Cost Of Living For a Single Person in Riyadh 2025

Average monthly spending for a single person or individual in Riyadh

How much money does an individual need in a month to survive in Riyadh?

A single person in Riyadh spends around 13,000 SAR per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a single individual can survive with a monthly budget as low as 1,800 SAR or as high as 140,000 SAR. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

How do individuals spend their money in Riyadh?

We asked thousands of individuals about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for individuals

Individuals in Riyadh typically spend from 22% to 46% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 34% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 4,400 SAR with expenditure ranging from 630 SAR to 49,000 SAR. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for individuals

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Riyadh ranges from 3% to 12% of total expenses with 7% being the average for most individuals. The average monthly cost of utilities is 660 SAR with 93 SAR and 7,300 SAR being the upper and lower limits for a single person.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for individuals

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a single person resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a single person would expect to spend from 130 SAR to 10,000 SAR in a month on commuting with 940 SAR being the norm for most individuals. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 7% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 13%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for individuals

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical person in a month in Riyadh is 1,800 SAR. The cost of groceries can range between 260 SAR to 20,000 SAR. Individuals spend on average about 17% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 11% and 22% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for individuals

Individuals in Riyadh allocate 4% to 14% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 10%. The range of medical expenses range from 130 SAR to 10,000 SAR with 920 SAR being the norm for most individuals.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for individuals

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 82 SAR to 6,400 SAR with 570 SAR being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 3% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most individuals.

Education and schooling expenditure for individuals

Spending on education can vary drastically between different individuals. On average, education constitutes 2% of the monthly expenditure of individuals with 1% and 4% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 230 SAR per month with 33 SAR being the minimum spent amount and 2,500 SAR being the maximum.

Single person expenditure to income ratio in Riyadh

Analysing the how affordable it is for an individual to live in Riyadh

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. Individuals usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a single individual ranges between 70% to 80%.

Individuals in Riyadh spend around 86% of their monthly income. Some individuals spend as low as 76% of their income while some as high as 96%.

Saving Challenges in Riyadh

Reasons that make it difficult for individuals to save money

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

Around 7% of the individuals said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 10% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 19% 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% of individuals 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. 16% 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. 10% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 4% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 3% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

What percentage of individuals in Riyadh are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of individuals that reported their ability to save money

Almost 82% of surveyed individuals in Riyadh said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 18% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do individuals manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for individuals

Interpretation and Analysis

Individuals that are able to save money can put anywhere from 20% to 42% of their monthly income to their savings, with 32% being the average for most individuals. The average monthly amount of money that individuals can put aside is 5,200 SAR with 570 SAR and 57,000 SAR being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Typical saving choices for individuals in Riyadh

Where do people choose to put their savings?

Affordable living in Riyadh

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked individuals one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Riyadh?

Around 76% of surveyed individuals think that living in Riyadh is affordable with proper budgeting while 24% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Emergency Funds For Individuals

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 individuals whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes72%

No28%

Based on the survey, 28% of the individuals living in Riyadh said that they don't have an emergency fund while 72% said that they do.

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

Low-cost alternatives in Riyadh

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 individuals how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options60%

Few low-cost options40%

Based on the survey, 60% of the individuals living in Riyadh have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 40% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Financial Literacy in

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 individuals in Riyadh 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 single people of 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 individuals in Riyadh

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Riyadh, 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 6% of individuals said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 30% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 7% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 9% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 16% 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 12% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 8% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Riyadh

Percentage of individuals who are in debt

According to the survey, 29% of the individuals in Riyadh 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 Riyadh

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 a single person's monthly income in Riyadh goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 2% of the debtors in Riyadh pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 10% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 10% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 12% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 16% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Riyadh

14% of debtors in Riyadh confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 24% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 24% of people and personal loans rose at 35%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 3% of debtors in Riyadh.

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 Riyadh

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked individuals 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.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Riyadh

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

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / A single person

93 SAR

660 SAR

7,300 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$25

$170

$1,900

Internet and cable cost

88 SAR

180 SAR

230 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$23

$47

$62

Mobile phone bill and charges

57 SAR

95 SAR

290 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$15

$25

$76

The average monthly energy and water consumption of individuals is around 660 SAR. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 88 SAR to 230 SAR with 180 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 Riyadh is around 4.7%. This means that people pay 4.7% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 1.2% to 9.4% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Riyadh

Prices and cost of goods and services in Riyadh

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

Fast food combo meal price

17 SAR

33 SAR

56 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.5

$8.9

$15

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Riyadh is approximatly 33 SAR with meal cost ranging from 17 SAR to 56 SAR. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

58 SAR

87 SAR

170 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$15

$23

$46

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 58 SAR and 170 SAR with 87 SAR being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Riyadh.

