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Country guide
Overview
Saudi Arabia🇸🇦
At a Glance
How Saudi Arabia compares across key indices
Cost of Living
50 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
55/100
Healthcare
68/100
Quality of Life
120/200
Cost of Living
How far your money goes in Saudi Arabia
Cost of Living
50
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
38
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
50
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
53
100 = NYC dining
Safety & Crime
Moderate RiskHow safe residents feel in Saudi Arabia - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
55/100
Crime Index
55/100
Lower is better
Walking Safety
Daytime100
Nighttime100
0 point drop from day to night
Cities in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has 92 modeled cities; this view starts with 40 curated or popular options. Monthly costs for a single person range from $1,009 in Sayhāt to $1,361 in Riyadh. Al Hufūf leads on safety, scoring 55/100. Najrān ranks highest for quality of life at 124/200.
💸Most Affordable
Sayhāt
$1,009/mo
Safest
Al Hufūf
55/100
Best Quality of Life
Najrān
124/200
Best Healthcare
Riyadh
83/100
City filter
Featured
Curated and popular cities first.
40 of 92 shown| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riyadh | $1,361 | 47/100 | 124/200 | 83/100 | 95 |
| Jeddah | $1,234 | 49/100 | 124/200 | 79/100 | 95 |
| Makkah | $1,176 | 52/100 | 124/200 | 75/100 | 95 |
| Madinah | $1,166 | 52/100 | 124/200 | 75/100 | 95 |
| Dammam | $1,164 | 52/100 | 124/200 | 75/100 | 95 |
| Sulţānah | $1,148 | 53/100 | 124/200 | 74/100 | 95 |
| Buraydah | $1,136 | 53/100 | 124/200 | 73/100 | 95 |
| Ta’if | $1,132 | 53/100 | 124/200 | 73/100 | 95 |
| Tabuk | $1,131 | 53/100 | 124/200 | 72/100 | 95 |
| Ha'il | $1,125 | 54/100 | 124/200 | 72/100 | 95 |
| Najrān | $1,116 | 54/100 | 124/200 | 72/100 | 95 |
| Al Kharj | $1,107 | 54/100 | 124/200 | 71/100 | 95 |
| Khamis Mushait | $1,102 | 55/100 | 124/200 | 71/100 | 95 |
| Al Hufūf | $1,087 | 55/100 | 124/200 | 70/100 | 95 |
| Al Mubarraz | $1,087 | 55/100 | 124/200 | 70/100 | 95 |
| Hafar Al-Batin | $1,083 | 55/100 | 124/200 | 70/100 | 95 |
| Thuqbah | $1,079 | 55/100 | 124/200 | 69/100 | 95 |
| Al Jubayl | $1,076 | 55/100 | 124/200 | 69/100 | 95 |
| Abha | $1,070 | 55/100 | 124/200 | 69/100 | 95 |
| Yanbu | $1,067 | 55/100 | 124/200 | 69/100 | 95 |
| Unaizah | $1,062 | 55/100 | 124/200 | 68/100 | 95 |
| Khobar | $1,057 | 55/100 | 124/200 | 68/100 | 95 |
| Arar | $1,051 | 55/100 | 124/200 | 68/100 | 95 |
| Sakakah | $1,044 | 55/100 | 124/200 | 67/100 | 95 |
| Az Zulfī | $1,042 | 55/100 | 123/200 | 67/100 | 95 |
| Jizan | $1,034 | 55/100 | 123/200 | 66/100 | 95 |
| Qurayyat | $1,031 | 55/100 | 123/200 | 66/100 | 95 |
| Sabt Alalayah | $1,030 | 55/100 | 123/200 | 66/100 | 95 |
| Dhahran | $1,030 | 55/100 | 123/200 | 66/100 | 95 |
| Al Qaţīf | $1,029 | 55/100 | 123/200 | 66/100 | 95 |
| Al Bahah | $1,024 | 55/100 | 123/200 | 66/100 | 94 |
| Ad Dawādimī | $1,023 | 55/100 | 123/200 | 66/100 | 94 |
| Tārūt | $1,023 | 55/100 | 123/200 | 66/100 | 94 |
| Qal‘at Bīshah | $1,020 | 55/100 | 123/200 | 66/100 | 94 |
| Ar Rass | $1,019 | 55/100 | 123/200 | 66/100 | 94 |
| Bariq | $1,016 | 55/100 | 123/200 | 65/100 | 94 |
| Rābigh | $1,014 | 55/100 | 123/200 | 65/100 | 94 |
| Ash Shafā | $1,014 | 55/100 | 123/200 | 65/100 | 93 |
| Al Līth | $1,013 | 55/100 | 123/200 | 65/100 | 93 |
| Sayhāt | $1,009 | 55/100 | 123/200 | 65/100 | 93 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Families
Schools
254 verified school profiles across 11 cities in Saudi Arabia — language model, grade range, credentials, and published tuition. A sample is shown here; filter the full set in the School Finder.
Al Faris International School
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Middle Years
Ib Primary Years
Al Hussan International School - Riyadh
Verified
RiyadhAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ap Course Ledger
Cambridge International School
Al Kawthar International Schools
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Middle Years
Ib Primary Years
Abdu Aziz International School
Verified
RIYADHAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ap Course Ledger
ABDUL-AZIZ INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Verified
RiyadhAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Cambridge International School
230 more verified schools in Saudi Arabia are available in the School Finder, with filters for city, age, language, credentials, and tuition.
School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.
Healthcare
Healthcare system overview for Saudi Arabia
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Environment
PollutedAir quality, water, and environmental conditions in Saudi Arabia
Pollution Index
100/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
53.1ug/m3
Unhealthy
Environmental Quality
Air Quality50/100
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about living in Saudi Arabia, answered with data
What is the cost of living in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia has a cost of living index of 50 relative to New York City (100). It is moderately affordable compared to the US. Monthly costs for a single person start around $1,030 in Sabt Alalayah and reach $1,361 in Riyadh.
What is the cheapest city in Saudi Arabia for expats?
Sabt Alalayah is the most affordable city in Saudi Arabia in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $1,030 for a single person including rent. Qurayyat is the next most affordable at $1,031/mo.
Is Saudi Arabia safe for expats?
Saudi Arabia has a safety index of 55/100, making it generally safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Al Hufūf scores highest on safety at 55/100.
What is the best city in Saudi Arabia for expats and digital nomads?
Najrān ranks highest for quality of life in Saudi Arabia, scoring 124/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $1,116/mo for a single person. For budget-conscious expats, Sabt Alalayah offers the lowest monthly costs at $1,030/mo.
How good is healthcare in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia scores 68/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it good by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Is Saudi Arabia cheaper than the United States?
Yes. Saudi Arabia's cost of living is roughly 50% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 62% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
What is the air quality and pollution like in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia has a pollution index of 100/100 (lower = cleaner). Pollution can be a concern in urban areas. Research specific cities before committing, as rural and coastal areas typically fare better.
Before You Go
Core tools and insurance next steps for planning a move to Saudi Arabia
Plan Your Move
Where Can I Move?
Check whether this country fits your passport, budget, work setup, safety floor, and priorities.
Build My Escape Plan
Turn this country into a practical move plan with visa, insurance, housing, banking, and scouting-trip next steps.
Compare Countries
Side-by-side breakdown of cost of living, safety, healthcare, and more.
Cost of Living
Model monthly costs with Freedom Abroad estimates before you narrow the shortlist.
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Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources
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