Cost Of Living in Abha 2025

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in Abha

Whether you're living in Abha or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in Abha is 9,000 SAR. Expenses can range from 1,300 SAR at the minimum level to 60,000 SAR at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in Abha is 15,000 SAR. Expenditure can range from 5,000 SAR to 80,000 SAR per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in Abha is 20,000 SAR per month. Families spend anywhere from 7,000 SAR to 130,000 SAR.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in Abha is 6,400 SAR. Students spend from 1,000 SAR to 43,000 SAR per month.

Expenditure to Income Ratio in Abha

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in.

Expense to income distribution levels

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in Abha is 80% This means that on average, people spend around 80% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 18% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
72%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

64%

81%

Couple
76%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

67%

85%

Family
84%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

75%

94%

How do people spend their money in Abha?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

People living in Abha typically spend from 16% to 35% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 27% being the average. The average spend on housing is 3,900 SAR with expenditure ranging from 300 SAR to 39,000 SAR. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Abha ranges from 3% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 650 SAR with 50 SAR and 6,500 SAR being the upper and lower limits.

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 100 SAR to 13,000 SAR on commuting with 1,300 SAR being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 8% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 12%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in Abha is 3,200 SAR. The cost of groceries can range between 250 SAR to 32,000 SAR. People spend on average about 27% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 19% and 33% respectively.

People in Abha allocate 4% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 70 SAR to 9,100 SAR with 910 SAR being the norm.

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 40 SAR to 5,200 SAR with 520 SAR being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 3% to 10% of total expenses with an average of 6% for most residents.

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 6% of the monthly expenditure with 4% and 12% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 780 SAR per month with 60 SAR being the minimum spent amount and 7,800 SAR being the maximum.

How much money can you save in Abha every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.

What percentage of people in Abha manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 64% of the surveyed people in Abha said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 36% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in Abha

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 14% to 34% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 23% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 5,300 SAR on average with savings ranging from 410 SAR to 53,000 SAR.

72% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 67% of couples said the same. 62% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in Abha?

Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 17% to 36% of their monthly income to savings, with 27% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 3,700 SAR with 410 SAR and 24,000 SAR being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 15% to 35% of their monthly income, with 25% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 6,100 SAR with 2,000 SAR and 33,000 SAR being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Families

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in Abha can save anywhere between 13% to 31% of their monthly income, with 22% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 8,200 SAR with 2,900 SAR and 53,000 SAR being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Abha

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Abha. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 6% of the people said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 9% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 18% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 10% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 9% blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 6% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 7% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 17% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 11% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 3% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for people in Abha

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Abha

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Abha?

Around 75% of surveyed residents think that living in Abha is affordable with proper budgeting while 25% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Abha

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked residents how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options59%

Few low-cost options41%

Based on the survey, 59% of the people living in Abha have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 41% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked residents of Abha whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes71%

No29%

Based on the survey, 29% of the people living in Abha said that they don't have an emergency fund while 71% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Saudi Arabia

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy71%

We asked residents of Saudi Arabia whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 29% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 71% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether residents of Saudi Arabia have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 31% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 69% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance31%

Easily manages finances69%

Financial goals of people in Abha

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Abha, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 7% of those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 33% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 8% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 8% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 17% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 9% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 11% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 9% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Abha

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Abha and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in Saudi Arabia is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents of Abha about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in Abha

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Abha

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 29% of the people in Abha have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 71% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Abha

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 26% of the people's monthly income in Abha goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Abha pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 12% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 11% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 13% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 15% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Abha

13% of debtors in Abha confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 25% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 22% of people and personal loans rose at 37%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 3% of debtors in Abha.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Abha

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents of Abha how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Abha

Rent Cost in Abha

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

1,200 SAR

1,800 SAR

4,700 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$310

$470

$1,200

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,800 SAR

2,800 SAR

7,000 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$470

$750

$1,900

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

2,300 SAR

3,500 SAR

9,400 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$620

$940

$2,500

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

2,800 SAR

4,700 SAR

13,000 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$750

$1,200

$3,400

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

5,600 SAR

14,000 SAR

28,000 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,500

$3,700

$7,500

Townhouse monthly rent cost

4,700 SAR

7,000 SAR

20,000 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,200

$1,900

$5,300

House monthly rent cost

5,600 SAR

14,000 SAR

28,000 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,500

$3,700

$7,500

Villa monthly rent cost

7,000 SAR

18,000 SAR

28,000 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,900

$4,700

$7,500

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Abha ranges between 1,200 SAR and 4,700 SAR, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 1,800 SAR to 7,000 SAR. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 2,300 SAR and 9,400 SAR per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 2,800 SAR to 13,000 SAR. The average rent of a townhouse in Abha is around 7,000 SAR while house rental costs can be as high as 14,000 SAR per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 7,000 SAR to 28,000 SAR per month.

