Short answer: On the ground in Saudi Arabia, plan on roughly SAR 220–460 (about $60–125) per person per day in a simple hotel shared by two, eating at casual restaurants and using the metro, SAR 470–920 ($125–245) in a mid-range hotel with taxis and a guided tour, and from about SAR 1,400 ($375) for luxury hotels, drivers and private tours. A week therefore costs about $410–860, $875–1,715 or from about $2,600 per person, before flights and the SAR 535 ($143) tourist e-visa. For a reality check, inbound tourists who came for leisure spent about SAR 36.4 billion across some 7.5 million trips in 2024, roughly SAR 4,850 ($1,300) per trip, according to the Ministry of Tourism.
Saudi Arabia began issuing tourist visas only in 2019, and it is still building hotels and attractions at a fast pace, so prices vary a lot by city and season. Everyday costs are moderate: fuel is cheap, a metro ride in Riyadh costs a few riyals, and a casual meal costs about the same as a sandwich in a US city. The big costs are hotels, especially in AlUla in winter and near the holy mosques in Ramadan, domestic flights across a very large country, and guided tours. This guide breaks it all down with figures from official sources, so you can build a realistic budget for your own trip to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi riyal (SAR) is pegged at 3.75 to the US dollar, the official rate maintained by the Saudi Central Bank; dollar figures here are rounded at that rate, and our Money exchange tool converts to other currencies.
Saudi Arabia daily costs at a glance
These example days are built from the prices further down this page: one person, one city day in Riyadh or Jeddah. They leave out flights, the e-visa, intercity travel and shopping.
| Per person, per day | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed | Half of a simple hotel or apartment room at SAR 300–500: SAR 150–250 | Half of a mid-range room at SAR 400–900: SAR 200–450 | Half of a luxury room from about SAR 1,500: from SAR 750 |
| Food | Two or three casual meals at about SAR 25–35: SAR 60–100 | A casual lunch, coffee and half of a SAR 245 dinner for two: SAR 170–220 | Hotel and fine-dining meals: about SAR 300 |
| Transport | Metro and bus tickets, one ride-hailing trip: SAR 10–40 | Taxis or ride-hailing: SAR 40–100 | Car with driver or rental car: about SAR 200 |
| Sights | Free museums, souqs and the corniche: SAR 0–70 | One guided tour or ticketed site: SAR 60–150 | Private tours and experiences: from SAR 150 |
| Total | About SAR 220–460 ($60–125) | About SAR 470–920 ($125–245) | From about SAR 1,400 ($375) |
Metro fares and AlUla tour prices are official; meal prices are typical October 2026 Riyadh prices from the crowd-sourced Numbeo index; room ranges are the typical ranges used in our Saudi city guides. Treat them as typical ranges, not quotes. Hotels near the holy mosques in Mecca and Medina cost far more in Ramadan and around the Hajj.
What visitors actually spend in Saudi Arabia
The Ministry of Tourism’s Annual Statistical Report counts every overnight visitor and what they spend. In 2024, 29.7 million inbound tourists spent SAR 168.5 billion, an average of SAR 5,669 (about $1,510) per trip, and stayed an average of 19 nights. That long stay reflects the many pilgrims and visitors staying with family, who make up most inbound trips, so it works out at only about SAR 300 ($80) a night.
Leisure travelers, the closest group to a typical tourist, are the fastest-growing segment. In 2024 about 7.5 million leisure trips accounted for SAR 36.4 billion of spending, about SAR 4,850 ($1,300) per trip, up 69% on 2023 in total. For hotels, industry data from the consultancy JLL put the national average room rate at about SAR 822 ($219) a night in the first half of 2025, which is why our mid-range day is built on a room of SAR 400–900.
On our Travel costs by country scale, which compares hotel, restaurant and transport prices with the United States (US = 100), Saudi Arabia scores 56. In plain words, typical travel prices are a little over half of US levels, well below the United Arab Emirates (76) and Qatar (73), and a little above Bahrain and Oman (both 49).
