Cost of living comparison
Riyadh is 25.6% more expensive than Saudi Arabia overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 13.8% more in Riyadh
- Groceries
-
pay 6.0% more in Riyadh
- Transportation
-
pay 1.6% more in Riyadh
- Housing
-
pay 91.8% more in Riyadh
- Childcare
-
pay 45.0% more in Riyadh
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 9.3% more in Riyadh
- Clothing
-
pay 11.6% more in Riyadh
The cost of housing, childcare, restaurants, clothing, entertainment and sports, and groceries in Riyadh are more expensive than in Saudi Arabia. Notably, housing is significantly more expensive in Riyadh.
If you lived in Riyadh instead of Saudi Arabia, you would:
pay 13.8% more for restaurants
|
Saudi Arabia
|
Riyadh
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$6.73
SAR25.24
|
$8.39
SAR31.46
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$7.54
SAR28.28
|
$7.99
SAR29.96
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.74
SAR2.76
|
$0.76
SAR2.86
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.25
SAR0.92
|
$0.30
SAR1.12
|
|
pay 6.0% more for groceries
|
Saudi Arabia
|
Riyadh
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.94
SAR3.54
|
$1.24
SAR4.64
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.87
SAR14.51
|
$3.91
SAR14.67
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.76
SAR25.37
|
$6.64
SAR24.92
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.58
SAR9.67
|
$2.63
SAR9.88
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.22
SAR12.09
|
$3.80
SAR14.25
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.94
SAR3.53
|
$1.03
SAR3.88
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.76
SAR2.86
|
$0.78
SAR2.94
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.75
SAR2.80
|
$0.82
SAR3.07
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.74
SAR2.76
|
$0.76
SAR2.83
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.67
SAR2.53
|
$0.60
SAR2.25
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.63
SAR2.38
|
$0.64
SAR2.41
|
|
pay 1.6% more for transportation
|
Saudi Arabia
|
Riyadh
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$2.30
SAR8.63
|
$2.31
SAR8.67
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$44.62
SAR167.36
|
$37.27
SAR139.80
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$25,543.44
SAR95,805.75
|
$33,280.09
SAR124,823.55
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$18.12
SAR67.97
|
$16.70
SAR62.62
|
|
pay 91.8% more for housing
|
Saudi Arabia
|
Riyadh
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$74.43
SAR279.16
|
$74.70
SAR280.16
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$384.32
SAR1,441.48
|
$1,116.87
SAR4,189.04
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$279.56
SAR1,048.56
|
$782.38
SAR2,934.49
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$85.15
SAR319.37
|
$81.80
SAR306.81
|
|
pay 45.0% more for childcare
|
Saudi Arabia
|
Riyadh
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$303.07
SAR1,136.72
|
$360.22
SAR1,351.07
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,063.63
SAR22,742.85
|
$10,375.93
SAR38,916.99
|
|
pay 9.3% more for entertainment and sports
|
Saudi Arabia
|
Riyadh
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.70
SAR6.39
|
$2.13
SAR7.99
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.57
SAR13.37
|
$4.25
SAR15.94
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$7.18
SAR26.94
|
$7.45
SAR27.96
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$98.57
SAR369.72
|
$101.01
SAR378.87
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$16.63
SAR62.36
|
$15.97
SAR59.92
|
|
pay 11.6% more for clothing
|
Saudi Arabia
|
Riyadh
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$42.91
SAR160.94
|
$52.20
SAR195.80
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$58.28
SAR218.58
|
$54.44
SAR204.19
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$91.66
SAR343.78
|
$107.53
SAR403.31
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$78.88
SAR295.85
|
$89.80
SAR336.80
|
|
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