Apartment and house prices in Abha

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

230,000 SAR

350,000 SAR

700,000 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$62,000

$94,000

$190,000

1-bedroom apartment price

280,000 SAR

470,000 SAR

1.8M SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$75,000

$120,000

$470,000

2-bedroom apartment price

470,000 SAR

1.4M SAR

2.8M SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$120,000

$370,000

$750,000

3-bedroom apartment price

1.6M SAR

2.3M SAR

7M SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$420,000

$620,000

$1.9M

Townhouse price

2M SAR

4.7M SAR

18M SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$530,000

$1.2M

$4.7M

House price

2.3M SAR

14M SAR

20M SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$620,000

$3.7M

$5.3M

Villa price

2.8M SAR

16M SAR

23M SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$750,000

$4.2M

$6.2M

The average price of a studio apartment in Abha can range from 230,000 SAR to 700,000 SAR depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 280,000 SAR to 1.8M SAR. A villa can cost you 16M SAR on average with prices ranging from 2.8M SAR to 23M SAR.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Abha can be x138 to x221 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x138 multiples of the average monthly salary in Abha.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Abha is around 34%. This means that people pay 34% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 24% to 43% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Abha

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Abha

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual

77 SAR

540 SAR

3,600 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$20

$140

$960

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

200 SAR

670 SAR

4,400 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$53

$180

$1,200

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

350 SAR

1,000 SAR

6,500 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$93

$270

$1,700

Internet and cable cost

72 SAR

140 SAR

190 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$19

$38

$51

Mobile phone bill and charges

57 SAR

95 SAR

290 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$15

$25

$76

The average monthly expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in Abha ranges between 77 SAR and 3,600 SAR with average being 540 SAR, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 670 SAR with 200 SAR and 4,400 SAR being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 1,000 SAR. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and ranges from 72 SAR to 190 SAR with 140 SAR being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 95 SAR but can range between 57 SAR and 290 SAR depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Abha is around 3.9%. This means that people pay 3.9% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 1% to 7.9% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Abha

Prices and cost of goods and services in Abha

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

14 SAR

29 SAR

48 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.8

$7.6

$13

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Abha is approximatly 29 SAR with meal cost ranging from 14 SAR to 48 SAR. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

47 SAR

71 SAR

140 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$13

$19

$38

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 47 SAR and 140 SAR with 71 SAR being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Abha.

Fine dining meal for one price

95 SAR

140 SAR

570 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$25

$38

$150

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 95 SAR to 570 SAR with the average cost being 140 SAR for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Abha.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

12 SAR

19 SAR

29 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.2

$5.1

$7.6

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Abha is around 19 SAR. Price ranges between 12 SAR and 29 SAR depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

9.5 SAR

11 SAR

14 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.5

$3.1

$3.8

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Abha is 11 SAR. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 14 SAR and the minimum being 9.5 SAR depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

7.2 SAR

9.5 SAR

14 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.9

$2.5

$3.8

A dozen eggs costs around 9.5 SAR on average with 7.2 SAR and 14 SAR being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

16 SAR

21 SAR

30 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.3

$5.6

$8

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Abha is between 16 SAR and 30 SAR depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 21 SAR.

Pack of beef price

19 SAR

29 SAR

57 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.1

$7.6

$15

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 29 SAR. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

7.7 SAR

11 SAR

15 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.1

$2.8

$4

A bag of rice in Abha costs around 11 SAR on average with prices rangeing between 7.7 SAR and 15 SAR depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

2.9 SAR

3.8 SAR

7.2 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.76

$1

$1.9

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 2.9 SAR to 7.2 SAR. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

5.1 SAR

6.7 SAR

11 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.4

$1.8

$2.9

A bag of apples costs 6.7 SAR on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Abha is around 24%. This means that people spend 24% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 16% to 30% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 1,400 SAR per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 200 SAR and 9,600 SAR depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 2,100 SAR per month. That number can be get as low as 700 SAR or a high as 11,000 SAR. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 1,300 SAR to 23,000 SAR with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.

SingleSpending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in Abha

CoupleAverage monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in Abha

FamilyAverage monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in Abha

StudentCost of living and expenses break down for students living in Abha