Utility Bills in Saudi Arabia: Electricity, Water & Gas

Renting a flat in Riyadh or a villa in Jeddah? Three bills will shape your monthly budget: electricity, water and gas. Here's what you need to know first. Residential electricity is charged at SAR 0.18 per kWh for monthly use up to 6,000 kWh (then SAR 0.30 above that), water is billed on a progressive scale starting around SAR 0.10 per cubic metre, and an 11-kg LPG gas cylinder costs SAR 26.23 under the unified prices that took effect on 1 January 2026. Understanding utility bills in Saudi Arabia — the electricity, water and gas charges below — starts with how each one is worked out and paid through SADAD.

How utility bills work in Saudi Arabia

Utilities in the Kingdom are regulated, so the tariffs are the same whether you live in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam or a smaller town. Electricity is supplied through the national grid by the Saudi Electricity Company, water through the National Water Company (NWC), and household gas is mostly bottled LPG in cylinders or fed from a central LPG tank in newer compounds.

You won't receive a paper bill in the post the way you might elsewhere. Bills are issued electronically and settled through SADAD — the national payment system built into every Saudi bank app, internet banking portal and ATM. Once you have your account or meter reference number, paying takes under a minute.

Electricity charges explained

Electricity is usually the largest utility bill for expat and Saudi households alike, especially through the long, air-conditioned summer. The Saudi Electricity Company calculates charges on a two-band consumption model, so your per-unit rate rises once you cross the threshold.

Residential electricity tariffs

• Up to 6,000 kWh in a month — typically around SAR 0.18 per kWh
• Above 6,000 kWh in a month — typically around SAR 0.30 per kWh on the portion above the threshold

For a modest two-bedroom flat with careful air-conditioning use, monthly consumption often stays under the 6,000 kWh band, keeping most of the bill at the lower rate. A large villa running several AC units in July or August can easily push past 6,000 kWh, so the higher rate starts to bite.

Commercial electricity tariffs

• Up to 6,000 kWh — typically around SAR 0.22 per kWh
• Above 6,000 kWh — typically around SAR 0.32 per kWh

If you run a shop, office or small business, your meter is on the commercial tariff, which sits slightly above the residential rate in both bands.

VAT and the fixed meter charge

Two extras appear on every electricity bill. First, 15% VAT is added on top of your consumption charges. Second, a fixed meter charge is applied regardless of how much power you use — this covers the service connection. Both are standard, so factor them in when you budget.

Water charges explained

Water is supplied and billed by the National Water Company. Like electricity, it uses a progressive tariff — the more you consume, the higher the rate on the upper bands, which is designed to reward careful use in a country where water is scarce.

How the water tariff is calculated

A commonly reported current starting rate is SAR 0.10 per cubic metre for the first, lowest consumption band. As your usage climbs into higher bands, the per-cubic-metre rate increases. In practice, an average household that stays on top of leaks, garden watering and long showers keeps most of its consumption inside the cheaper lower bands. As with electricity, VAT applies to the bill.

Gas (LPG) charges in Saudi Arabia

Most homes in the Kingdom cook with bottled LPG rather than piped natural gas. You either buy refill cylinders from a distributor or, in newer compounds and towers, draw gas from a shared central LPG tank that is metered

2026 unified LPG prices

Nationwide unified LPG prices took effect on 1 January 2026, meaning the same rates apply across the country:

• 11-kg household cylinder — SAR 26.23
• 5-kg household cylinder — SAR 11.93
• Central LPG tank supply — SAR 1.1770 per litre

The 11-kg cylinder is the everyday standard for family kitchens, while the smaller 5-kg bottle suits a single tenant or a studio. If your building runs on a central tank, your gas usage is metered and billed by litre alongside your other charges.

How to pay your utility bills

Both electricity and water are settled through SADAD using a biller code and a reference number. You can pay from your sofa through your bank app, through internet banking, or at any ATM.

Paying electricity bills via SADAD

• Open your Saudi bank app or internet banking, or use an ATM
• Go to the SADAD / bill payment section and choose the electricity biller
• Enter your account (meter) reference number
• Confirm the outstanding amount and pay

Paying water bills via SADAD

• Select the National Water Company biller — biller code 138
• Enter your invoice reference number
• Review the amount and confirm payment

Government bill payment services and NWC bills can also be handled through the GOV.SA portal. Whichever channel you choose, keep the confirmation — it is your proof of payment if a query ever comes up.

Tips to lower your monthly bills

• Watch the 6,000 kWh line — in a Saudi summer, when outdoor temperatures push past 45°C, AC use is what tips a villa over the 6,000 kWh threshold into the higher band. Set a sensible temperature and use timers to stay under it where you can.
• Fix leaks fast — a dripping tap or running toilet quietly pushes water use into pricier bands.
• Service your AC filters — clean units cool faster and draw less power through the long summer.
• Pay on time via app — settling promptly through your bank app avoids arrears building up on the meter.
• Ask before you sign a lease — check whether electricity, water and gas are on your name or included in the rent, and whether the building uses a central LPG tank.

Sorting out your utilities usually comes right after finding a place. Find your next home in our Saudi Arabia properties listings, and browse our guides for everything from paying bills to renewing your Iqama.

FAQs

How much is electricity per kWh in Saudi Arabia?

Residential electricity is typically around SAR 0.18 000 kWh, and around SAR 0.30 Commercial rates are slightly higher at roughly SAR 0.22 and SAR 0.32 A 15% VAT and a fixed meter charge are added.

How do I pay my water bill in Saudi Arabia?

Pay through SADAD using the National Water Company biller — biller code 138 — and your invoice reference number. You can do this via your bank app, internet banking, an ATM, or the GOV.SA portal.

How much does a gas cylinder cost in Saudi Arabia in 2026?

Under the unified prices from 1 January 2026, an 11-kg household cylinder is SAR 26.23 and a 5-kg cylinder is SAR 11.93. Central LPG tank supply is charged at SAR 1.1770

Is VAT charged on utility bills?

Yes. A 15% VAT is added to electricity bills on top of your consumption charges, and VAT also applies to water bills.

Why is my electricity bill higher in summer?

Air conditioning drives up consumption, and if your monthly usage crosses 6,000 kWh, everything above that line is charged at the higher rate — so a hot month can push part of your bill into the more expensive band.

What happens if I don't pay my bill on time?

Unpaid amounts stay on your account and roll over on the meter, so arrears can build up until you settle them through SADAD. Pay promptly through your bank app to avoid the balance growing, and keep your payment confirmation as proof.

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