Among the most common questions we get involve what basic things cost — clothes, your daily caffeine fix, etc. In Feb 2023, we went to Saudi Arabia, and checked out prices in the following categories — keep in mind, this is not an exhaustive list, but a sampling:

• Fast Food
• Coffee & Specialty Drinks at Starbucks and Coffee Shops in the Hospital
• Groceries
• Clothing & Accessories
• Cosmetics
• Baby Supplies
• Beauty Services

Note: The exchange rate between the American dollar (US$) and the Saudi Riyal (SR) is US$1=SR3.75

We have also included the rate for GBP and EUR, but note that, unlike the US$, the exchange rate is not stable between the SR and the GBP or between the SR and EUR.

Fast Food

We all know one needs their fast food fix, especially when overseas. Here are the costs at some familiar American chains, as well as some less familiar chains:

Burger King

• Whopper Meal – SR30 / US$8.00 / £6.64 / €7.54
• Double Whopper Meal – SR36 / US$9.60 / £7.97 / €9.05

McDonald's

• Big Mac Meal – SR29 / US$7.70 / £6.42 / €7.29
• McArabia (grilled chicken on flat bread) – SR29 / US$7.70 / £6.42 / €7.29
• Big McChicken – SR29 / US$7.70 / £6.42 / €7.29
• Big Tasty – SR32 / US$8.50 / £7.08 / €8.04
• Cheeseburger Meal – SR19 / US$5 / £4.20 / €4.77

KFC

• 12 Pcs Combo Family – SR105 / US$28 / £23.24 / €26.40
• 8 Pieces regular – SR55 / US$14.60 / £12.17 / €13.82
• 12 Pieces regular – SR79 / US$21 / £17.48 / €19.86
• 24 Pieces regular – SR140 / US$37 / £30.98 / €35.19
• Mighty Zinger Burger – SR24 / US$6.40 / £5.31 / €6.03

AlBaik Chicken

• Fried Chicken (portion) – SR17 / US$4.50 / £3.76 / €4.27
• Chicken Fillet (portion) – SR17 / US$4.50 / £3.76 / €4.27
• Shrimps (portion) – SR22 / US$5.85 / £4.87 / €5.53

Pizza

• 1 Meter "Cezar" Pizza – SR72 / US$19.20 / £15.94 / €18.11
• Maestro "Regular Size" – SR36 / US$9.60 / £7.97 / €9.05

Shawarma

• Small – SR4 / US$1.10 / £0.88 / €1
• Medium – SR7 / US$1.85 / £1.55 / €1.76
• Large – SR9-11 / US$2.40 - $2.90 / £2-2.43 / €2.26-2.76

Coffee & Specialty Drinks at Starbucks

The monolithic Starbucks, of course, stands on its own. But if Starbucks isn't your thing, there are also numerous other coffee shops, including Cariboo Coffee, Dip&Fly, Barns, etc. There are Starbucks outlets onsite at the King Faisal, and at the King Faisal in Riyadh and Jeddah they also had a second chain, called Dr. Coffee/Dr. Cafe, which made a very tasty brew. But back to Starbucks:

Plain Latte or Cappuccino

• Tall – SR17 / US$4.50 / £3.76 / €4.27
• Grande – SR19 / US$5 / £4.20 / €4.77
• Venti – SR21 / US$5.50 / £4.64 / €5.28

Caramel Macchiato, Caffe Mocha

• Tall – SR20 / US$5.30 / £4.42 / €5.03
• Grande – SR22 / US$5.80 / £4.87 / €5.53
• Venti – SR24 / US$6.40 / £5.31 / €6.04

Caffe Americano or Brewed Coffee

• Grande – SR17 / US$4.50 / £3.76 / €4.27
• Venti – SR19 / US$5 / £4.20 / €4.77

Tea / Full-Leaf

• Grande – SR13 / US$5.30 / £2.88 / €3.27
• Venti – SR14 / US$3.70 / £3.10 / €3.52

Frappuccino

• Grande – SR23 / US$6.10 / £5.09 / €5.78
• Venti – SR25 / US$6.70 / £5.54 / €6.29

Ice Shake Tea

• Tall – SR10 / US$2.70 / £2.21 / €2.52
• Grande – SR23 / US$6.10 / £5.09 / €5.78
• Venti – SR25 / US$6.70 / £5.54 / €6.29

Groceries

For this search, we went to a “Bin Dawood” supermarket chain, located right off of the Medina Second Ring (King Abdullah) road, Al Khalidiyyah District in Medina City. Prices in other grocery supermarkets (“Hyper Panda”, “Carrefour”, “Tamimi Markets”) are, more or less, the same.

