So, you’ve packed your pressure cooker, Maggi packets, and dreams, and you’re moving to Riyadh. Before you start stalking restaurant menus, let’s break down the cost of living in Riyadh in enough detail so your wallet doesn’t scream “Why did we move?”
Housing is usually the biggest expense for Indian families adjusting to the cost of living in Riyadh. Here’s what you pay for different tiers.
| Type of Housing | Area / Style | Monthly Rent Estimate (SAR) | What You Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic 2-BHK apartment, non-compound, older building | Al Malaz, Al Sulaymaniyah, or outskirts | SAR 3,000–4,500 | Decent place, fewer amenities, maybe no pool or gym, sometimes simple furnishings. |
| Mid-range 2- or 3-BHK, modern building or compound | Al Yasmin, Al Malqa, North Riyadh suburbs | SAR 5,500–8,000 | Clean facilities, perhaps security, parking, better finishes. |
| Premium 3- or 4-BHK villa / townhouse | Gated compounds, luxury areas | SAR 9,000–12,000+ | Garden, pool, gym, high-end fixtures, possibly included services (maintenance, cleaning). |
Things to remember:
Many buildings charge extra for “furnished” options. Furnishing means IKEA-style furniture, sometimes air-conditioned guest rooms, etc, adds SAR 500-1,500 depending on quality.
Utilities (electricity, water, AC) in summer can double your bills. In places with poor insulation, the walls feel like ovens. The cost of living in Riyadh really bites in the hot months.
Deposits: usually one or two months’ rent up front, plus sometimes agency fee (~10-15%) if you’re using a broker.
Groceries are a moving target depending on how “imported” your palate is. I have a friend who calls mozzarella “that rare white treasure.”
| Item | Local / Budget Price | Imported Price / Special Items |
|---|---|---|
| Rice (5 kg local) | ~ SAR 15-20 | Imported Basmati ~ SAR 30-40 |
| Dal (1 kg) | SAR 8-12 | Organic dal / specialty bean ~ SAR 20-25 |
| Chicken (whole per kg) | SAR 12-15 | Fillets / imported ~ SAR 25-30 |
| Vegetables (seasonal, local) | SAR 1-5 / piece or SAR 3-6 /kg | Imported vegetables ~ SAR 10-15 /kg |
| Fruits — local vs imported | Local date / banana low cost; berries / cherry high |
“Fancy stuff” like imported cheese, nut butters, premium snacks, or health foods tend to cost 2-3× what they do in India. If you are okay with local brands, markets like Panda, Lulu, Bin Dawood will save you serious SARs. The cost of living in Riyadh reduces a lot if you shop local and seasonal.
Good news: fuel is cheap. Bad news: Riyadh is big and you might be driving everywhere (unless you live on top of your job).
Petrol price (Oct 2025) is around SAR 2.2-2.5 per litre for 91 octane. If your car is mid-sized, monthly fuel might cost SAR 300-500 depending on distance.
Car ownership also brings insurance, registration (every year), parking, and maintenance (oil changes, tyres etc). Expect SAR 300-600 extra monthly if you want a reliable car.
Public transport is limited unless close to new metro lines; ride-sharing (Uber, Careem) helps. A 10-km ride might cost SAR 25-50 depending on traffic and type of car.
If you make weekly big supermarket trips, school runs, and hang out spots far apart, petrol + maintenance can double what you thought transport would cost. All part of the cost of living in Riyadh.
There’s an art to controlling your eating-out expenses while experiencing everything Riyadh offers.
| Type of Place | Meal for 2-4 people | Approx. Cost (SAR) |
|---|---|---|
| Local Indian “thali / dosa / curry place” casual | One big meal for family | SAR 80-150 |
| Mid-range family restaurant (international, nicer ambiance) | Appetizers + main course + soft drinks | SAR 200-400 |
| Fast food / take-away | Per person | SAR 20-40 |
| Fine dining / special celebrations | Full meal + dessert + perhaps wine where allowed (or mocktails) | SAR 400-700+ |
Stick to cooking at home most of the week; have one “nice dinner” per weekend, and your wallet will breathe. The cost of living in Riyadh when you eat every day fancy… let’s say your wallet might send a resignation letter.
School fees often shock more than AC bills in summer. Let’s break them down.
| School Type | Grade Level | Annual Fee Estimate (SAR / family) | Extras to Budget For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordable CBSE / Indian school | Grades 1-6 | ~ SAR 8,000-15,000 | Uniforms, books, activity fees, transport. |
| Mid-tier International / British / IB schools | Grades 7-10 | ~ SAR 25,000-50,000 | Field trips, labs, exams, “English Language Support” etc. |
| Premium international schools (IB / Cambridge A-Levels) | Grades 11-12 | SAR 80,000-110,000+ | Plus sometimes registration, refundable deposits, special subject fees. |
Also remember savings for university, stationery, extracurriculars (swimming, music, sports).
Weekends in Riyadh are a mix: desert drives, mall browsing, cafés, or exploring historical sites like Diriyah.
Local day-trips (parks, malls, outdoor picnic) might cost SAR 100-300 (snacks, petrol etc).
More ambitious weekend trips (e.g., AlUla, Abha or Taif) could cost SAR 800-2,000 per person if staying overnight, depending on hotel quality.
Domestic flights can be cheap if booked ahead (SAR 150-400 one way within Saudi); international flights to India fluctuate—watch for sales; peak times cost more.
“Weekend” is your chance to recharge. But the cost of living in Riyadh means even weekends need budgeting or your post-weekend bank balance may sob quietly.
| Item | Monthly Cost Estimate (SAR) | Why It Varies |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity & water | SAR 300-800 (but in summer, with ACs, can go up to SAR 1,200+) | Number of AC units, insulation, house size, how much cooling you use. |
| Internet + TV streaming + Mobile plans | SAR 200-400 | Speed, number of lines/devices, how many streaming services (Netflix, Shahid, etc.), data usage. |
| Health insurance / clinic visits | Varies widely; a good private clinic visit ~ SAR 150-400 if not fully covered by insurance | Insurance plan, doctor specialization, meds. |
| Clothing / personal care / household maintenance | SAR 500-1,000+ | Brands, frequency, tastes. |
Putting it all together, for a family of four wanting a comfortable life (good school, decent apartment, occasional treats):
Housing + utilities: SAR 7,000 + 800 = ~ SAR 7,800
Groceries & household supplies: ~ SAR 2,000-3,500
Education (1 or 2 kids in school): ~ SAR 6,500-9,000 (depending on type of school)
Transport (car fuel, insurance, occasional rides): ~ SAR 800-1,200
Eating out + social / entertainment: ~ SAR 800-1,500
Internet, health, misc: ~ SAR 600-1,000
Weekend travel or outings: ~ SAR 1,000-1,500
Total ≈ SAR 20,000-25,000 / month for a comfortable but not a luxury life.
If you want to live more modestly (local school, smaller home, cooking almost always at home, fewer travel splurges), maybe SAR 12,000-15,000 is doable. But then you might miss the AC, chai, or the occasional mall snack.
The cost of living in Riyadh in 2025 is no joke, on paper, some numbers will make you wide-eyed. But don’t let that stop you. With smart choices, local shopping, picking schools wisely, and maybe fewer sushi nights, life can be awesome here.
Here, your money gets you safety, structure, clean streets, desert magic, air-conditioning bliss, and nights under stars. That’s a lot. And who knows, maybe your pressure cooker becomes legendary among expat circles.
Also Read: 10 Best Indian Restaurants in Riyadh for Families to Dine in 2025 – AL KSA
