Capital city in Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia
Cost of living in Riyadh
How much a month costs in Riyadh
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $2,400–4,270 (SR9,000–16,000).
Prices in Riyadh
Typical 2026 ranges in SAR, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | SAR | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | SR3,500–7,500 | $933–2,000 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | SR2,000–4,000 | $533–1,070 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | SR350–900 | $93–240 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | SR12–30 | $3.2–8.0 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | SR70–160 | $19–43 |
| Cappuccino | SR18–30 | $4.8–8.0 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | SR4 | $1.1 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | SR20–40 | $5.3–10.7 |
| Work and life | ||
| Coworking day pass | SR80–150 | $21–40 |
| Gym membership (month) | SR250–600 | $67–160 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | SR100–200 | $27–53 |
Value for money: 5/100
A value score of 5/100 means Riyadh gives more quality of life per dollar than 4% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 54/100. It's the 5th most affordable of 7 places we cover in Saudi Arabia.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Saudi Arabia
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
Cheaper alternatives to Riyadh
Similar safety, lower cost, in Middle East.
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Riyadh?
About $1,200–1,730 on a lean budget, $2,400–4,270 for a comfortable month and $5,870–10,670 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Riyadh?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs SR3,500–7,500 ($933–2,000) a month in the center and SR2,000–4,000 ($533–1,070) outside it.
How much does food cost in Riyadh?
A local meal is SR12–30 ($3.2–8.0); a mid-range restaurant is SR70–160 ($19–43) per person.
Is Saudi Arabia expensive?
Prices in Saudi Arabia are about 47% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Riyadh
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Sources
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.