Whether a salary is "good" in Saudi Arabia depends entirely on where you live. Riyadh and a one-room budget in Abha can differ by more than 2,000 SAR/month before you've bought a single grocery item. This guide breaks down real monthly costs — rent, food, transport, and utilities — for a single person and for a family of four across six major Saudi cities.
Budget for a Single Person (One-Room Rental)
Estimated monthly costs for a single person renting a furnished room or studio, by city:
| City | Rent | Food & Groceries | Transport | Utilities & Internet | Leisure & Misc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riyadh (highest cost) | 2,800 - 4,200 | 900 - 1,300 | 400 - 700 | 250 - 450 | 300 - 600 |
| Jeddah | 2,200 - 3,500 | 800 - 1,200 | 350 - 600 | 250 - 400 | 300 - 550 |
| Dammam / Khobar | 1,800 - 3,000 | 750 - 1,100 | 300 - 550 | 220 - 400 | 250 - 500 |
| Makkah | 1,500 - 2,500 | 650 - 1,000 | 280 - 480 | 200 - 380 | 200 - 400 |
| Madinah | 1,200 - 2,200 | 600 - 950 | 250 - 420 | 180 - 360 | 180 - 350 |
| Abha / Asir (lowest cost) | 900 - 1,800 | 550 - 850 | 200 - 380 | 160 - 320 | 150 - 300 |
Budget for a Family of Four (Two-Bedroom Apartment)
Estimated monthly costs for a family with two school-age children, by city:
| City | Rent | Food & Groceries | Transport | Schooling | Utilities & Misc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riyadh | 4,500 - 7,000 | 2,000 - 3,000 | 700 - 1,200 | 800 - 2,500 | 600 - 1,000 |
| Jeddah | 3,800 - 6,000 | 1,800 - 2,700 | 600 - 1,000 | 700 - 2,200 | 550 - 900 |
| Dammam / Khobar | 3,000 - 5,000 | 1,600 - 2,500 | 550 - 900 | 600 - 2,000 | 500 - 800 |
| Makkah | 2,500 - 4,200 | 1,400 - 2,200 | 450 - 750 | 500 - 1,800 | 400 - 700 |
| Madinah | 2,000 - 3,800 | 1,300 - 2,000 | 400 - 650 | 450 - 1,600 | 350 - 600 |
| Abha / Asir | 1,600 - 3,000 | 1,200 - 1,800 | 350 - 550 | 350 - 1,200 | 280 - 500 |
Schooling note: the low end of the education range assumes free or heavily subsidized public/company schooling; the high end reflects private international-curriculum schools, which are significantly more expensive and common among expat families.
Rent: Riyadh vs. Jeddah vs. the Rest
Riyadh consistently commands the highest rents in the Kingdom, driven by rapid population growth, Vision 2030 megaprojects, and high demand from both Saudi professionals and expat hires. Jeddah and the Dammam/Khobar (Eastern Province) corridor sit in the middle — still expensive, but noticeably below Riyadh for comparable housing. Makkah, Madinah, and Abha offer meaningfully lower rents, though Makkah and Madinah can spike seasonally around Hajj and Umrah periods.
As a rule of thumb, budget roughly 30-40% of a mid-level salary for rent in Riyadh or Jeddah, versus 20-25% in Abha or Madinah for equivalent housing quality.
How Much Salary Do You Need?
Matching these budgets against real salary data: a single professional earning the national private-sector average of around 12,000 SAR/month can live comfortably in Jeddah, Dammam, Makkah, Madinah, or Abha, but will feel tighter in Riyadh unless earning closer to 15,000-18,000 SAR/month. A family of four generally needs at least 18,000-22,000 SAR/month in Riyadh or Jeddah to cover housing, schooling, and living costs comfortably, versus 12,000-15,000 SAR/month in lower-cost cities.
Sources
- General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) — household expenditure survey data
- Numbeo — crowdsourced cost-of-living data
- Bayt.com — regional compensation survey
Related reading: Average Salary in Saudi Arabia and Saudi Aramco Salary Guide.