 5.07

$2.44 SAR 9.14

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 SAR 3.65

$0.26 SAR 0.99

$1.82 SAR 6.83

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 SAR 8.23

$1.32 SAR 4.95

$2.91 SAR 10.92

Eggs

$2.59 SAR 9.72

$1.64 SAR 6.15

$4.91 SAR 18.44

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.11 SAR 26.70

$3.90 SAR 14.65

$15.60 SAR 58.6

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.03 SAR 30.14

$3.98 SAR 14.92

$11.92 SAR 44.72

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.24 SAR 49.67

$8.10 SAR 30.39

$18.90 SAR 70.9

Apples (1kg)

$2.21 SAR 8.30

$1.36 SAR 5.08

$3.26 SAR 12.23

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 SAR 6.02

$1.30 SAR 4.88

$2.60 SAR 9.77

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 SAR 6.05

$0.78 SAR 2.92

$2.58 SAR 9.69

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 SAR 6.10

$0.81 SAR 3.05

$2.44 SAR 9.14

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 SAR 5.00

$0.73 SAR 2.75

$2.17 SAR 8.13

Onion (1kg)

$1.30 SAR 4.88

$0.78 SAR 2.94

$2.08 SAR 7.82

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 SAR 4.65

$0.41 SAR 1.53

$2.44 SAR 9.15

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 SAR 2.12

$0.38 SAR 1.44

$1.02 SAR 3.85

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.04 SAR 15.17

$1.29 SAR 4.85

$10.36 SAR 38.86

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 SAR 6.57

$1.09 SAR 4.09

$2.71 SAR 10.16

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 SAR 8.00

$1.35 SAR 5.07

$3.25 SAR 12.19

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.49 SAR 28.12

$6.42 SAR 24.09

$9.37 SAR 35.17

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 SAR 3.91

$0.78 SAR 2.93

$1.30 SAR 4.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.69 SAR 141

$13.46 SAR 50.5

$56.5 SAR 212

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 SAR 9.74

$2.08 SAR 7.80

$5.20 SAR 19.52

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.71 SAR 10.16

$0.81 SAR 3.04

$3.25 SAR 12.18

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.51 SAR 50.7

$8.10 SAR 30.41

$27.02 SAR 101

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 SAR 2.43

$0.61 SAR 2.27

$0.66 SAR 2.47

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.8K SAR 96.8K

$20.3K SAR 76.0K

$40.3K SAR 151.0K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.1K SAR 83.0K

$20.0K SAR 75.2K

$25.2K SAR 94.5K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$105 SAR 395

$65.9 SAR 247

$198 SAR 742

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$34.22 SAR 128

$20.37 SAR 76.4

$49.98 SAR 188

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.7 SAR 269

$53.5 SAR 201

$99.0 SAR 371

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$92.7 SAR 348

$52.7 SAR 198

$158 SAR 593

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.55 SAR 156

$21.23 SAR 79.7

$58.5 SAR 220

Cinema Ticket

$15.71 SAR 59.0

$11.78 SAR 44.21

$20.95 SAR 78.6

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$348 SAR 1,305

$158 SAR 593

$659 SAR 2,473

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,206 SAR 27.0K

$4,041 SAR 15.2K

$14.8K SAR 55.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.4 SAR 197

$17.57 SAR 65.9

$108 SAR 406

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.5 SAR 216

$20.92 SAR 78.5

$105 SAR 392

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 SAR 354

$53.1 SAR 199

$138 SAR 518

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.5 SAR 313

$40.11 SAR 151

$160 SAR 602

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 SAR 1,827

$268 SAR 1,004

$1,204 SAR 4,517

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 SAR 1,488

$211 SAR 790

$1,053 SAR 3,950

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$896 SAR 3,363

$485 SAR 1,820

$2,694 SAR 10.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$624 SAR 2,341

$392 SAR 1,470

$1,358 SAR 5,095

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,271 SAR 8,521

$1,097 SAR 4,117

$4,898 SAR 18.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,238 SAR 4,644

$654 SAR 2,454

$2,877 SAR 10.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,944 SAR 7,296

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.65

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

Last update: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center: $419 across Saudi Arabia. For reference, capital rent is $1,083 in Riyadh, and $216 in Taif.

National average salary: $1,998. With average costs at $1,177, the salary-to-cost ratio is favorable for most workers.

Expect to spend about $195 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant averages $40.00 for two.

In Riyadh (capital), expect about $1,776 per month, while Taif offers the lowest costs at $896 – which city you pick has a tangible effect on the budget.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($1,177) is 12% below the global median of $1,344.

Average rent ($419) is 33% below the global median of $626.

Dining out ($40.00) is 17% below the global median of $48.00.

Public transport ($40.00) is 21% above the global median of $33.00.

