Is Saudi Arabia Cheap To Visit? Here Is What It Costs!

Are you planning a trip to Saudi Arabia and wondering if it is a cheap country to visit? Before I visited Saudi Arabia, I had the same question. After spending a week there, I am in a good position to break down all the costs for you and let you know how much you should budget per day.

Saudi Arabia is not as cheap as I expected. As a mid-range traveler, I found that accommodation and food options are fairly limited within that price range and do not offer much value for your money. For a mid-range traveler, budget at least $100 per day (excluding accommodation) for food, activities, and taxi rides or car rentals.

Continue reading to understand the costs of everything in Saudi Arabia!

Visa and Entry Requirements

To visit Saudi Arabia, tourists need a visa. Luckily, in 2019 the country opened itself up to tourists by offering tourist visas. Many countries can now get either a simplified e-visa or a visa on arrival, expanding from the previously available Hajj (pilgrim) visas for Muslims. All EU countries, the United States, Canada, and more are eligible for an e-visa or visa on arrival.

I opted for the e-visa and applied a few days before my departure. The e-visa process was very smooth; it involves filling out an online form. You can check your eligibility for the e-visa here. The e-visa costs around $100 (including health insurance), which is not cheap, but within 24 hours, you will receive your e-visa in your email. Print it out, and you’re good to go!

Flights to Saudi Arabia

Flight prices to Saudi Arabia vary depending on your departure city and the time of year. However, since Wizzair started flying to Saudi Arabia, trips to the kingdom have become increasingly cheaper. In August 2022, Wizzair announced an expansion of their routes to Saudi Arabia and now flies directly from 10 European destinations to Riyadh, Jeddah, or Dammam.

I flew from Stockholm, Sweden, with a connection in Rome, which made the trip more expensive. However, the flight from Rome to Jeddah cost roughly $100 for a one-way ticket, which is very affordable. I flew back to Sweden from Manama, Bahrain.

Accommodation

Saudi Arabia offers a range of accommodation options, but I found that most are skewed towards the luxury and upscale segment, with limited budget and mid-range choices.

Luxury Hotels:

Both Riyadh and Jeddah feature some of the world’s most famous international luxury hotels, including Hyatt, Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, and Hilton. These brands, which are not even found in my home country of Sweden, offer rooms typically costing $300 and above per night.

Mid-Range Hotels:

Mid-range options usually cost around $80 to $150 per night. However, the standard is often not great and these typically come in the form of “serviced apartments.” This usually means no daily cleaning and no breakfast included. Additionally, mid-range hotels often do not offer amenities like swimming pools. Finding one in this price range would be a pleasant surprise.

Budget Hotels and Hostels:

Budget hotels and hostels are practically non-existent in Jeddah and scarce in Riyadh. The few hostels available charge between $30 to $50 for a bed in a dormitory, which isn’t exactly cheap. At this price point, upgrading to a mid-range accommodation is more worthwhile, if you ask me.

In general, if you travel during the Saudi low season (the summer months when temperatures are between 40-50 degrees Celsius), prices typically drop. However, the weather is unbearable during this time, and I wouldn’t recommend visiting then.

Where I stayed:

Jeddah

Rahhal AlBahr Serviced Apartments
Big room, with one of the best locations in Jeddah, Al Hamra, located next to the busy Palestine Street, with access to a supermarket, restaurants, and the Jeddah Corniche all within walking distance. The bathroom wasn’t the best quality, but overall a pretty decent place for about $80 a night.

Book your night here!

Riyadh

Olaya residence
Hard to find since the address on booking.com shows a different location than in reality. People also have it mixed up with an another apartment hotel with the same name, however the following address is the correct one: 6209 Wadi Al Shouara, Al Olaya, Riyadh 12211, Saudi Arabia.

The accommodation is pretty decent with a good room and a comfortable bed. Again the bathroom is not the best but acceptable and no breakfast is included. However the price is around $90 (which is cheap for Riyadh!), and the location is top-notch, which is a dealbreaker for me.

Book your night here!

Transportation

As I’ve mentioned many times in my blog posts about Saudi Arabia, getting around the cities can be challenging without a car. Saudi cities are very car-centric, and I recommend renting a car if you’re staying for more than a few days. Renting a car offers more freedom to explore and can end up being cheaper than relying on taxis.

Here’s a breakdown of transportation costs depending on your choice:

Public Transport in Cities:
Riyadh: Riyadh has the most developed public transport system with a bus network and a short but expanding train line. A 3-day bus ticket costs around 20 SAR (about $6), allowing unlimited travel during that period. However, the bus network doesn’t cover all parts of the city, so you may still need taxis for certain destinations, like Boulevard City.
Jeddah: Jeddah also has a bus system, but I found it didn’t serve many key areas. Therefore, I mainly relied on taxis during my stay there.