General Groceries

• Sliced Bread Brown 600 g (Fuchsia or L’usine) – SR6 / US$1.60 / £1.33 / €1.51
• Sliced Bread White 600 g (Fuchsia or L’usine) – SR5 / US$1.33 / £1.10 / €1.26
• Sliced Bread Brown 300 g (Fuchsia or L’usine) – SR3 / US$.80 / £0.66 / €0.75
• Pringles Chips (165 g) – SR10.95 / US$2.92 / £2.42 / €2.75
• Ice Cream “Baskin and Robbins” 400 ml – SR27.50 / U$7.33 / £6.09 / €6.92
• Ice Cream “Baskin and Robbins” 850 ml – SR48.95 / US$13.05 / £10.84 / €12.31
• Ice Cream “London Dairy” 500 ml – SR22.50 / US$6 / £4.98 / €5.66
• Ice Cream “London Dairy” 1000 ml – SR37.50 / US$10 / £8.30 / €9.43
• Philadelphia Cream Cheese (Spread) 280 ml – SR14.95 / US$3.99 / £3.31 / €3.76
• Philadelphia Cream Cheese Light (Spread) 280 ml – SR22.95 / US$6.12 / £5.08 / €5.77
• Milk 2 l (Full Cream, Low Fat or Skimmed) – SR11 / US$2.94 / £2.44 / €2.77
• Milk 1 l (Full Cream, Low Fat or Skimmed) – SR6 / US$1.60 / £1.33 / €1.51
• Milk 1 L (Pasteurized) – SR6 / US$1.60 / £1.33 / €1.51
• Yoghurt (Activia Low Fat) 1.5 l – SR11 / US$2.94 / £2.44 / €2.77
• Nutella Ferrero 400g – SR16.95 / US$4.52 / £3.75 / €4.26
• Nutella Ferrero 1000g – SR32.50 / US$8.67 / £7.20 / €8.17
• Honey 500g (Local and Import) – SR39.95-SR230.00 (Depending on origin and base) US$10.65-61.33 / £8.85-50.94 / €10.05-57.86
• Fruit Jams 300 g – SR15.95 / US$4.25 / £3.53 / €4.01
• Juice 100% no sugar added 1.5 l – SR7.50-SR11.50 / US$2-3.07 / £1.66-2.55 / €1.89-2.90
• Diet Pepsi 6 pack – SR18 / US$4.80 / £3.99 / €4.53
• Pepsi Zero 6 pack – SR15 / US$4 / £3.32 / €3.77
• Organic Chocolate “Belgian” 100 g – SR15.95 / US$4.25 / £3.53 / €4.01
• Organic Chocolate “Canderel” 0% Sugar 100 g – SR21.25 / US$5.67 / £4.71 / €5.34
• Volmilch Schokolade 100 g – SR14.25 / US$3.80 / £3.15 / €3.58
• “Lindt” Chocolate Switzerland 100 g – SR24 / US$6.40 / £5.31 / €6.04
• Spaghetti (Barilla No.5) 500g – SR9.90 / US$2.64 / £2.19 / €2.49
• Fusilli Barilla 500g – SR10.95 / US$2.93 / £2.42 / €2.75
• Lasagna Barilla 500g – SR24.95 / US$6.65 / £5.52 / €6.27
• Olive Oil 750 ml –SR13.75 – SR48.95 (depending on country of origin) US$3.67-13.05 / £3.04-10.84 / €3.46-12.31
• Eggs Quail (18 Pcs) – SR10.95 / US$2.93 / £2.42 / €2.75
• Eggs 6 Pcs – SR5.95 / US$1.59 / £1.32 / €1.50
• Eggs 20 Pcs – SR18.95 / US$5.05 / £4.20 / €4.77
• Eggs 30 Pcs –SR21.50 / US$5.73 / £4.76 / €5.41
• Water 6 x 1.5 l – SR5.95 - SR15 (depending on brand) US$1.59-4 / £1.32-3.32 / €1.50-3.77