Accommodation costs
Saudi Arabia has few hostels, so even budget travelers usually sleep in hotels or serviced apartments, and sharing a room makes the biggest difference. As typical ranges for a mid-range double, the same ones we use in our city guides:
| City | Mid-range room, per night | When prices peak |
|---|---|---|
| Riyadh | About SAR 400–900 ($105–240) in winter | Big Riyadh Season event nights |
| Jeddah | About SAR 350–800 ($93–213) in winter | Ramadan and before the Hajj |
| AlUla | About SAR 600–1,500 ($160–400) in winter | Winter holidays; few rooms |
| Abha | About SAR 350–900 ($93–240) in summer | Summer and Eid holidays |
| Khobar | About SAR 300–700 ($80–187) | Weekends and holidays |
| Medina, central area | About SAR 400–1,000 ($105–265) outside peak seasons | Ramadan and the Hajj |
Room rates are usually shown before 15% VAT and municipality fees, so compare total prices. In AlUla, where rooms are limited, book well ahead for the winter season.
Food and drink costs
Eating out is good value and a big part of social life. Numbeo’s October 2026 figures for Riyadh put a meal at an inexpensive restaurant at about SAR 30 ($8, range SAR 18–60), a three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant, without drinks, at about SAR 245 ($65), and a fast-food combo at about SAR 30. A cappuccino costs about SAR 16 ($4.30), and a small bottle of water about SAR 1. Our city guides put a casual restaurant meal at about SAR 25–70 depending on the city, a little cheaper around the holy mosques and a little dearer in AlUla.
Alcohol is illegal in Saudi Arabia, which keeps restaurant bills lower than in many other countries. Specialty coffee shops are everywhere, and Arabic coffee with dates is the traditional welcome.
Getting around: metro, trains, flights and car hire
Saudi Arabia is huge, so how you cover the distances matters more than daily city transport. Official fares as of October 2026:
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Riyadh Metro and bus, 2 hours (standard / first class) | SAR 4 / 10 ($1.05 / $2.65) |
| Riyadh Metro and bus, 3-day / 7-day pass | SAR 20 / 40 ($5.35 / $10.65) |
| Haramain train, Jeddah–Mecca, economy / business | From SAR 43 / 90 ($11.50 / $24) |
| Haramain train, Jeddah–Medina, economy / business | From SAR 135 / 375 ($36 / $100) |
| Haramain train, Mecca–Medina, economy / business | From SAR 162 / 455 ($43 / $121) |
| Haramain train, Jeddah–Jeddah airport, economy | From SAR 22 ($5.90) |
Haramain fares are base fares before VAT and fees, and they vary with demand; children get 50% off in economy and 40% in business. The Riyadh Metro has six lines and 85 stations, and tickets are sold in the Darb app and at stations. Between Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla and Abha, most visitors fly, as the cities are hundreds of kilometers apart. Car hire is useful in AlUla, the Asir mountains and around Taif, at typical rates of about SAR 120–300 ($32–80) a day, and fuel is cheap: Numbeo puts gasoline at about SAR 2.33 ($0.62) a liter. Taxis from the airports into Riyadh, Jeddah or Khobar typically cost SAR 60–180 depending on the city.
To see how the cities fit together, and where flights save the most time, see our Saudi Arabia itinerary.
Sightseeing fees and free things to do
The headline paid experiences are in AlUla, where the ancient Nabataean tombs of Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, can only be visited on booked tours. The Royal Commission for AlUla’s published starting prices are:
| AlUla experience | Price |
|---|---|
| Hegra Day Tour, about 2 hours with a Rawi (storyteller guide) | From SAR 95 ($25) |
| Hegra Premium Tour, private 4×4 for up to 7 guests | From SAR 1,000 per vehicle ($267) |
| Dadan and Jabal Ikmah tour, guided / audio guide | From SAR 60 / 90 ($16 / $24) |
| AlUla Old Town guided tour | SAR 70 ($19) |
| Maraya concert hall tour, 45 minutes | From SAR 95 ($25) |
Plenty is free or cheap elsewhere: walking the coral-stone lanes of Historic Jeddah (Al-Balad) and the Jeddah corniche, browsing the souqs of Riyadh and Medina, the mountain viewpoints and villages around Abha, and the rose farms of Taif in spring. The Red Sea is famous for its reefs, and a snorkeling or dive boat trip from Jeddah typically costs SAR 250–500 ($67–133); see our diving guide. Our Top 10 places to visit in Saudi Arabia has more ideas.
