Cost of Living in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia

Monthly budget (single)

$1,785–$2,826/month

﷼6,611 – ﷼10,467 (local currency)

Overall 7.7Safety 8.9Housing 6.2Quality of life 8.5

Last updated: 2026-03

Can you afford to live in Riyadh?

Enter your monthly take-home in USD. We compare it to typical budgets for your household size (estimates, not financial advice).

Cost breakdown

CategoryUSDLocal currency
Rent (1-bed, city center)$1,338–$2,082﷼4,956 – ﷼7,711
Rent (1-bed, outside center)$706–$1,115﷼2,615 – ﷼4,130
Utilities (electricity, heating, water)$56–$108﷼207 – ﷼400
Internet & Mobile$22–$37﷼81 – ﷼137
Groceries (monthly)$283–$424﷼1,048 – ﷼1,570
Eating out (per meal, mid-range)$37–$67﷼137 – ﷼248
Coffee$3–$4﷼11 – ﷼15
Public transport (monthly pass)$71–$86﷼263 – ﷼319
Gym membership$26–$48﷼96 – ﷼178
Cinema ticket$10–$13﷼37 – ﷼48

Budget scenarios

Single

$1,785–$2,826/mo USD

﷼6,611 – ﷼10,467

Top expenses

  • Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,082/mo
  • Groceries: ~$424/mo
  • Transport: ~$86/mo

Couple

$2,826–$4,313/mo USD

﷼10,467 – ﷼15,974

Top expenses

  • Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,082/mo
  • Groceries: ~$424/mo
  • Transport: ~$86/mo

Family

$4,090–$6,321/mo USD

﷼15,148 – ﷼23,411

Top expenses

  • Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,082/mo
  • Groceries: ~$424/mo
  • Transport: ~$86/mo

Neighbourhood guide

Riyadh Center

Central

Urban core, transit access

Est. 1-bed rent: $1,673–$2,603/mo (﷼6,196 – ﷼9,641)

Riyadh Midtown

Central

Mixed residential

Est. 1-bed rent: $1,472–$2,290/mo (﷼5,452 – ﷼8,481)

Riyadh Outer

Suburban

Quieter, family-friendly

Est. 1-bed rent: $1,070–$1,666/mo (﷼3,963 – ﷼6,170)

Quality of life scores

Housing6.2/10
Safety8.9/10
Healthcare8.9/10
Education8.5/10
Environment9.3/10
Economy7.6/10
Culture8.2/10
Internet8.6/10

Pros & cons

✅ Pros

  • Vision 2030 projects
  • Salaries

❌ Cons

  • Car culture
  • Heat

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Estimates are for comparison only and do not constitute financial advice. Sources include our internal dataset and periodic third-party index updates.