Ready to explore Saudi Arabia? As a stunning destination, it's famous for its beauty, culture, food, and exciting activities. In this travel cost guide, we've got all the practical info you need to plan a fantastic trip without breaking the bank. From hotel rates and food costs to sightseeing prices and transportation, we've covered everything because we have a huge amount of data from previous travelers.
You should plan to spend around $53 (SAR200) per day on your vacation in Saudi Arabia. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
A one week trip to Saudi Arabia for two people costs, on average, $747 (SAR2,800). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
A one week trip to Saudi Arabia usually costs around $373 (SAR1,400) for one person and $747 (SAR2,800) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
A two week trip to Saudi Arabia on average costs around $747 (SAR2,800) for one person and $1,493 (SAR5,600) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Saudi Arabia will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.
A one month trip to Saudi Arabia on average costs around $1,600 (SAR6,000) for one person and $3,200 (SAR12,000) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.
Organized tours are usually more expensive than independent travel, but offer convenience and peace of mind that your trip has been planned by a travel expert.
The average price for an organized tour package in Saudi Arabia is $500 per day. While every tour varies by total price, length, number of destinations, and quality, this is the daily average price based on our analysis of available guided tours.
Traveling Independently has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Saudi Arabia is a very affordable destination to visit. It is in the top 10% of countries in the world for its affordability. Many budget travelers enjoy spending long periods of time exploring this country in depth.
Within the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is reasonably affordable compared to the other countries. It is in the top 25% of countries in the Middle East for its affordability. You can find more affordable countries such as Syria, but there are also more expensive countries, such as Oman.
Saudi Arabia caters to all kinds of travelers, with plenty of activities and accommodations across a broad price range. Budget-friendly hotel options are available, but there are also luxury hotels that cater to the more affluent customer, along with mid-range hotels for families or couples.
Although Saudi Arabia can be expensive, you can reduce your expenses by focusing on eating at less expensive restaurants and enjoying free activities.
On average, budget travelers spend $41 (SAR155) per person per day, mid-range travelers spend $53 (SAR200) per day, and luxury travelers spend around $72 (SAR271) per day. These costs are calculated from the expenses of previous travelers to Saudi Arabia.
For more details, see Is Saudi Arabia Expensive?
The average Saudi Arabia trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Saudi Arabia travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers. Also, you can see more details at How much does a trip to Saudi Arabia cost?
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Accommodation1
For 1 person in double occupancy |
$25 (SAR94) |
$25 (SAR94) |
$25
(SAR94) |
| Local Transportation1 |
$13 (SAR50) |
$13 (SAR50) |
$13
(SAR50) |
| Food2 |
$9.49 (SAR36) |
$22 (SAR81) |
$41
(SAR152) |
It's important to have realistic expectations for your budget. Many people assume that they're a "budget" traveler, and some believe that they will spend just $41 per day in Saudi Arabia, the reality is, most people are not comfortable traveling in that style. Consider what you really enjoy and how you've traveled in the past. Do you prefer resorts, vacation rentals, or hostels? Is dining out important to you? Your answers to these questions will affect your overall travel budget.
You may have heard that it's possible to visit Saudi Arabia for around $41 a day, but if you want to maintain any level of comfort, you should be ready to spend considerably more.
While budget travelers might manage to travel on that amount, it often means staying in hostel dormitories, eating at budget restaurants or fast food joints, using public transport or walking, and sticking to free attractions.
If you're a couple or a family traveling for fun, you'll likely want to stay in a mid-range hotel, eat at popular restaurants, and visit the major museums and attractions which have entry fees. Most visitors to Saudi Arabia will want to visit the major attractions, sights, and landmarks. Most activities cost money, after all. Therefore, it's realistic to expect your actual daily budget to be closer to $53 per person, per day.
Saudi Arabia has a wide selection of hotels and vacation rentals to fit any travel style. You'll likely be cutting your individual costs by sharing your hotel room with a partner, friends, or your kids. In family-friendly spots like Medina, Dammam, and Riyadh, you'll come across plenty of hotels and restaurants designed with kids in mind. In Medina, check out Shaza Al Madina, or consider Park Inn by Radisson Dammam in Dammam. For more family and couples options, see our hotel guide for Saudi Arabia here.
If your dream trip includes all the bells and whistles, be ready for a cost of about $72 per day. Opting for upscale hotels, fine dining at renowned eateries, splurging on unique experiences, and having private drivers will place you in the luxury travel range. You can rub shoulders with other luxury travelers in places like the major cities and resort areas. Also, make the most of your time by booking a high-end multi-day tour such as Saudi Arabia Explorer - offered by Exodus Adventure Travels.
The hotel prices in Saudi Arabia can really vary. In some areas, you'll notice a big gap between budget-friendly and high-end accommodations. During peak season, expect even higher prices. Traveling in the off-season or shoulder season can help you save a lot, and booking early usually gets you a better deal.
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid in Saudi Arabia for two people for a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $50 (SAR188). For one person sharing a room, the average price paid for a hotel room is $25 (SAR94) per night. These costs are from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Saudi Arabia? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Calculated from travelers like you
On average, past travelers have spent $13 (SAR50) per person, per day, on local transportation in Saudi Arabia. The cost of a taxi ride or rideshare service (Uber/Lyft) in Saudi Arabia is significantly more than public transportation.
Calculated from travelers like you
While restaurant and meal prices in Saudi Arabia can vary significantly, the average cost of food in Saudi Arabia is $22 (SAR81) per day, per person, based on the spending habits of previous travelers.
When dining out, the average daily cost for food in Saudi Arabia is around $22 (SAR81) per person, with previous travelers spending from $9 to $41. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.
Typical meal prices in Saudi Arabia are as follows:
If you're traveling with kids, be sure to seek out restaurants that offer a kids' menu. This can help you save quite a bit of money, as these meals are usually priced much lower. Some places may not display the kids' options, so it's a good idea to ask the waiter before placing your order.
A lot of hotels feature breakfast in their room rates, although some charge separately for it. Breakfast quality and prices can vary widely from one hotel to another. Understanding this beforehand can help you figure out if the hotel buffet is worth the splurge or if a local bakery or café would be a more economical choice.
Choose to take a water bottle with you instead of purchasing drinks all the time. It's also beneficial for the planet.
Before taking off on a tour, check which meals are part of the package. If you have to pay for some meals on your own, that could lead to higher costs.
Taking a food tour or cooking class is a great way to experience the culture in Saudi Arabia. After all, cuisine is one of the reasons why so many people visit. A few of the best culinary activities here include:
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is a country in the Middle East that is home to both the city of Mecca, as well as Medina. Saudi Arabia takes up the majority of the Arabian Peninsula and borders the Red Sea. It has everything from mountains to foothills, and of course the desert. Saudi Arabia is a great place to go see impressive sand dunes, which are most beautiful during the low light of sunrise and sunset.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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