#1 2010-03-24 14:35:52
- dswiatkowski
- Member

- From: Basingstoke
- Registered: 2010-03-24
- Posts: 11
Monthly expenses in Riyadh
I am considering a position in Riyahd. It will be a two year contract. My housing and transportation will be covered. I am just curious how much a month someone would need. I am a 44 year old male who cooks more than eating out.
Any rough estimates will be helpful. Amounts in US dollars or SAR are fine.
Thanks in advance for your help
- Offline
#2 2010-03-24 16:19:12
- SaudiUK
- EB member +
- From: Riyadh
- Registered: 2010-03-17
- Posts: 535
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
Hi,
We moved to riyadh in Nov 2009 from Manchester UK
Our accomodation, utilities and transport are covered similar to yourself.
The only other costs we occur are:-
Internet - 250 SAR per month
Phone - home bill 30 SAR per month
- mobile 50 SAR per month
Other - 250 SAR per week
This is for two of us.
- Offline
#3 2010-03-24 20:02:39
- rudy666
- Active member

- From: Riyadh
- Registered: 2010-03-08
- Posts: 25
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
hey there
well , SaudiUK, it seems ur really lookin after ur cash 
just kiddin
but, perhaps u wana mention few things and we might be able to tell u more about how much it will cost u here
Life .. is Life:)
- Offline
#4 2010-03-24 20:43:48
- dswiatkowski
- Member

- From: Basingstoke
- Registered: 2010-03-24
- Posts: 11
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
I am mostly wondering about food costs but the info on internet and phone is helpful, so what can I expect to spend a month on food. As I said I cook dinner at home most days on my assigment here in the UK, which is pretty expensive but nothing compared to eating out. Lunches I usually grab out.
Any information would be helpful in my making of my decision.
Doug
- Offline
#5 2010-03-25 11:35:32
- musicman
- ViP

- From: Riyadh
- Registered: 2009-08-05
- Posts: 3089
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
I believe if you cook yourself you could easily eat well on a monthly stipend of around SR 1,500 (US$400) per month.
musicman
The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn.
[Alvin Toffler]
- Offline
#6 2010-03-25 11:43:08
- dswiatkowski
- Member

- From: Basingstoke
- Registered: 2010-03-24
- Posts: 11
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
Thanks Music Man If that is the case it is surely MUCH more affordable than the UK.
- Offline
#7 2010-03-25 14:54:22
- musicman
- ViP

- From: Riyadh
- Registered: 2009-08-05
- Posts: 3089
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
certainly dsw, it IS much much more cheaper than living in the UK. I was there for a week from Mar 11-18 and I found the cost oif food was sky high. Just to give you an example, a Shawarma (Arabian Sandwich) cost Pound 4.75 (thats abt SR 25) while it only costs SR3 or max SR4 here. Eating out for three of us cost approx 50 pounds per meal tharts a whopping SR 300. We could easily have a similar meal here in Riyadh for a max SR 100.
musicman
The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn.
[Alvin Toffler]
- Offline
#8 2010-03-26 08:01:07
- Fidgety Soul
- ViP

- From: Riyadh
- Registered: 2009-08-28
- Posts: 1778
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
it could be cheaper if musicman invite u daily for dinner,he is good cook,,,,, i know because he invites me for lunch every day.....
hey hey whats happening to my nose.....em I changing into Pinocchio ????


- Offline
#9 2010-03-26 08:27:43
- musicman
- ViP

- From: Riyadh
- Registered: 2009-08-05
- Posts: 3089
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
i will take you both toi lunch on a wednesday afternoon anytime you casn make yourselves free, ladies... wats yr preference, Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Italian, Arabic, Sri Lankan?
We have a small group of three who usually do lunch on the last Wednesday of everyt month and enjoy a quiet afternoon of sharing and exchanging the months events and news.
musicman
The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn.
[Alvin Toffler]
- Offline
#10 2010-03-26 12:23:59
- dswiatkowski
- Member

- From: Basingstoke
- Registered: 2010-03-24
- Posts: 11
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
What about the cost of non food items like
A pair of good shoes
A pair of trousers
A mens suit
petrol
any other examples you can think of would be great.
Cheers,
Doug
- Offline
#11 2010-03-26 18:32:29
- Alliecat
- ViP

- From: Riyadh
- Registered: 2009-10-13
- Posts: 7484
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
I eat lunch at work every day but cook most of my other meals and I eat well on $40US a week. This includes a lot of fresh vegetables, fruit, fish, meat plus extras for the 'pantry' like pasta, canned beans, etc.
I also spend a bit more on some American items I particularly like, such as Ken's Caesar dressing, but this is included in the $40.
Alliecat
=^.^=
- Offline
#12 2010-03-28 23:06:33
- SaudiUK
- EB member +
- From: Riyadh
- Registered: 2010-03-17
- Posts: 535
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
dswiatkowski wrote:
What about the cost of non food items like
A pair of good shoes
A pair of trousers
A mens suit
petrol
any other examples you can think of would be great.
Cheers,
Doug
Shoes - you get Aldo, Clarks and Hush Puppies in Riyadh - similar prices as the UK
Trousers & suits - I bring mine with from the UK. So cant say what prices are in Saudi. Most designers have outlets in Riyadh so if you needed to purchase suits or trousers it wont be an issue.
Petrol - I hope your joking its cheaper than water!!! Cost is insignificant.
- Offline
#13 2010-03-28 23:13:45
- Fidgety Soul
- ViP

