Cost of living in United States compared to Saudi Arabia
Currency:
Food | + 25% | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Food in United States is 25% more expensive than in Saudi Arabia | ||||
United States | Saudi Arabia | Diff | ||
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | $20 (﷼ 75) | ﷼ 67 | + 11% | |
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | $11 (﷼ 40) | ﷼ 42 | - 6% | |
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | $5.67 (﷼ 21) | ﷼ 17 | + 26% | |
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | $1.09 (﷼ 4.07) | ﷼ 6 | - 33% | |
12 eggs, large | $5.04 (﷼ 19) | ﷼ 25 | - 24% | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | $4.66 (﷼ 17) | ﷼ 9 | + 101% | |
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | $7 (﷼ 26) | ﷼ 20 | + 34% | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | $4.46 (﷼ 17) | ﷼ 8 | + 110% | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | $2.35 (﷼ 9) | ﷼ 5.23 | + 69% | |
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | $3.06 (﷼ 11) | - | - | |
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | $16 (﷼ 59) | - | - | |
2 liters of coca-cola | $2.88 (﷼ 11) | ﷼ 8 | + 34% | |
Bread for 2 people for 1 day | $2.76 (﷼ 10) | ﷼ 2.83 | + 266% | |
Housing | + 29% | |||
Housing in United States is 29% more expensive than in Saudi Arabia | ||||
United States | Saudi Arabia | Diff | ||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | $3,130 (﷼ 11,738) | ﷼ 6,401 | + 83% | |
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | $2,407 (﷼ 9,027) | ﷼ 4,567 | + 98% | |
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | $223 (﷼ 837) | ﷼ 1,857 | - 55% | |
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | $2,092 (﷼ 7,847) | ﷼ 7,136 | + 10% | |
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | $1,596 (﷼ 5,986) | ﷼ 3,725 | + 61% | |
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | $146 (﷼ 546) | ﷼ 1,201 | - 55% | |
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | $67 (﷼ 250) | ﷼ 250 | - 0% | |
40” flat screen tv | $303 (﷼ 1,136) | ﷼ 1,647 | - 31% | |
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | $141 (﷼ 527) | ﷼ 444 | + 19% | |
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | $14 (﷼ 53) | ﷼ 41 | + 29% | |
Hourly rate for cleaning help | $31 (﷼ 118) | ﷼ 30 | + 294% | |
Clothes | - 30% | |||
Clothes in United States is 30% cheaper than in Saudi Arabia | ||||
United States | Saudi Arabia | Diff | ||
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | $59 (﷼ 222) | ﷼ 263 | - 16% | |
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | $53 (﷼ 198) | ﷼ 343 | - 42% | |
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | $97 (﷼ 365) | ﷼ 309 | + 18% | |
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | $136 (﷼ 509) | ﷼ 560 | - 9% | |
Transportation | - 24% | |||
Transportation in United States is 24% cheaper than in Saudi Arabia | ||||
United States | Saudi Arabia | Diff | ||
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | $28,048 (﷼ 105,192) | ﷼ 95,764 | + 10% | |
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | $1.02 (﷼ 3.84) | ﷼ 2.23 | + 72% | |
Monthly ticket public transport | $81 (﷼ 303) | ﷼ 464 | - 35% | |
Personal Care | + 38% | |||
Personal Care in United States is 38% more expensive than in Saudi Arabia | ||||
United States | Saudi Arabia | Diff | ||
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | $9 (﷼ 34) | ﷼ 6 | + 431% | |
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | $22 (﷼ 83) | ﷼ 82 | + 1% | |
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | $137 (﷼ 514) | ﷼ 299 | + 72% | |
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | $10 (﷼ 36) | ﷼ 24 | + 49% | |
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | $4.75 (﷼ 18) | ﷼ 20 | - 13% | |
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | $6 (﷼ 24) | ﷼ 15 | + 54% | |
4 rolls of toilet paper | $4.85 (﷼ 18) | ﷼ 11 | + 65% | |
Tube of toothpaste | $2.24 (﷼ 8) | ﷼ 22 | - 62% | |
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | $28 (﷼ 107) | ﷼ 25 | + 322% | |
Entertainment | + 23% | |||
Entertainment in United States is 23% more expensive than in Saudi Arabia | ||||
United States | Saudi Arabia | Diff | ||
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | $57 (﷼ 215) | ﷼ 152 | + 41% | |
2 tickets to the movies | $30 (﷼ 111) | ﷼ 100 | + 11% | |
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | $225 (﷼ 845) | ﷼ 439 | + 92% | |
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | $95 (﷼ 356) | ﷼ 306 | + 16% | |
1 cocktail drink in downtown club | $14 (﷼ 54) | - | - | |
Cappuccino in expat area of the city | $5.51 (﷼ 21) | ﷼ 21 | - 1% | |
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | $7 (﷼ 25) | - | - | |
Ipad wi-fi 128gb | $607 (﷼ 2,276) | ﷼ 2,704 | - 16% | |
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | $0.22 (﷼ 0.84) | ﷼ 0.38 | + 123% | |
1 month of gym membership in business district | $68 (﷼ 255) | ﷼ 224 | + 14% | |
1 package of marlboro cigarettes | $10 (﷼ 39) | ﷼ 44 | - 12% | |
TOTAL | + 9% |

These prices were last updated on December 10, 2023.
Exchange rate:
3.750
SAR
/
USD
Cost of living in United States is 9% more expensive than in Saudi Arabia
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