Vegetables

• Carrots (1kg) – SR9.95 / US$2.65 / £2.20 / €2.50
• Zucchini (1kg) – SR5.95 / US$1.59 / £1.32 / €1.50
• Eggplant (1kg) – SR7.95 / US$2.12 / £1.76 / €2
• Broccoli (1kg) – SR13.95 / US$3.72 / £3.08 / €3.51
• Sweet Potato (1kg) – SR3.95 / US$1.05 / £0.87 / €1
• Potato (1kg) – SR2.55 / US$68 / £0.56 / €0.64
• Onion (1kg) – SR4.25 / US$1.13 / £0.94 / €1.07

Fruit

• Strawberry (local pack) – SR3.95 / US$1.05 / £0.87 / €1
• Pomelo – SR7.95 / US$2.12 / £1.76 / €2
• Mango (1kg) – SR 4.95-21.95 (depending on country of origin) US$1.32-5.85 / £1.09-4.85 / €1.25-5.53
• Pomegranate (1kg) – SR7.95 / US$2.12 / £1.76 / €2
• Pear (1kg) – SR11.50-15 (depending on country of origin) US$3.07-4 / £2.54-3.31 / €2.90-3.78
• Apple-Pink Lady (1kg) – SR9.95 / US$2.65 / £2.20 / €2.50
• Apple-Red (1kg) – US$1.85 / £0.41 / €0.46
• Orange (1kg) – SR2.95 / US$.79 / £0.65 / €0.74
• Tangerine (1kg) – SR9.95 / US$2.65 / £2.20 / €2.50
• Coconut (1) – SR2.95 / US$.79 / £0.65 / €0.74
• Pineapple (1kg) – SR8.50-16.95 (depending on country of origin) US$2.27-4.52 / £1.88-3.75 / €2.14-4.03
• Watermelon (1kg) – SR4.95 / US$1.32 / £1.09 / €1.25

Meat

• Chicken Whole Fresh (1 kg) – SR17.50-22.50 / US$4.67-7 / £3.87-4.98 / €4.41-5.67
• Chicken Wings (500 g) – SR7.50 / US$2 / £1.66 / €1.89
• Chicken Liver (500 g) – SR6.95 / US$1.85 / £1.54 / €1.75
• Chicken thighs boneless (500g) – SR23 / US$6.13 / £5.09 / €5.79
• Chicken breasts fillet (500g) – SR21 / US$5.60 / £4.64 / €5.29
• Chicken (ground) (500g) – SR14.95 / US$3.99 / £3.31 / €3.76
• Fish - Mackerel (1kg) – SR16.95 / US$4.52 / £3.75 / €4.26
• Fish Denees (1kg) – SR42.95 / US$11.45 / £9.50 / €10.82
• Fish Sea Bass (1kg) – SR25.95 / US$6.92 / £5.74 / €6.54
• Fish Tuna (1kg) – SR20 / US$5.33 / £4.42 / €5.03
• Fish Losos Fillet (1kg) – SR119.95 / US$31.99 / £26.53 / €30.21
• Squid (1kg) – SR33.95 / US$9.05 / £7.51 / €8.55
• Sliced Beef (imported) (1kg) – SR59.95 / US$15.99 / £13.26 / €15.10
• Ground Beef (imported) (1kg) – SR29.95 / US$7.99 / £6.62 / €7.54

Coffee

• Nescafe Classic “Red Mug” (200g) – SR27 / US$7.20 / £5.97 / €6.80
• Nescafe Gold (200g) – SR56 / US$14.93 / £12.39 / €14.11
• Nescafe Gold Decaf (200g) – SR37 / US$9.87 / £8.18 / €9.32
• Davidoff Café (Espresso, Crème Intense, Rich Aroma…) (100g) – SR34.95 / US$9.32 / £7.73 / €8.81
• Davidoff Coffee Capsules (10 pieces) – SR27.95 / US$7.45 / £6.18 / €7.04
• Starbucks Capsules (10 pieces) – SR31.75 / US$8.47 / £7.02 / €8.00

Daily Hygiene

• Tooth Paste "Crest Cavity Protection" (least expensive variety) – SR7.50 / US$2 / £8.30 / €9.43
• Tooth Paste "Sensodyne Nourish Gently" (one of the most expensive) – SR38.75 / US$10.33 / £8.57 / €9.76
• Tooth Brush (Chinese Manufacturer) (least expensive type) – SR7 / US$1.85 / £1.55 / €1.76
• Tooth Brush (varieties Oral B, Sensodyne, etc.) – SR15-35 / US$4-9.33 / £3.32-7.74 / €3.78-8.82
• Electric Tooth Brush (Oral B) – SR156-192 / US$41.60-51.20 / £34.51-42.48 / €39.31-48.38
• Nivea or Rexona Deodorant/Antiperspirant – SR17-28 / US$4.53-7.47 / £3.76-6.19 / €4.28-7.06