- From: Riyadh
- Registered: 2009-08-28
- Posts: 1778
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
musicman wrote:
i will take you both toi lunch on a wednesday afternoon anytime you casn make yourselves free, ladies... wats yr preference, Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Italian, Arabic, Sri Lankan?
We have a small group of three who usually do lunch on the last Wednesday of everyt month and enjoy a quiet afternoon of sharing and exchanging the months events and news.
You r too sweet....i might get diabetic due to u
- Offline
#14 2010-03-29 11:58:27
- dswiatkowski
- Member

- From: Basingstoke
- Registered: 2010-03-24
- Posts: 11
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
Thanks for all of the information and yes I know petrol is dirt cheap, just curious, my company is covering it anyway.
Cheers,
Doug
- Offline
#15 2010-03-29 23:36:28
- Fidgety Soul
- ViP

- From: Riyadh
- Registered: 2009-08-28
- Posts: 1778
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
even if they dont cover its cheap enough to take bath with it daily..hehehehe:D
i hope ya wont follow my advice:P
- Offline
#16 2010-04-01 15:26:41
- musicman
- ViP

- From: Riyadh
- Registered: 2009-08-05
- Posts: 3089
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
...the bath is fine as long as he not lighting up a cigar in the process...
Answering his Q's, What about the cost of non food items like
A pair of good shoes - Varies from SR 40 upwards, skies the limit depedning on labels
A pair of trousers - SR 50 upwards - same as above
A mens suit - SR 250 up
petrol - Sr 0.45 for 91 and SR 0.60 for 95 per liter
WATER costs moire at SR 1 per liter
ARIEL Laundry Detergent - SR 50+ for the big pack
PEPSI/COKE - SR 1.5 per can
CHINESE DINNER, souyp/rice/noodles,meats/salad at a decent Restaurant - SR 50+
ZYou will havew to talk to the better half for Grocery prices. Thats not my league, anyways.
musicman
The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn.
[Alvin Toffler]
- Offline
#17 2010-04-11 11:23:34
- meetnauman
- Contributor

- From: Riyadh
- Registered: 2009-12-26
- Posts: 140
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
To get an idea of prices of various commodities try to visit this site
http://panda.com.sa/english/
its one of the biggest stores around the kingdom , it might help you access the prices around here.
- Offline
#18 2010-04-12 07:41:21
- prasadpauti
- Member

- From: Mumbai
- Registered: 2010-02-09
- Posts: 14
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
This information is very very usefull to all coming expats in KSA. If we decide to select best contributor to this blog then for me MUSICMAN is the best among all
I like to say big THANK YOU to him
- Offline
#19 2010-04-12 14:34:23
- musicman
- ViP

- From: Riyadh
- Registered: 2009-08-05
- Posts: 3089
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
awwwwww thats so sweet of u Prasad.....
we just gotta do what we all gotta do....
musicman
The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn.
[Alvin Toffler]
- Offline
#20 2010-04-12 16:12:36
- shahab.ali
- ViP

- From: Riyadh
- Registered: 2010-03-14
- Posts: 1076
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
and musicman, do u know wat u gotta do? u gotta invote me too from lunch!
- Offline
#21 2010-04-13 07:27:24
- musicman
- ViP

- From: Riyadh
- Registered: 2009-08-05
- Posts: 3089
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
ok shahab, anytime young man.
i dont normally eat lunch on weekdays but I can always bend the rules for a quick bite anytime at 1pm on any weekday.
give me a buzz
musicman
The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn.
[Alvin Toffler]
- Offline
#22 2010-04-13 08:50:50
- shahab.ali
- ViP

- From: Riyadh
- Registered: 2010-03-14
- Posts: 1076
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
thanks a lot sir!!!
- Offline
#23 2011-09-06 02:19:00
- replyvarun
- New member
- From: Bangalore
- Registered: 2011-09-06
- Posts: 3
Re: Monthly expenses in Riyadh
I have gone through all the posts and I appreciate "musicman" for being helpful to everyone.
Please see if you can help me out as well-
Company is offering 25k SAR a month. Leaving behind all the above said in the posts (for eg, food, transportation, shoes, petrol, suit etc), I am looking for a 2 bed room appartment on a rent basis in a good area with all the facilities like swimming pool, fitness center, grocery shop. How much does it cost?
City: RIYADH
Member in Family: Two
Thanks in advance.
Last edited by replyvarun (2011-09-06 02:20:35)
- Offline