Cost of living in Saudi Arabia in 2024

1. Expats Usually do not prefer to buy properties and rules are not clear for most of people. As i shifted from Jeddah (West) to Jubail (East) so i think the rents are cheaper in East Region than West. You can say like the rents are 20-30% less.
2. The average monthly grocery for a family of 4 is somewhere between 1500-2000
3. The insurance is provided by sponsor as you can not work in this country without sponsor so it is irrelevant (there might be exceptions) usually insurance contribution is 20% for consultation and medicine and etc.
4. The tuition fee varies starting from 5K per annum and can go up to 100K per annum.
5. Water, Electricity, Gas etc can cost 600-1K/month for a family of 4 depending on season of year.
6. For leisure purposes it can be somewhere between 1K/month.

@Cheryl Good evening dear these days tomuch expensive I pay rent per year 17500

Per month electric bill yearly idea 450 per month

I have oven car per month expens with everything 1000

For food I have me and my wife + 2 kids 1500

For Govt taxes per year 14400 and insurance 7800 internet 278

They allow to buy property in business activity not a house and minimum 4 millions royal

Hello everyone,

Thank you for your precious insights on this topic. It will be useful to forum members.

All the best

Bhavna

@Cheryl

When it comes to housing, what is the cost of renting or buying an apartment or house in Saudi Arabia?

Expats tend to rent rather than buy although it is possible to buy.  Companies now tend to provde housing allowance rather than providing accommodation housing allowance is normally 25% of salary.  Housing in one bed / studio is around 20,000 SAR p.a. (5500$US) to compounds villa upwards of 300,000 SAR p.a. (80,000$US). In Riyadh.

How much do you pay for public transports such as buses, subways, trains, trams, or taxis?

Busses are relatively new to Riyadh and currently charged by time. The Metro will open soon sometime in 2024.  Taxis are typically 50-80SAR (14-22$US) a journey within the city,  longer journeys to the airport with be significantly more.

Could you share the average monthly cost of your grocery shopping?

Grocery shopping is around 2000SAR (540$US) per month. More if you are buying household products.

What is the cost of health insurance? How much does a medical consultation cost in Saudi Arabia?

Health insurance is compulsary and is provided by the employer. However the level of cover can be very low something you need to check and decide if you want to top it up.

What are the average monthly costs for electricity, gas, water, internet, and phone plans?

Electricity in winter is typically 500SAR p.m. but summer can be significantly more anything up to 1000SAR (135$US-270$US)

Water is 22SAR for 20L container (6$)

Internet 420SAR for unlimited Data for 30 days. (113$)

Mobile phone plans typically 170-200SAR p.m.  including data and calling plans.

Gas 2.18 SAR per L. (0.6$)

@Martin Fin

Thank you @Martin Fin for such a detailed post.

Regards

Bhavna

Hello everyone, living in Saudi Arabia offers a range of lifestyle options depending on your preferences and budget. Whether you prefer a low-budget lifestyle or a more luxurious one, it's up to you how much you want to spend. As a Saudi resident myself, I can attest that living here is not excessively expensive. With careful budgeting, you can plan and enjoy your life comfortably.

Thanks

Taufique