Clothing & Accessories

Unlike in Riyadh or in Jeddah, here in Medina we don’t have those high-end boutiques but mid-range American chains (e.g., GAP, Beverly Hills Polo), Fred Perry from UK and European chains (e.g., Zara, Mango) are available. And for the athletes, there are plenty of brand shops, e.g., Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Puma, as well as “Sun and Sand Sport” store located in every shopping mall.

Cosmetics

The ladies love their cosmetics in Saudi! In addition to the name brands below, pharmacies and supermarkets also have typical brands sold in North American pharmacies (e.g., L’Oréal, Nivea, Vichy, La Roche, etc.) As expected, the top of the line brands is also available in some of the ultimate beauty stores (Sephora, Paris Gallery, etc).

Kiko Milano

• Lipstick – SR26 / US$6.93 / £5.75 / €6.55
• Moisturizer (50 ml) – SR104 / US$27.73 / £23 / €26.21
• Mascara – SR64 / US$17.70 / £14.16 / €16.13
• Blush – SR148 / US$39.47 / £32.74 / €37.29
• Foundation (30 ml liquid) – SR98 / US$26.13 / £21.68 / €24.69

MAC

• Lipstick – SR112 / US$30 / £24.78 / €28.22
• Moisturizer (50 ml) – SR174 / US$46.40 / £38.49 / €43.84
• Mascara – SR137 / US$36.53 / £30.31 / €34.52
• Blush – SR119 / US$31.73 / £26.32 / €29.99
• Foundation (30 ml) – SR205/ US$54.67 / £45.35 / €51.66

Bobbi Brown

• Lipstick – SR201 / US$53.60 / £44.47 / €50.65
• Moisturizer (50 ml) – SR217 / US$57.87 / £48 / €54.68
• Mascara – SR132 / US$35.53 / £29.20 / €33.26
• Blush – SR186 / US$49.60 / £41.15 / €46.87
• Foundation (30 ml) – SR215-263 / US$57.33-70.13 / £47.57-58.19 / €54.18-66.28

Lancome

• Lipstick – SR197 / US$52.53 / £43.58 / €49.64
• Moisturizer (50 ml) – SR279 / US$74.40 / £61.73 / €70.31
• Mascara – SR153 / US$40.80 / £33.85 / €38.55
• Foundation (30 ml) – SR246 / US$65.60 / £54.43 / €61.99

Maybelline New York

• Lipstick – SR34-95 / US$9.07-25.33 / £7.52-21.02 / €8.57-23.94
• Mascara – SR26-55 / US$6.93-14.67 / £5.75-12.17 / €6.55-13.86
• Foundation (30 ml) – SR31 / US$8.27 / £6.86 / €7.81

Baby Supplies

Relocating with a little one? Here are some costs to consider:

Diapers

• Pampers Baby Dry (2-5kg) 86 pack – SR89 / US$ 23.70 / £19.68 / €22.43
• Huggies Extra Care (4-6kg) 64 pack – SR66.50 / US$17.60 / £14.71 / €16.75
• Sanita Bambi 4+ (10-18kg) 46 pack – SR61 / US$ 16.30 / £13.49 / €15.37
• Fine Baby (4-9kg) 46 pack – SR57.95 / US$ 15.50 / £12.82 / €14.60

Formula

• Nestle Nan Opti Pro 2 (from 6 months) 400g – SR46.50 / US$12.40 / £10.29 / €11.72
• Arla Baby & Me Organic (from 6 months) 400g – SR64.95 / US$17.30 / £14.37 / €16.36
• Similac Gold (from birth to 6 months) 400g – SR51.50 / US$13.70 / £11.40 / €12.98

Baby Seat

• SR250-SR1300 / US$66.67-346.67 / £55.30-287.60 / €63-327.60

Beauty Services

Hair Salon

• Cut, Depending on length – SR200-300 / US$53.33-80 / £44.24-66.36 / €50.40-75.60
• Colour and Highlights (depending on establishment) – SR400-600 / US$106.67-346.67 / £88.48-132.73 / €100.80-151.20