Cost of Living in Saudi Arabia: Practical Breakdown

Planning your budget in Saudi Arabia means knowing more than just rent and groceries. Government fees tied to your residency, your dependents, and your right to work all add up over a year, and understanding them in advance helps you avoid surprises. At سعودي ليفنج, we've put together a practical breakdown of the recurring official costs most residents and expats face, so you can plan with confidence. Remember that many figures change over time, so always confirm the latest amounts on the official portal handling each transaction.

Iqama (residency permit) costs

Your Iqama is the foundation of legal residency, and it carries an annual base fee that depends on your category:

• Workers: SAR 650 per year
• Domestic workers: SAR 600 per year
• Dependents aged 18 and over: SAR 500 per year

On top of the base fee, an أبشر service charge of SAR 51.75 is added to Iqama issuance and renewal transactions. This charge was introduced in early 2025 and continues to apply, so factor it into every renewal.

Dependent fees

If you sponsor family members living with you, you'll pay a monthly dependent fee. This currently sits at SAR 400 which works out to SAR 4,800 For a family of several members, this is often one of the largest recurring residency-related expenses, so it's worth calculating carefully before relocating your family.

Exit and re-entry visas

To travel outside the Kingdom and return on the same Iqama, you'll need an exit/re-entry visa, usually processed through أبشر or مقيم:

• Single exit/re-entry: SAR 200 for the first 60 days, then SAR 100 for each additional month
• Multiple exit/re-entry: SAR 500, valid for 90 days

If you travel frequently within a short window, the multiple-entry option can be more economical than repeatedly extending a single visa.

Work-related fees

Employment in the Kingdom comes with its own set of official charges, some paid by employers and some that affect job mobility:

• Work permit levy: SAR 700 rising to SAR 800 Over a year that's roughly SAR 8,400 to SAR 9,600.
• قوى work permit fee: SAR 100 annually
• Sponsor transfer fee: SAR 2,000 for the first transfer, SAR 4,000 for the second, and SAR 6,000 for the third and any later transfers.

If you're moving between employers, the transfer fee increases with each move, so it pays to plan career changes carefully.

Driving licence and daily-life essentials

A Saudi driving licence costs SAR 400 for a 10-year term, plus a mandatory eye test and platform service charges. It's a one-time expense for a decade, making it one of the more manageable costs on this list.

Municipal services are handled through Balady. The information fee calculator is free to access, but actual municipal licence and service fees depend on the specific activity you're registering, so check the exact charge for your case.

Costs for business owners

If you run an establishment, expect an annual قوى subscription based on your size:

• Owner-only establishment: around SAR 1,265
• Small establishment (1–4 workers): around SAR 2,645
• Medium and large establishments (5+ workers): around SAR 7,000

These are base figures; VAT-inclusive totals are also listed in the current schedules, so confirm the final amount before renewing.

The good news: many services are free

Access to and routine use of platforms like نفاذ, أبشر, مقيم, ناجز, and توكلنا are generally free. You only pay when you carry out a specific government transaction that carries its own fee. Setting up and maintaining your accounts costs nothing, which makes managing your paperwork online far cheaper and simpler than it used to be.

Overall, budgeting in the Kingdom is very doable once you map out these recurring fees alongside rent, utilities, and living expenses. Because official amounts can be updated, always verify the current figures on the relevant government portal before you commit.

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