Cost of living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia vs Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Currency:
| Food | - 18% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) is 18% cheaper than in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) | ||||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | ﷼ 35 (Dirham 34) | Dirham 32 | + 5% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | ﷼ 27 (Dirham 26) | Dirham 31 | - 16% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | ﷼ 17 (Dirham 16) | Dirham 20 | - 16% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | ﷼ 4.72 (Dirham 4.62) | Dirham 6 | - 24% | |
| 12 eggs, large | ﷼ 8 (Dirham 8) | Dirham 14 | - 47% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | ﷼ 6 (Dirham 6) | Dirham 5.53 | + 10% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | ﷼ 15 (Dirham 15) | Dirham 25 | - 41% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | ﷼ 7 (Dirham 7) | Dirham 8 | - 12% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | ﷼ 3.65 (Dirham 3.58) | Dirham 3.59 | - 0% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | - | Dirham 14 | - | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | - | Dirham 64 | - | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | ﷼ 8 (Dirham 8) | Dirham 8 | - 4% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | ﷼ 2.00 (Dirham 1.96) | Dirham 5.10 | - 62% | |
| Housing | - 38% | |||
| Housing in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) is 38% cheaper than in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) | ||||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | ﷼ 5,361 (Dirham 5,251) | Dirham 9,284 | - 43% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | ﷼ 2,590 (Dirham 2,537) | Dirham 6,902 | - 63% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | ﷼ 1,028 (Dirham 1,007) | Dirham 615 | + 64% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | ﷼ 3,336 (Dirham 3,267) | Dirham 4,750 | - 31% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | ﷼ 2,061 (Dirham 2,018) | Dirham 3,737 | - 46% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | ﷼ 467 (Dirham 458) | Dirham 334 | + 37% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | ﷼ 162 (Dirham 159) | Dirham 325 | - 51% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | ﷼ 1,017 (Dirham 996) | Dirham 1,616 | - 38% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | ﷼ 350 (Dirham 343) | Dirham 408 | - 16% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | ﷼ 24 (Dirham 23) | Dirham 46 | - 50% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | ﷼ 28 (Dirham 27) | Dirham 38 | - 28% | |
| Clothes | - 25% | |||
| Clothes in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) is 25% cheaper than in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) | ||||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | ﷼ 105 (Dirham 103) | Dirham 269 | - 62% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | ﷼ 168 (Dirham 165) | Dirham 191 | - 14% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | ﷼ 311 (Dirham 304) | Dirham 363 | - 16% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | ﷼ 315 (Dirham 308) | Dirham 347 | - 11% | |
| Transportation | + 41% | |||
| Transportation in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) is 41% more expensive than in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) | ||||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | ﷼ 83,535 (Dirham 81,807) | Dirham 80,560 | + 2% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | ﷼ 1.50 (Dirham 1.47) | Dirham 2.07 | - 29% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | ﷼ 174 (Dirham 171) | Dirham 81 | + 111% | |
| Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km. (5 miles) | ﷼ 30 (Dirham 29) | Dirham 28 | + 5% | |
| Personal Care | - 34% | |||
| Personal Care in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) is 34% cheaper than in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) | ||||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | ﷼ 10 (Dirham 10) | Dirham 17 | - 38% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | ﷼ 59 (Dirham 58) | Dirham 61 | - 5% | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | ﷼ 125 (Dirham 122) | Dirham 380 | - 68% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | ﷼ 18 (Dirham 18) | Dirham 25 | - 27% | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | ﷼ 18 (Dirham 17) | Dirham 15 | + 17% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | ﷼ 17 (Dirham 17) | Dirham 24 | - 30% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | ﷼ 5.12 (Dirham 5.02) | Dirham 10 | - 51% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | ﷼ 16 (Dirham 16) | Dirham 14 | + 13% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | ﷼ 25 (Dirham 25) | Dirham 79 | - 69% | |
| Entertainment | - 23% | |||
| Entertainment in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) is 23% cheaper than in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) | ||||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | ﷼ 91 (Dirham 89) | Dirham 193 | - 54% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | ﷼ 112 (Dirham 109) | Dirham 83 | + 31% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | ﷼ 393 (Dirham 385) | Dirham 548 | - 30% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | ﷼ 175 (Dirham 172) | Dirham 202 | - 15% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | - | Dirham 62 | - | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | ﷼ 15 (Dirham 14) | Dirham 29 | - 49% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | - | Dirham 40 | - | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | ﷼ 1,602 (Dirham 1,569) | Dirham 2,536 | - 38% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | ﷼ 0.45 (Dirham 0.44) | Dirham 0.62 | - 28% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | ﷼ 281 (Dirham 275) | Dirham 282 | - 3% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | ﷼ 24 (Dirham 24) | Dirham 22 | + 7% | |
| TOTAL | - 22% | |||
This comparison is lacking data. It provides a decent comparison, but it is not yet reliable. It is based on 706 prices entered by 142 different people.
These prices were last updated on February 28, 2021.
Exchange rate:
0.979
AED
/
SAR
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Cost of living in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) is 22% cheaper than in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)
For example, to keep the same standard of living that would require Dirham 29,000 in Abu Dhabi you would need to make just about Dirham 22,682 (﷼ 23,161) in Riyadh.
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