By City in Saudi Arabia

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Abha	236157	57	$771	$1,134	$1,881	$2,709	250.91	174.02
2	Ad Dammam	903312	61	$714	$1,207	$1,809	$2,575	240.4	192.9
3	Al Hufuf	660788	52	$746	$1,049	$1,685	$2,143	204.55	135.41
4	AL Kharj	-	48	$694	$951	$1,305	$2,087	180.15	174.59
5	Al Khobar	219679	67	$910	$1,346	$1,871	$2,958	246.03	199.81
6	Al Majma'ah	-	62	$662	$1,236	$1,789	$2,571	-	-
7	Al Mubarraz	-	64	$912	$1,304	$1,891	$2,655	241.45	135.41
8	Al-hawiyah	148151	61	$788	$1,231	$1,808	$2,498	174.49	175.62
9	Al-Ula	32413	61	$760	$1,232	$1,680	$2,457	354.74	115.6
10	Ar-rass	121359	58	$690	$1,171	$1,445	$2,400	92.67	84.67
11	Arar	167057	61	$794	$1,232	$1,597	$2,535	78.9	149.79
12	Buraydah	467410	60	$806	$1,184	$1,884	$2,797	115.44	148.12
13	Dammam	903312	61	$751	$1,207	$1,786	$2,530	25.38	192.9
14	Dhahran	120521	66	$819	$1,336	$2,224	$2,675	172.49	232.13
15	Ha'il	310897	51	$691	$1,024	$1,509	$1,889	62.88	171.2
16	Hafar Al Batin	271642	60	$631	$1,214	$1,422	$2,362	167.06	162.93
17	Jeddah	3430697	61	$739	$1,224	$1,507	$2,448	28.17	202.02
18	Jizan	127743	51	$620	$1,002	$1,375	$2,152	64.46	103.14
19	Jubail	337778	53	$730	$1,051	$1,424	$2,282	149.89	178.69
20	Khafji	67012	59	$646	$1,205	$1,794	$2,470	6.84	162.2
21	Khamis Mushayt	430828	48	$718	$949	$1,632	$2,239	18.33	168.41
22	Mecca	1675368	53	$679	$1,046	$1,455	$2,801	18.99	176.49
23	Medina	1100093	74	$706	$1,457	$1,728	$2,232	281.74	191.79
24	Najran	298288	53	$771	$1,058	$1,887	$2,241	9.39	140.68
25	Qatif	87332	54	$658	$1,059	$1,516	$2,288	56.07	175.27
26	Rabigh	92072	57	$709	$1,148	$1,466	$2,186	297.26	89.29
27	Riyadh	5188286	89	$889	$1,776	$2,090	$3,177	160.2	207.47
28	Sakakah	242813	59	$750	$1,197	$1,891	$2,128	98.72	107.34
29	Tabuk	512629	67	$692	$1,339	$1,854	$2,751	117.63	178.85
30	Taif	579970	46	$733	$896	$1,513	$1,990	231.07	195.61
31	Umluj	37757	61	$674	$1,236	$1,659	$2,477	182.97	135.05
32	Unaizah	163729	58	$643	$1,150	$1,656	$2,327	147.56	146
33	Yanbu	233236	50	$719	$1,000	$1,501	$2,023	208.06	173.79

Saudi Arabia Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Saudi Arabia - Frequently Asked Questions

Cost of Living in Saudi Arabia is a useful framework to compare neighborhoods, cities, and your lifestyle choices on arrival. In Riyadh or Jeddah, housing and utilities can occupy a larger portion of your budget, while smaller towns tend to be more affordable. You may also see savings from domestic services, moderate grocery costs, and a car-friendly layout. Public transit quality varies, but ride-hailing and well-planned developments ease getting around. Seasonal heat drives cooling needs, yet modern compounds and amenities help keep costs predictable. Optimize your budget with longer leases, shared housing, and shopping at local markets for staples. Tip: Start with a short, flexible lease and compare neighborhoods by commute, amenities, and climate.

Daily life blends modern convenience with regional flavor. You'll find housing options from secure compounds to affordable apartments; seek leases that include utilities or offer flexible terms. Food choices span lively markets, casual eateries, and international supermarkets. Transport leans car-centric in many areas, with ride-hailing and limited public transit as practical options. For work or study, co-working spaces and cafes can be your go-to spots. Plan errands around prayer times and traffic rhythms. Having visibility into Saudi Arabia living cost helps you budget for housing, groceries, and utilities as you plan a stay. Tip: Map out a few reliable neighborhoods and set up a tour before you commit to a lease.

Quality of life in Saudi Arabia often comes from neighborhood fit, daily routines, and smart budgeting. Use a simple framework: essentials, flexible extras, and savings. Look for neighborhoods with good services, green spaces, and walkable streets that fit your pace. Be mindful of climate-driven energy use in summer; choosing energy-efficient housing and sensible cooling can keep bills reasonable. Balance dining out with market purchases and home cooking, and leverage coworking spaces to manage work-life balance. If you travel seasonally, plan trips during shoulder periods when crowds and prices ease. Tip: Prioritize areas with easy access to supermarkets, healthcare, and safe public spaces to reduce errand time.

By international standards, Saudi Arabia is moderately priced. Smaller cities offer better deals, while capitals run higher. Most visitors and residents find costs manageable without extreme budgeting.

As of 2026, living expenses in Saudi Arabia span $896 to $1,776 monthly. Capitals and tourist hotspots sit at the top end; provincial towns offer substantially cheaper living.

Outside the capital and tourist areas, costs in Saudi Arabia drop fast. Taif is one of the best budget options – lower costs without giving up access to essential services and everyday amenities.

$1,000 supports a modest but comfortable life in Saudi Arabia's smaller cities, but feels tight in Riyadh. Rent is the deciding factor – keep housing costs low and the rest of the budget opens up.

Living costs in Saudi Arabia are average by world standards. Regional cities offer better value than Riyadh, and most residents with steady jobs or remote income find things manageable.