livinginmakkah.com

Tag: rent

  • How to Check Rent in Makkah (2026): Official Data, Ejar and Real Quotes

    How to Check Rent in Makkah (2026): Official Data, Ejar and Real Quotes

    You will find websites quoting an “average rent in Makkah” down to the riyal. None of them cite an official Makkah-wide figure, because no official source publishes one. Rents here swing with the district, the building and the season.

    So instead of a number, here is a method. It uses official data to understand the trend and real quotes to understand your own options.

    Quick answer

    Short answer: Use GASTAT’s monthly CPI to see how rents are moving nationally (up 3.5% in the year to September 2026). Then collect like-for-like quotes in two or three districts, check what each includes, and confirm the final rent in a contract registered on Ejar before paying anything.

    Step one: read the official trend

    The General Authority for Statistics publishes the Consumer Price Index each month, including a rent group. In September 2026, GASTAT said actual housing rents were up 3.5% year on year and 0.2% on the month (GASTAT CPI, September 2026).

    Rent in the official data (GASTAT, Sep 2026)

    3.5%

    annual rise in actual rents

    0.2%

    monthly rise in actual rents

    0.7

    percentage points of 1.9% inflation from housing, water, electricity and fuels

    This tells you the direction. It does not tell you what a particular flat costs. If a landlord asks for a renewal increase, the trend is a useful, polite reference point.

    Step two: define what you are pricing

    Quotes are only comparable if they describe the same thing. Write down:

    • Number of bedrooms and bathrooms
    • Furnished or unfurnished
    • Building age and lift
    • Parking, water and maintenance included or not
    • Payment schedule

    Step three: collect quotes by district

    Price the same home in two or three districts. Location changes rent sharply: Ajyad sits about 1 km from the Haram (OSM), while Al-Awali is about 12 km away (OSM), and the pressures on each are different. Our neighbourhoods guide explains how the districts are organised.

    FactorWhy it matters
    Distance to the HaramCentral demand peaks in Ramadan and Hajj
    Season you sign inShort-term demand near the centre changes through the year
    Building age and finishNewer buildings often ask more
    What is includedParking, water and maintenance change the true cost
    Payment termsLump sums versus instalments
    What moves a Makkah rent quote

    Step four: confirm it on Ejar

    The only rent that counts is the one in a registered contract. Residential leases are registered on the official Ejar platform, which records the rent, the term and the payment schedule.

    Before you pay

    1

    Ask for the Ejar contract: check the rent and dates match what you agreed.

    2

    Check the extras: make sure included services are written in.

    3

    Match the payment schedule: pay only as the contract states.

    4

    Keep records: receipts and messages with the landlord or agent.

    Warning

    Be wary of anyone who pushes for cash before a contract exists, or who quotes far below similar homes nearby. Our Ejar guide for tenants covers the warning signs.

    Step five: add running costs

    Rent is not the whole bill. Electricity rises in summer with air conditioning, so ask a neighbour for a summer and a winter bill. Our newcomers’ basics guide explains utility accounts.

    FAQ

    What is the average rent in Makkah in 2026?

    No official source publishes a Makkah-wide average. GASTAT shows national rents up 3.5% in the year to September 2026.

    Where can I check if a rent is fair?

    Compare like-for-like quotes in the same district, then confirm the agreed rent in an Ejar contract.

    Do rents change in Ramadan and Hajj?

    Demand near the Haram rises in those seasons, so central rents are most affected.

    Last checked: 17 October 2026.

    Related

    Sources

  • Cost of Living in Makkah (Mecca) 2026: What the Official Data Shows

    Cost of Living in Makkah (Mecca) 2026: What the Official Data Shows

    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.

    Quick answer

    Short answer: Official GASTAT data shows Saudi consumer prices rose 1.8% in the year to August 2026, with housing and rents up 3.9%, food up 1.4% and transport up 2.0%. Rent is the cost that varies most in Makkah, so price real homes in your chosen district and register any lease on Ejar.

    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)

    1.8%

    overall consumer prices

    3.9%

    housing, water, electricity and fuel

    1.4%

    food and beverages

    2.0%

    transport

    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.

    About the data

    GASTAT’s index tracks a fixed basket of 582 items, weighted using the 2023 Household Income and Expenditure Survey, with a new methodology published from August 2025 (GASTAT).

    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

    CostWhat drives itWhere to check
    RentDistrict, size, building age, seasonListings, then Ejar contract
    ElectricityAir conditioning use in summerSEC consumption tariffs
    GroceriesHousehold size, brands, where you shopYour own receipts for a month
    TransportCar or bus, school runs, train tripsMakkah Bus app, HHR fares
    School feesPublic or private schoolThe school directly
    Where to find real figures

    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

    A budget built on real numbers

    1

    Pick two or three districts: based on work, school and how often you go to the Haram.

    2

    Collect rent quotes: for the home size you need, with what is included written down.

    3

    Ask a neighbour about bills: a summer and a winter electricity bill tells you more than any average.

    4

    Track one month of food: keep receipts, then plan from them.

    5

    Add seasonal costs: Ramadan, Eid and guests in Hajj season all add up.

    6

    Recheck each quarter: compare with the latest GASTAT release.

    Warning

    Do not pay a large deposit or a year’s rent in cash before the lease is on Ejar. An unregistered deal leaves you with little protection if something goes wrong.

    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.

    Related

    Sources