🇸🇦 Riyadh vs 🇶🇦 Doha
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Riyadh is 13% cheaper than Doha
Quick answer
Comparing Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Doha, Qatar: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $2,918 in Riyadh versus $3,337 in Doha. Riyadh is roughly 13% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $1,715/mo (Riyadh) vs $1,679/mo (Doha). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $2,918/mo in Riyadh single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $3,337/mo in Doha single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $1,715/mo in Riyadh · $1,679/mo in Doha.
- Cheaper overall: Riyadh ~13% cheaper than Doha.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇸🇦 Riyadh | 🇶🇦 Doha | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $2,050/mo | $2,350/mo | +15% |
| Moderate | $2,918/mo | $3,337/mo | +14% |
| Comfortable | $4,400/mo | $5,000/mo | +14% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇸🇦 Riyadh | 🇶🇦 Doha | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $1,715/mo | $1,679/mo | -2% |
| Groceries & Food | $370/mo | $510/mo | +38% |
| Dining Out | $185/mo | $255/mo | +38% |
| Transport | $185/mo | $255/mo | +38% |
| Utilities & Internet | $185/mo | $255/mo | +38% |
| Healthcare | $148/mo | $204/mo | +38% |
| Leisure & Personal | $130/mo | $179/mo | +38% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Quick Facts
🇸🇦 Riyadh
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $2,918
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $1,715/mo
- Cappuccino
- $5.50
- Inexpensive meal
- $6.00
- Internet speed
- 120 Mbps
- Safety index
- 82/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 78/100
- Country
- Saudi Arabia
🇶🇦 Doha
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $3,337
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $1,679/mo
- Cappuccino
- $5.00
- Inexpensive meal
- $8.00
- Internet speed
- 145 Mbps
- Safety index
- 90/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 93/100
- Country
- Qatar
Explore more: Riyadh city guide | Doha city guide | Saudi Arabia | Qatar