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Saudi Arabia Cost of Living 2026
๐ธ๐ฆ 2 cities in Saudi Arabia, sorted by daily travel budget. Not the exchange rate โ how cheap it feels on your own income, and where a price becomes a rip-off. Updated October 2026
Cities in Saudi Arabia compared
| City | Per day | Per month | Local meal | Coffee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ๐ธ๐ฆ RiyadhBig city | $147 | $3,041 | SAR30 | SAR16 |
| ๐ธ๐ฆ JeddahBig city ยท coast | $167 | $2,420 | SAR30 | SAR17 |
Per day = one mid-range night + three meals, a coffee and two taxi rides. Open a city for item-by-item prices, rip-off thresholds and live traveler reports.
Everyday prices in Saudi Arabia
| City | Beer | 5 km taxi | Hotel night | Massage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ๐ธ๐ฆ Riyadh | SAR10 | SAR18 | SAR300 | SAR200 |
| ๐ธ๐ฆ Jeddah | SAR15 | SAR20 | SAR350 | SAR200 |
Saudi Arabia vs nearby countries
| Country | Per day | Per month | vs Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|---|---|
| ๐ถ๐ฆ Qatar | $138 | $4,531 | -12% |
| ๐ด๐ฒ Oman | $138 | $2,486 | -12% |
| ๐จ๐ฎ Cรดte d'Ivoire | $146 | $1,935 | -7% |
| ๐ณ๐ฆ Namibia | $157 | $2,100 | 0% |
| ๐ธ๐ฆ Saudi Arabia | $157 | $2,731 | this country |
| ๐ฟ๐ฆ South Africa | $159 | $2,307 | +1% |
| ๐ฟ๐ผ Zimbabwe | $172 | $2,175 | +10% |
| ๐ฒ๐บ Mauritius | $175 | $2,236 | +12% |
Countries in the same region with a similar daily travel budget. Tap a country for its city-by-city prices.
Riyadh vs New York: item by item
| Item | Riyadh | New York | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local meal | SAR30โ $8 | $20 | -60% |
| Coffee | SAR16โ $4.27 | $6 | -29% |
| Beer | SAR10โ $2.67 | $9 | -70% |
| 5 km taxi | SAR18โ $4.8 | $23 | -79% |
| Hotel night | SAR300โ $80 | $270 | -70% |
| 1-bed rent | SAR3,300โ $880 | $3,300 | -73% |
Same purchase in both cities, converted to US dollars. Daily travel budget: Riyadh $147 vs New York $467 โ about 69% cheaper.
Compare Saudi Arabia with other cities
Saudi Arabia travel difficulty
Rip-offs, language, getting around, payments and safety, 1โ5 (closer to 1 is easier). Tap a city for reasons and tips. Full difficulty ranking โบ
City guides
FAQ
How much is a daily travel budget in Saudi Arabia?
With a mid-range room, between $147 and $167 a day depending on the city โ about $157 on average. Hostels and local eateries cut that by 30% or more.
How much does a month in Saudi Arabia cost?
Short-term rental plus living costs runs $3,041โ$3,041 by city, about $2,731 on average.
Which city in Saudi Arabia is cheapest?
By daily budget, Riyadh ($147/day) is the cheapest and Jeddah ($167/day) the most expensive.
Which nearby country is cheaper than Saudi Arabia?
Among countries in the same region with similar budgets, Qatar runs about $138 a day โ 12% less than Saudi Arabia (about $157).
Is Saudi Arabia cheaper than New York?
In Riyadh, a traveler's day runs about $147 versus $467 in New York โ roughly 69% cheaper. The gap differs by item, so meals, coffee, taxis and hotels are listed separately above.