Fine dining meal for one price

110 SAR

170 SAR

670 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$30

$45

$180

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 110 SAR to 670 SAR with the average cost being 170 SAR for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Riyadh.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

14 SAR

23 SAR

34 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.8

$6.1

$9.2

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Riyadh is around 23 SAR. Price ranges between 14 SAR and 34 SAR depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

12 SAR

14 SAR

17 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.1

$3.7

$4.6

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Riyadh is 14 SAR. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 17 SAR and the minimum being 12 SAR depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

8.3 SAR

11 SAR

17 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.2

$3

$4.4

A dozen eggs costs around 11 SAR on average with 8.3 SAR and 17 SAR being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

20 SAR

26 SAR

36 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.3

$6.9

$9.7

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Riyadh is between 20 SAR and 36 SAR depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 26 SAR.

Pack of beef price

24 SAR

36 SAR

72 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6.4

$9.7

$19

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 36 SAR. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

8.8 SAR

12 SAR

17 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.3

$3.2

$4.6

A bag of rice in Riyadh costs around 12 SAR on average with prices rangeing between 8.8 SAR and 17 SAR depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

3.4 SAR

4.5 SAR

8.4 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.89

$1.2

$2.2

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 3.4 SAR to 8.4 SAR. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

6.1 SAR

8 SAR

13 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.6

$2.1

$3.5

A bag of apples costs 8 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 Riyadh is around 28%. This means that individuals spend 28% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 18% to 35% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for individuals

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Riyadh

Rent Cost in Riyadh

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

1,600 SAR

2,400 SAR

6,400 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$430

$640

$1,700

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

2,500 SAR

3,900 SAR

9,900 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$660

$1,100

$2,600

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

3,400 SAR

5,100 SAR

13,000 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$900

$1,300

$3,600

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

4,100 SAR

6,900 SAR

19,000 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,100

$1,800

$5,000

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

7,900 SAR

20,000 SAR

39,000 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2,100

$5,300

$11,000

Townhouse monthly rent cost

6,400 SAR

9,700 SAR

28,000 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,700

$2,600

$7,400

House monthly rent cost

7,900 SAR

20,000 SAR

40,000 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2,100

$5,300

$11,000

Villa monthly rent cost

9,600 SAR

24,000 SAR

39,000 SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2,600

$6,400

$10,000

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Riyadh ranges between 1,600 SAR and 6,400 SAR, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 2,500 SAR to 9,900 SAR. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 3,400 SAR and 13,000 SAR per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 4,100 SAR to 19,000 SAR. The average rent of a townhouse in Riyadh is around 9,700 SAR while house rental costs can be as high as 20,000 SAR per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 9,600 SAR to 39,000 SAR per month.

Apartment and house prices in Riyadh

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

340,000 SAR

510,000 SAR

1M SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$90,000

$130,000

$270,000

1-bedroom apartment price

410,000 SAR

690,000 SAR

2.6M SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$110,000

$180,000

$690,000

2-bedroom apartment price

640,000 SAR

1.9M SAR

3.9M SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$170,000

$510,000

$1M

3-bedroom apartment price

2.2M SAR

3.3M SAR

9.9M SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$580,000

$880,000

$2.6M

Townhouse price

2.9M SAR

6.8M SAR

25M SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$770,000

$1.8M

$6.8M

House price

3.5M SAR

21M SAR

30M SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$920,000

$5.5M

$7.9M

Villa price

4.1M SAR

23M SAR

35M SAR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1M

$6.1M

$9.2M

The average price of a studio apartment in Riyadh can range from 340,000 SAR to 1M SAR depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 410,000 SAR to 2.6M SAR. A villa can cost you 23M SAR on average with prices ranging from 4.1M SAR to 35M SAR.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Riyadh can be x190 to x304 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x190 multiples of the average monthly salary in Riyadh.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Riyadh is around 41%. This means that people pay 41% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 29% to 53% 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.