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
33/ 10067% cheaper than New York
+7% rent since Jul 2026
$2,285/mo
Median Income
75/100
Safety
0%
Income Tax
hot arid desert
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

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

Housing
48/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$960/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$640/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,920/month
Food & Groceries
52/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.6/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.8/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$2/kg
Transportation
55/100
Monthly Transit Pass$42/month
One-Way Ticket (Metro)$1.06/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.2/km
Utilities
48/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$100/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$60/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$35/month
Healthcare
62/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$85/visit
Dentist Visit$110/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$18/course
Education
58/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$650/month
International Primary School (yearly)$15,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$480/course
Entertainment
35/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$18/ticket
Theater Ticket$50/ticket
Museum Entry$20/ticket
Clothing
58/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$70/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$45/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$95/pair
Personal Care
50/100
Haircut (Men)$22/cut
Haircut (Women)$45/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$6.5/bottle
Dining Out
52/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$12/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$50/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$8/meal
Childcare
65/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$920/month
Babysitter (per hour)$18/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$24/pack
Fitness & Sports
62/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$85/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$25/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$12/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

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

Best neighborhoods: KAFD (King Abdulaziz Financial District), Al-Olaya, Malaz

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Riyadh cheap to live in?

Riyadh has a cost of living index of 33/100, where New York = 100. It is 67% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,180–$1,652 per month.

How much does rent cost in Riyadh?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Riyadh costs approximately $960/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $640/month.

Is Riyadh good for digital nomads?

Riyadh has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 129 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 $2,285 USD. The income tax rate is around 0%.

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

Riyadh (cost index 33) is 67% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,675/month by moving from New York to Riyadh.

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