Tag: budget

Search for “cost of living in Makkah” and you will find confident monthly totals with no source behind them. We are not going to add another one. Costs here depend heavily on your district, your household and the season, and a single number would mislead more people than it helps.

What we can give you is the official picture of how prices are moving, and a method for building your own budget from real quotes.

What the latest inflation figures say

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) publishes the Consumer Price Index every month. Its August 2026 release is the latest at the time of writing (GASTAT CPI, August 2026).

Annual change, August 2026 (GASTAT)

GASTAT says housing was the main driver, contributing 0.8 percentage points of the 1.8%, and that actual rents rose 3.9% over the year. Month on month, prices rose 0.1%, while food slipped 0.1% and restaurants and accommodation fell 0.4%.

These are national figures. They tell you the direction of prices, not what a flat in a particular Makkah district costs.

Rent: the biggest variable

For most households, housing is the largest monthly cost, and it is also the hardest to generalise. A flat close to the Haram, a family villa in a suburban district and an older building in an established area can be priced very differently, even in the same month.

Season matters as well. Central districts are shaped by pilgrim demand in Ramadan and Hajj, while outer residential areas are more stable. Our neighbourhoods guide explains how the districts are organised.

To get a real figure, collect quotes for the type of home you actually need, in two or three districts. Then make sure the contract is registered on the official Ejar platform. Our Ejar guide for tenants covers what to check.

The other monthly costs

Cost	What drives it	Where to check
Rent	District, size, building age, season	Listings, then Ejar contract
Electricity	Air conditioning use in summer	SEC consumption tariffs
Groceries	Household size, brands, where you shop	Your own receipts for a month
Transport	Car or bus, school runs, train trips	Makkah Bus app, HHR fares
School fees	Public or private school	The school directly

Electricity is the one most newcomers underestimate. Air conditioning runs for much of the year, so summer bills are higher than winter ones. Check the current tariff on the Saudi Electricity Company page before you budget. Our newcomers’ utilities guide explains how to set up the account.

Groceries depend on habits more than the city. Our groceries guide covers where residents shop.

Transport costs fall if you live on a bus route. Check routes on the official Makkah Bus app. For trips to Jeddah or Madinah, the Haramain station is in Ar Rusayfah; fares change, so check the official app for your date.

Build your own budget

FAQ

Is Makkah expensive to live in?

It depends mainly on rent, which varies by district and season. National data shows prices rising 1.8% a year to August 2026, with rents up 3.9%.

Does GASTAT publish a cost of living figure for Makkah city?

GASTAT publishes price indices, which show how prices change. It does not set what any household should spend.

What is the best way to check rents?

Compare current quotes for the same home size in a few districts, then register the contract on Ejar.

Last checked: 13 October 2026.