How Much Does It Cost to Live in Riyadh in 2026?

Living in Riyadh does not have to be extremely expensive, especially if you are living alone and keep your housing and daily spending under control.

Your biggest expense will usually be rent. After that, food and transportation make the biggest difference to your monthly budget.

The figures below combine current 2026 Saudi price information with practical budget ranges based on a modest expat lifestyle in Riyadh. The room-rent figures and some spending ranges are practical estimates rather than official averages.

Riyadh Monthly Cost for a Single Expat

Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Statistics publishes monthly average prices for goods and services, including food and other household expenses.

Rent in Riyadh

For a single expat, sharing accommodation can make a big difference.

A shared room can be around SAR 500–700 per month, while a private room can be around SAR 1,500–2,000 per month, depending on the location, building and facilities.

If you want your own small apartment, expect the cost to be higher. A small apartment can also be paid through a longer rental contract rather than strictly month-to-month.

For example, if your apartment costs SAR 1,800 per month:

Actual rental prices vary considerably between Riyadh neighbourhoods. The Real Estate General Authority's rental-market platform provides neighbourhood-level rental indicators based on documented Ejar transactions.

Riyadh Rent Rules in 2026

There is also an important 2026 rule for tenants. REGA states that residential and commercial rents within Riyadh's urban boundaries cannot be increased for five years from 25 September 2025, subject to the applicable regulations and exceptions.

Groceries

Your grocery bill depends heavily on how you shop:

• If you buy normal groceries and cook most of your meals at home, SAR 500–800 per month can be a reasonable target for one person who manages spending carefully.
• If you prefer better-quality food, buy more meat, snacks, drinks and imported products, your grocery bill can easily move toward SAR 800–1,200 or more.

There is no fixed amount that works for everyone. Cooking at home is usually the easiest way to keep this expense under control.

Transportation

Transportation is another area where your choice can change the monthly budget.

If You Use the Riyadh Metro

If you mainly use public transportation, a 30-day public transport ticket costs SAR 140 for the applicable standard fare.

This can make the metro a relatively inexpensive option for someone who lives and works near the public transport network.

If You Have Your Own Car

If you already own a car and mainly need money for fuel, you could budget around SAR 300–400 per month for petrol, depending on how much you drive.

Your actual car cost will be higher once you include insurance, maintenance, parking and other vehicle expenses.

Utilities

• For a single person, electricity, water and other household utilities can stay relatively manageable when living in a room or small apartment.
• A practical budget is around SAR 150–300 per month for basic usage, although air-conditioning can push electricity costs higher during the hotter months.

Mobile and Internet

• You can usually budget around SAR 100–200 per month for mobile and internet if you choose a reasonably priced package.
• The amount can be higher if you need a large mobile-data allowance or separate home internet.

Eating Out

• Eating out occasionally does not have to add a huge amount to your budget.
• If you keep restaurant spending limited, around SAR 200–400 per month can be enough for a modest lifestyle.
• Frequent restaurant visits, coffee shops and entertainment can increase this considerably.

How Much Does a Single Expat Need?

Here is a simple example.

With Shared Accommodation

So, with shared accommodation and careful spending, a single person could keep basic monthly expenses around SAR 2,000.

With a Private Room

A budget of around SAR 3,500–4,000 per month can therefore be workable for a single expat with a private room and controlled spending.

What About a Couple?

A couple living together will normally need a small apartment rather than a shared room.

For example, if rent is SAR 1,800 per month, the annual rent would be SAR 21,600.

A simple monthly budget could look like this:

This is a practical lower-cost budget, not a luxury lifestyle.

How Much Salary Is Enough in Riyadh?

For a single expat, the answer depends mostly on your accommodation.

• SAR 5,000–6,000: Possible with shared accommodation and careful spending.
• SAR 7,000–8,000: More comfortable for a single person.
• SAR 9,000–10,000+: Gives you more room for savings, a private room, eating out and other expenses.
• SAR 12,000+: Generally provides considerably more flexibility for a single expat, depending on rent and lifestyle.

For families, the calculation changes significantly because of larger housing, transportation, healthcare and especially children's education.

Final Estimate

For a single expat living on a budget in Riyadh in 2026:

• Shared room: around SAR 2,000–3,000/month
• Private room: around SAR 3,500–4,500/month
• Small apartment for a couple: around SAR 4,000–5,500/month

These are planning figures, not official cost-of-living averages. Your actual spending will depend on where you live, how much you cook, your transport choice and your lifestyle.

For official rental-market information, REGA's rental platform uses documented Ejar transactions and provides rental indicators by area and property type.