Cost of Living in Makkah: 2024 Budget Guide

Makkah is a unique place to live: a spiritual heart of the world that is also a busy, modern city with its own rhythm of costs. Whether you are a single professional, a couple, or a family, understanding the cost of living here helps you plan realistically. Below is Saudi Living's practical breakdown of housing, utilities, food, and transport, based on typical current figures. Remember that prices shift with the season and proximity to the Holy Mosque, so treat these as helpful benchmarks rather than fixed rates.

Housing and Rent

Housing is the largest single expense for most residents. The average listed apartment rent in Makkah is roughly SAR 29,446 per year (about SAR 2,454 per month). Listings span a wide range, from around SAR 16,300 up to SAR 50,000 per year, depending on size, condition, and location.

Typical annual rents by neighborhood look like this:

• Batha Quraysh: around SAR 32,000/year
• Al Awali: around SAR 30,000/year
• Al Shawqiyyah: around SAR 30,500/year
• King Fahd: around SAR 28,000/year
• Al Hamra wa Umm Al Joud: around SAR 26,000/year

For monthly rentals, apartments start from about SAR 2,400/month, while a comfortable one-bedroom unit commonly lists between SAR 4,000 and SAR 5,499/month. Signing an annual lease usually works out cheaper

Utilities and Internet

Monthly utility costs depend heavily on household size and air-conditioning use, which peaks in the hot months. As a rough guide:

• Single person: around SAR 350/month
• Couple: around SAR 500/month
• Family: up to SAR 800/month

These estimates typically cover electricity, water, and internet combined. Home internet packages from the main providers can be added on top depending on the plan you choose.

Food and Groceries

Eating well in Makkah is affordable if you cook at home and shop at local supermarkets. A single person usually spends between SAR 650 and SAR 1,000/month on food and groceries, while a family budgets around SAR 1,400 to SAR 2,200/month.

Dining out varies by venue:

• A basic meal: around SAR 22–25 per person
• A meal for a couple: around SAR 40–80
• A family meal: around SAR 150–300

Transport

Getting around Makkah is manageable, and costs stay low for those who use public options or share rides. Estimated monthly transport spending is around SAR 70 for a single person, SAR 200 for a couple, and SAR 300–600 for a family. Broader budgets that factor in fuel and occasional taxis can rise to SAR 280–480 for a single person and SAR 450–750 for a family.

Sample Monthly Budgets

Single person:

• Rent: SAR 1,500–2,500
• Food and groceries: SAR 650–1,000
• Transport: SAR 280–480
• Utilities and internet: SAR 200–380
• Leisure and miscellaneous: SAR 200–400

Family:

• Rent: SAR 2,500–4,200
• Food and groceries: SAR 1,400–2,200
• Transport: SAR 450–750
• Utilities, schooling, and other costs: vary by household

Tips to Save

• Choose neighborhoods a little further from the central area for lower rents.
• Sign an annual lease rather than paying month to month.
• Cook at home and shop at local markets to cut food costs.
• Use public transport or shared rides to keep transport spending down.
• Manage air-conditioning use to control your utility bills.

Overall, Makkah offers a range of living costs to suit different budgets. Planning around your housing choice and household size is the single biggest factor in keeping your monthly spending comfortable.

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