🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.
Wondering how far your salary goes in Jeddah? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
1-bed apartment, north Jeddah (Al Shatea, Al Rawdah)SAR 40,000–70,000 / year, usually paid in one or two instalments
1-bed apartment, mid-city (Al Salamah, Al Zahra)SAR 25,000–45,000 / year
Utilities and internet, one personSAR 400–800 / month, higher in summer when the AC never stops
Meal, mid-range restaurantSAR 55–110 per person
Litre of petrol / typical Uber across townSAR 2.18 per litre for 91 octane, SAR 2.33 for 95 — one national price, reviewed monthly by Aramco; SAR 25–45 for a cross-city ride
Good to know
Population
≈3.75 million at the 2022 census (Jeddah governorate) — the Kingdom's second city, and commonly estimated above 4 million now
Official language
Arabic, in the Hejazi dialect, which differs audibly from Riyadh's Najdi. English is widespread in business and in the port and hospitality sectors
Currency
Saudi Riyal (SAR), pegged at 3.75 to the US dollar
Work week
Sunday to Thursday; Friday is the holy day and the weekend is Friday–Saturday
Climate
Hot desert on a warm sea — humid summers with high overnight temperatures, near-perfect winters, and rare but violent rainfall
Power plug
Type G primarily, also A/B in older buildings; 230 V
Personal income tax
None on salaries; VAT is 15%
Mecca
About 80 km inland and closed to non-Muslims, with checkpoints and a signed bypass on the expressway
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Jeddah checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.
Plan your move to Jeddah
A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.