Taxis and Ride-Sharing Apps: Taxis and ride-sharing apps like Uber and Careem (the Middle Eastern equivalent of Uber) are convenient if you don’t have a car. Trips typically cost between $6-$15, which can add up if you’re taking 4-5 rides daily. From the airports in Riyadh and Jeddah, use Uber or Careem for accurate pricing. Beware of taxi drivers at arrivals who might try to overcharge tourists.

Car Rentals: Renting a car significantly enhances your experience in Saudi Arabia. It costs around $30 to $50 per day, and gas is inexpensive, at about 60 cents per liter. For trips longer than a few days, renting a car is the best option.

Food and Dining

In general, Saudi Arabia has a good variety of dining options. I was initially surprised to see how much the country has been influenced by the American fast food scene with an abundance of American dining options, such as Burger King, Mc Donalds, and Dunkin Donuts. However, thankfully there are still many places where you can enjoy a local Saudi meal.

• Street food: Street food or a meal at a simple restaurant can cost you between $5.
  
• Casual dining: Expect to pay around $15 to $25 per meal.
  
• Fine dining: Can cost $60 or more per person.

If you are looking for recommendations on where to eat in Riyadh and Jeddah make sure to check out the blog posts in the links below:

Where to eat in Riyadh

Where to eat in Jeddah

Attractions and Activities

Many of the local (and most interesting) attractions such as the old town of Jeddah or the Souk Al Zal in Riyadh are naturally free of charge.
However, as many of the attractions in both Jeddah and Riyadh are newly built entertainment zones, museums or views from tall buildings they do have entrance fees.

Information below will give you a rough understand of the costs:

• Historical sites, entertainment zones and museums: Entry fees typically cost around 50-70 SAR ($15-$20). This includes Boulevard City in Riyadh, Tayebat Museum in Jeddah, and the UNESCO town of Diriyah. A trip to the top of the skybridge in Riyadh cost 70 SAR (about $18).
  
• Desert safaris and guided tours: Costs around $150 per person for a full-day Safari tour around Riyadh. Tours to see the famous Edge of the World in Riyadh costs around $65-$100 depending on the time of booking.

Shopping

If you like strolling around shopping malls with every fashion brand you could possibly image. Saudi Arabia is the pace for you! There is literally an abundance of shopping malls. However, things do not come cheap or even on par with western prices for some reason. I found prices to be more expensive than back home in Sweden.

Markets and souks are the best places if you are looking for a more authentic shopping experience, here you can buy everything from traditional clothing to fruits and vegetables. Prices here are a lot cheaper than in the shopping malls and make sure to use your bargaining skills.

Miscellaneous Costs

Other potential expenses to consider:

• Internet and SIM cards: A local SIM card with data can be about the arrivals in the airports of Jeddah and Riyadh. A pre-paid sim card with 30 GB of data will cost you around $30.
  
• Tips: In general you do not have to tip in Saudi Arabia and it is not expected from you as it is in the United States. Usually, when you pay at a simple restaurant you will go up to a counter where a person will charge you for the exact things you ordered without asking for or adding any tips. I found a video on YouTube made by a Saudi women that thoroughly explains the tipping culture, make sure to check it out here.

Overall a mid-range traveler (like myself) should consider budgeting around $100 per day (excluding accommodation) for food, activities, taxi rides, and more.

Cost Summary Table

Expense	Cost (USD)
Visa	$90
Accommodation
– Luxury Hotels	$250 and above /night
– Mid-range Hotels	$80 – $150/night
– Budget Hotels/Hostels	$30-$50+/night
Transportation
– Public Transport	$6 for a 3-day ticket (Riyadh)
– Taxis/Ride-sharing	~$10/trip
– Car Rentals	$30 – $50/day
Food and Dining
– Street Food	$2 – $5/meal
– Casual Dining	$10 – $20/meal
– Fine Dining	$50+/meal
Attractions and Activities
– Historical Sites/Museums	$5 – $20
– Desert Safaris/Tours	$50 – $150
– Free Activities	$0
Shopping and Souvenirs	Varies
Internet and SIM Cards	~$30

Conclusion

Overall, I was a bit disappointed that Saudi Arabia was not as budget-friendly as I had expected. However, it’s important to remember that international tourism is still new there. I’m confident that within the next 10 years, there will be more options available for both budget and mid-range travelers.