How much does it cost to live in Saudi Arabia?
Different people usually get a job in Saudi for different reasons, but in general, people try to spend their money wisely and save whatever they can. This is a short guide for those who are interested in the average day-to-day living costs for expats in the Kingdom.
The figures below are based on my personal experience living in the capital Riyadh. They may differ slightly from city to city, but I believe that they are accurate enough to give a good indication of what to expect in order to try and come up with a loose budget based on salaries or salary expectations.
All figures are in Saudi Riyals and monthly, unless stated.
Transport
In general, it’s a good idea to have your own transport in Saudi. For obvious reasons, that’s not possible at this stage for women, but companies will generally provide transport for female expat staff both to and from work, and after work for things such as shopping trips and other activities.
It’s possible for expats to buy cars on finance, which many choose to do if they intend to stay for the long term, but it’s critical to understand all of the ins and outs of the contract before deciding to do this. It’s also important to be aware that you could be left with a huge bill if your company decides to let you go before you’ve completed all of the payments.
Car rental |
SR 1,500-1,800 |
Fuel |
SR 160-180 |
Car cleaning |
SR 40-100 |
Taxi |
SR 15-30 per journey within city |
Food and other household goods
Like many countries, there is a wide range of small markets and big supermarkets to get food and household supplies from. Most local brands are of decent quality and sufficient for most needs, but there are a few places that import a small range of popular products from the UK and the US.
Single person cooking |
SR 800-1,000 |
Couple cooking |
SR 1,500-1,800 |
Additional per young child |
SR 300-500 |
Additional per older child |
SR 400-600 |
Per person eating out daily (not including household goods) |
SR 1,000-1,600 |
Accommodation
All companies should generally have accommodation ready for staff on arrival, with many offering a housing allowance for those that would prefer to find their own place to live. Some choose to stay in company accommodation for the duration of their contract, but needless to say, doing this means that they then don’t receive any housing allowance on top of their base salary.
Note that rent for unfurnished properties should usually be paid in two instalments of 6 months’ rent, each. If your company will only pay your housing allowance monthly, you may be limited to staying in a hotel until you have enough to pay for 6 months’ rent upfront.
2-3 bed hotel suite |
SR 2,500-4,000 (depending on location) |
Unfurnished 2-3 bed property |
SR 25,000-35,000 per year |
Furnishings for 2-3 bed apartment |
SR 8,000-12,000 |
Water |
SR 500 per year |
Electricity |
SR 100-150 |
Other utilities
Depending on your personal internet needs, it may be possible to get by just using whatever available Wi-Fi you can find; however, you may discover that your SIM card has been disconnected if you fail to top up the minimum amount of talk minutes specified by your phone company.
Mobile phone talk minutes (PAYG) |
SR 20-40 |
Mobile internet |
2GB SR 100 5GB SR 200 unlimited SR 350 |
Landline phone and internet packages |
SR 80-250 |
International Schools
Schools, similarly with renting, usually ask for payments in either one or two instalments. Some companies will offer assistance with school fees, and some parents choose to home-school, but if these options are not available or realistic for you then the fees are quite high, and tend to rise every year.
Note that schools are strict regarding documentation of previous schooling. They will usually ask for proof of schooling from your child’s previous school for at least the last academic year. This will probably also need to be attested by the Saudi Embassy in your home country before arriving in KSA. They may also ask for medical/vaccination records and a birth certificate.
Also note that it may be possible to get a 5-10% discount on second or third children registered at the same school. Schools may also charge extra for transport, books, activities, etc.
Kindergarten |
SR 19,000-22,000 per year |
Grades 1-6(US) |
SR 22,000-26,500 per year |
Grades 7-9(US) |
SR 25,000-34,500 per year |
Grades 10-12(US) |
SR 26,000-34,500 per year |