Cost of Living

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Live cost-of-living data for Riyadh — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
35/ 10065% cheaper than New York
+21% rent since Jul 2026
$3,400/mo
Median Income
75/100
Safety
0%
Income Tax
desert subtropical
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
68/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,085/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$845/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$2,150/month
Food & Groceries
58/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.3/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.2/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.5/kg
Transportation
52/100
Monthly Transit Pass$22/month
One-Way Ticket$0.8/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.3/km
Utilities
50/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$108/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$62/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$38/month
Healthcare
62/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$76/visit
Dentist Visit$96/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
58/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$600/month
International Primary School (yearly)$14,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$450/course
Entertainment
52/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$14/ticket
Theater Ticket$45/ticket
Museum Entry$18/ticket
Clothing
58/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$72/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$45/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$95/pair
Personal Care
48/100
Haircut (Men)$22/cut
Haircut (Women)$45/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$5.5/bottle
Dining Out
58/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$14/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$53/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$8/meal
Childcare
62/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$850/month
Babysitter (per hour)$16/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$22/pack
Fitness & Sports
52/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$50/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$22/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$9/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

100 Mbps
Internet Speed
$320
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
45/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Al Olaya, Diplomatic Quarter, Al Nakheel

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Riyadh cheap to live in?

Riyadh has a cost of living index of 35/100, where New York = 100. It is 65% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,240–$1,736 per month.

How much does rent cost in Riyadh?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Riyadh costs approximately $1,085/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $845/month.

Is Riyadh good for digital nomads?

Riyadh has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 100 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $320/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Riyadh?

The median net monthly salary in Riyadh is approximately $3,400 USD. The income tax rate is around 0%.

How does Riyadh compare to New York for cost of living?

Riyadh (cost index 35) is 65% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,625/month by moving from New York to Riyadh.

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