Visa, taxes and visitor fees
- Tourist e-visa: SAR 535 ($143), including health insurance, for eligible nationalities. It is valid for one year with multiple entries and stays of up to 90 days in total, and can be bought online or on arrival at Saudi international airports.
- Umrah visa: the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah puts the fee at about SAR 300, with a service package booked separately through Nusuk or approved companies. Mecca’s sacred area is open to Muslims only.
- VAT: 15% on most goods and services, usually included in shop and menu prices but often added to hotel quotes.
- Hotel fees: municipality fees are added to many hotel bills on top of VAT; check the total when you book.
Tipping in Saudi Arabia
Tipping is appreciated but not expected. Service charges are not always included, so leaving about 10% in sit-down restaurants, rounding up taxi fares and giving hotel porters and guides a few riyals is a kind gesture. Our tip calculator does the math.
Money-saving tips for Saudi Arabia
- Use the Riyadh Metro. A 3-day pass costs SAR 20 and covers metro and buses, far less than taxis between districts.
- Take the Haramain train between Jeddah, Mecca and Medina, and book early, as fares rise with demand.
- Time AlUla carefully. November to March is the peak season, with the highest rates and few rooms, so book early or come as the season starts in October. Our best time to visit Saudi Arabia guide has the month-by-month weather.
- Avoid the pilgrimage peaks in Jeddah, Mecca and Medina: Ramadan and the weeks around the Hajj bring the highest hotel prices.
- Share a room or an apartment. With few hostels, splitting a room or a serviced apartment is the easiest saving.
- Book group tours instead of private ones. In AlUla, a shared Hegra Day Tour starts at SAR 95 per person, against SAR 1,000 for a private vehicle.
Plan your trip: our free trip planner can build a day-by-day plan for Saudi Arabia from our guides to Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla and Abha. The Saudi Arabia itinerary shows how to combine them in one or two weeks, and the Money exchange tool turns riyals into your own currency.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need for a week in Saudi Arabia?
Using the example days above, seven days on the ground cost roughly SAR 1,540–3,220 ($410–860) per person on a tight budget, SAR 3,290–6,440 ($875–1,715) mid-range and from about SAR 9,800 ($2,600) in comfort. Add the SAR 535 e-visa, international flights and any domestic flights or AlUla tours.
Is Saudi Arabia expensive?
Moderately. On our travel cost scale Saudi Arabia scores 56 against 100 for the United States, cheaper than the UAE and Qatar. Meals, metro rides and fuel are inexpensive, but hotels in AlUla in winter and near the holy mosques in peak seasons are pricey.
Do I need cash in Saudi Arabia?
Very little. Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere, including taxis, and ATMs are common. Carry some riyals for traditional markets and small shops.
How much is the Saudi tourist visa?
The tourist e-visa costs SAR 535 ($143), including health insurance. It is valid for a year with multiple entries and up to 90 days in the country in total.
How much does it cost to visit AlUla?
Tours start at SAR 95 ($25) for the Hegra Day Tour, SAR 60 for Dadan and Jabal Ikmah and SAR 70 for the Old Town. Rooms are the bigger cost: a mid-range room typically runs SAR 600–1,500 ($160–400) a night in winter.
What is the cheapest month to visit Saudi Arabia?
In the hot lowland cities, hotel rates are often at their lowest in August, when inland highs average about 44 °C (111 °F). For a better balance of weather and price, October brings cooler evenings before the winter peak. In Jeddah, Mecca and Medina, avoid Ramadan and the weeks around the Hajj, when hotel prices are highest.