Cost Of Living For a Student in Mecca 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: SAR
Average monthly spending for students in Mecca
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Mecca?
Students in Mecca spend around 7,800 SAR per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 1,200 SAR or as high as 87,000 SAR. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Mecca
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 38,000 SAR | 76,000 SAR | 100,000 SAR |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
Internet and cable
Mobile phone charges
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
Woman shoes
Men's shoes
Men suit
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 1,400 SAR | 2,100 SAR | 5,700 SAR |
1-bedroom apartment
| 2,200 SAR | 3,500 SAR | 8,700 SAR |
2-bedroom apartment
| 2,900 SAR | 4,400 SAR | 12,000 SAR |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 290,000 SAR | 440,000 SAR | 880,000 SAR |
| $78,000 | $120,000 | $240,000 |
1-bedroom apartment
| 360,000 SAR | 600,000 SAR | 2.2M SAR |
| $95,000 | $160,000 | $600,000 |
2-bedroom apartment
| 570,000 SAR | 1.7M SAR | 3.4M SAR |
| $150,000 | $460,000 | $910,000 |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 1,600 SAR | 2,000 SAR | 2,600 SAR |
Double Bed
| 1,100 SAR | 1,600 SAR | 2,000 SAR |
Single Bed
| 950 SAR | 1,200 SAR | 1,600 SAR |
Living Room
| 1,800 SAR | 2,300 SAR | 8,200 SAR |
Dining Table
| 780 SAR | 1,000 SAR | 2,000 SAR |
Sofa or Couch
| 1,100 SAR | 1,400 SAR | 3,200 SAR |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 1,100 SAR | 1,600 SAR | 3,200 SAR |
Fridge or Freezer
| 950 SAR | 1,500 SAR | 2,000 SAR |
Washing Machine
| 1,200 SAR | 1,700 SAR | 3,100 SAR |
Stove or Cooker
| 1,100 SAR | 1,400 SAR | 2,000 SAR |
Mobile Phone
| 1,300 SAR | 1,600 SAR | 2,300 SAR |
Laptop or Computer
| 1,500 SAR | 1,800 SAR | 3,200 SAR |
How do students spend their money in Mecca?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost21%
21% of total expenses on average (16% to 27%)
| LOW | $78 290 SAR |
| AVERAGE | $500 1,900 SAR |
| HIGH | $5,600 21,000 SAR |
| Per Month |
Students in Mecca typically spend from 16% to 27% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 21% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 1,900 SAR with expenditure ranging from 290 SAR to 21,000 SAR. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities5%
5% of total expenses on average (3% to 9%)
| LOW | $12 45 SAR |
| AVERAGE | $78 290 SAR |
| HIGH | $870 3,200 SAR |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Mecca ranges from 3% to 9% of total expenses with 5% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 290 SAR with 45 SAR and 3,200 SAR being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel5%
5% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $22 83 SAR |
| AVERAGE | $140 530 SAR |
| HIGH | $1,600 5,900 SAR |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 83 SAR to 5,900 SAR in a month on commuting with 530 SAR being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 11%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost22%
22% of total expenses on average (16% to 26%)
| LOW | $62 230 SAR |
| AVERAGE | $400 1,500 SAR |
| HIGH | $4,500 17,000 SAR |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Mecca is 1,500 SAR. The cost of groceries can range between 230 SAR to 17,000 SAR. Students spend on average about 22% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 16% and 26% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare8%
8% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $17 65 SAR |
| AVERAGE | $110 420 SAR |
| HIGH | $1,200 4,700 SAR |
| Per Month |
Students in Mecca allocate 5% to 11% 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 8%. The range of medical expenses range from 65 SAR to 4,700 SAR with 420 SAR being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping4%
4% of total expenses on average (2% to 8%)
| LOW | $16 58 SAR |
| AVERAGE | $100 380 SAR |
| HIGH | $1,100 4,200 SAR |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 58 SAR to 4,200 SAR with 380 SAR being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 8% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling19%
19% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
| LOW | $59 220 SAR |
| AVERAGE | $380 1,400 SAR |
| HIGH | $4,200 16,000 SAR |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 19% of the monthly expenditure of students with 12% and 24% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 1,400 SAR per month with 220 SAR being the minimum spent amount and 16,000 SAR being the maximum.
Other Expenses17%
17% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $48 180 SAR |
| AVERAGE | $310 1,200 SAR |
| HIGH | $3,400 13,000 SAR |
| Per Month |
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
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Low-cost alternatives in Mecca
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 students 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 students living in Mecca 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 student guardians and parents in Mecca 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 students 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%
Emergency Funds For Students
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 students whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes72%
No28%
Based on the survey, 28% of the students living in Mecca said that they don't have an emergency fund while 72% said that they do.
Affordable living in Mecca
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Mecca?
Around 76% of surveyed students think that living in Mecca is affordable with proper budgeting while 24% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Mecca
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Mecca
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,400 SAR | 2,100 SAR | 5,700 SAR |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,200 SAR | 3,500 SAR | 8,700 SAR |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,900 SAR | 4,400 SAR | 12,000 SAR |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 3,600 SAR | 6,000 SAR | 16,000 SAR |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 7,000 SAR | 17,000 SAR | 35,000 SAR |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 5,700 SAR | 8,600 SAR | 25,000 SAR |
House monthly rent cost
| 7,000 SAR | 17,000 SAR | 35,000 SAR |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 8,600 SAR | 21,000 SAR | 34,000 SAR |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Mecca ranges between 1,400 SAR and 5,700 SAR, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 2,200 SAR to 8,700 SAR. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 2,900 SAR and 12,000 SAR per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 3,600 SAR to 16,000 SAR. The average rent of a townhouse in Mecca is around 8,600 SAR while house rental costs can be as high as 17,000 SAR per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 8,600 SAR to 34,000 SAR per month.
Apartment and house prices in Mecca
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 290,000 SAR | 440,000 SAR | 880,000 SAR |
| $78,000 | $120,000 | $240,000 |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 360,000 SAR | 600,000 SAR | 2.2M SAR |
| $95,000 | $160,000 | $600,000 |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 570,000 SAR | 1.7M SAR | 3.4M SAR |
| $150,000 | $460,000 | $910,000 |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 1.9M SAR | 2.9M SAR | 8.7M SAR |
Townhouse price
| 2.5M SAR | 5.9M SAR | 22M SAR |
House price
Villa price
The average price of a studio apartment in Mecca can range from 290,000 SAR to 880,000 SAR depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 360,000 SAR to 2.2M SAR. A villa can cost you 20M SAR on average with prices ranging from 3.6M SAR to 30M SAR.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Mecca will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 57 | x169 monthly income | 270 |
Property prices in Mecca can be x169 to x270 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x169 multiples of the average monthly salary in Mecca.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Mecca is around 38%. This means that people pay 38% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 27% to 49% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
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.
Housing Affordability Index
32% 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 Mecca
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Mecca
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
Internet and cable cost
Mobile phone bill and charges
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 290 SAR. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 81 SAR to 220 SAR with 160 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
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Mecca is around 4.4%. This means that people pay 4.4% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 1.1% to 8.8% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Mecca
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Mecca
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Mecca is approximatly 31 SAR with meal cost ranging from 16 SAR to 52 SAR. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 54 SAR and 160 SAR with 81 SAR being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Mecca.
Fine dining meal for one price
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 100 SAR to 630 SAR with the average cost being 160 SAR for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Mecca.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Mecca is around 21 SAR. Price ranges between 13 SAR and 32 SAR depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Mecca is 13 SAR. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 16 SAR and the minimum being 11 SAR depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 10 SAR on average with 7.8 SAR and 16 SAR being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Mecca is between 18 SAR and 34 SAR depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 24 SAR.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 33 SAR. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Mecca costs around 11 SAR on average with prices rangeing between 8.3 SAR and 16 SAR depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 3.1 SAR to 7.9 SAR. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 7.4 SAR on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 230 SAR to 17,000 SAR with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
Published: June 29, 2024 Last Update: April 14, 2025
