Sign in Subscribe
Explore Saudi Arabia

Cost To Visit Saudi Arabia: Travel Budget Guide (2026)

Planning to visit Saudi Arabia? Learn how much money you will need for hotels, food, transportation, and attractions—plus seasonal price changes, day trip costs, and realistic daily and weekly budgets.

Cost To Visit Saudi Arabia: Travel Budget Guide (2026)

There are many things that can affect the cost of your trip to Saudi Arabia—when you go and what type of traveler you are will also play a part. This guide breaks down the basics you can expect to spend when visiting Saudi Arabia, so you can plan your travel budget.

Is Saudi Arabia Expensive to Visit?

Saudi Arabia is typically moderate on it's costs: everyday dining and local transport can be reasonable, while top hotels, desert resorts, and guided experiences (like AlUla tours) can push the budget up quickly. Compared to many Middle East destinations, it’s often mid-range overall, with luxury options that can get very expensive.

You can save a lot of money if you:

  • Stay in mid-range hotels or serviced apartments
  • Eat at local restaurants and cafés
  • Use rideshare for city transport and limit private drivers to a few key days
Saudi Arabia uses the Saudi riyal (SAR). Prices have been converted from SAR and are only shown in $ (USD) for ease of use for our U.S. audience.

Saudi Arabia Vacation Costs

Below is a detailed expense breakdown for accommodations, food, transportation, and attractions—followed by day trip costs and realistic daily/weekly budgets.

Avg. Accommodation Cost

Peak

  • Budget Travelers: $55–$110 per night
  • Mid-Range Travelers: $130–$260 per night
  • Luxury Travelers: $380–$900+ per night

Shoulder-Season

  • Budget Travelers: $50–$95
  • Mid-Range Travelers: $120–$230
  • Luxury Travelers: $340–$820+

Off-Season

  • Budget Travelers: $45–$85
  • Mid-Range Travelers: $110–$210
  • Luxury Travelers: $300–$750+

Cost note: Riyadh and Jeddah tend to be pricier than many secondary cities. AlUla has limited inventory, so rates can run higher, especially for higher-end stays.

Food Cost

Budget Travelers

  • Breakfast: $4–$10
  • Lunch: $8–$14
  • Dinner: $12–$22

Mid-Range Travelers

  • Breakfast: $10–$18
  • Lunch: $14–$26
  • Dinner: $28–$55

Luxury Travelers

  • Breakfast: $18–$30
  • Lunch: $26–$45
  • Dinner: $75–$160+

Tip: Saudi Arabia is excellent for value casual dining—local grills, shawarma, and cafés can keep costs low.

Transportation Cost

Airport transfers (typical ranges)

  • Public transit (where available): $1–$5
  • Rideshare (Uber/Careem) to central areas: $10–$35
  • Taxi (similar to rideshare, sometimes higher): $12–$45
  • Private transfer: $60–$150+

Getting around cities

Rideshare (most common for visitors)

  • Short ride: $4–$10
  • Longer ride: $10–$25+

Metro / public transit (city-dependent)

  • Single rides / day passes: $1–$6

Domestic flights (big distances)

  • Typical one-way: $60–$220+ (route + demand dependent)

Trains (limited network but useful on some corridors)

  • Typical one-way: $20–$90 (route dependent)

Car rental (useful outside major city cores)

  • Compact car:
    • Off-Season: $30–$55/day
    • Shoulder: $35–$65/day
    • Peak: $45–$90+/day
  • Fuel + parking (typical daily): $10–$25

Private driver

  • Half-day: $140–$260+
  • Full day: $220–$450+

Attractions

  • AlUla (Hegra / UNESCO site): $25–$60+ (tickets/tour format varies)
  • AlUla viewpoints + desert areas (some free, some guided): $0–$120+
  • Edge of the World (near Riyadh): $0–$120+ (self-drive vs tour)
  • Riyadh museums/heritage sites (varies): $5–$20
  • Diriyah heritage area (where ticketed): $10–$25
  • Jeddah Al-Balad historic district: free (some museums extra)
  • Red Sea boat/snorkel trips (Jeddah area): $70–$180+
  • Guided desert tour / stargazing: $60–$180+

Saudi Arabia Day Trip Costs

Day Trip and Attractions Costs
Day Trip Transportation Cost (Round Trip) Top Attraction Attraction Cost
Edge of the World (from Riyadh) $25–$70 (car fuel/parking) • $70–$140 (tour) Cliff viewpoints + sunset Free–$20
Diriyah (from Riyadh) $8–$25 (rideshare) • $60–$140 (private) Heritage district visit $10–$25
Al-Balad (Jeddah) $8–$20 (rideshare) • $60–$140 (private) Historic old town walk Free–$15
Red Sea boat/snorkel (Jeddah) $10–$30 (rideshare) • often included Snorkel/boat trip $70–$180+
AlUla highlights (base in AlUla) $20–$70 (local rideshare/taxi) • $120–$260 (private) Hegra (UNESCO) $25–$60+
Desert stargazing / camp experience $0–$20 (local transfer) • often included Guided desert night $60–$180+
Museum day (Riyadh) $8–$25 (rideshare) Major museums / heritage sites $5–$20

Saudi Arabia Daily Travel Budget

Budget Travelers
Season Daily Total (Per Person)
Peak $85–$140
Shoulder $75–$125
Off-Season $70–$115
Mid-Range Travelers
Season Daily Total (Per Person)
Peak $180–$320
Shoulder $165–$290
Off-Season $150–$260
Luxury Travelers
Season Daily Total (Per Person)
Peak $380–$900+
Shoulder $340–$820+
Off-Season $300–$750+

Weekly Budget (7 Days)

Budget Travelers
Season Lodging (7 nights) Food (7 days) Transport Attractions Total
Peak $385–$770 $140–$245 $70–$220 $90–$260 $685–$1,495
Shoulder $350–$665 $130–$230 $65–$200 $85–$240 $630–$1,335
Off-Season $315–$595 $120–$210 $60–$185 $80–$220 $575–$1,210
Mid-Range Travelers
Season Lodging (7 nights) Food (7 days) Transport Attractions Total
Peak $910–$1,820 $245–$455 $110–$320 $140–$420 $1,405–$3,015
Shoulder $840–$1,610 $230–$420 $100–$290 $130–$380 $1,300–$2,700
Off-Season $770–$1,470 $220–$385 $90–$260 $120–$350 $1,200–$2,465
Luxury Travelers
Season Lodging (7 nights) Food (7 days) Transport Attractions Total
Peak $2,660–$6,300+ $455–$1,260+ $200–$700+ $220–$850+ $3,535–$9,110+
Shoulder $2,380–$5,740+ $420–$1,120+ $190–$630+ $210–$780+ $3,200–$8,270+
Off-Season $2,100–$5,250+ $385–$980+ $180–$560+ $200–$720+ $2,865–$7,510+

Saudi Arabia Flight Cost

Flight cost depends on where you’re departing from, the season, and the airline. Major international airports will have cheaper flights than smaller airports. Most U.S. travelers fly into Riyadh (RUH) or Jeddah (JED), sometimes with a connection through Europe or the Gulf.

Average round-trip flight ranges from the U.S.:

  • Peak: $900–$1,700
  • Shoulder: $750–$1,450
  • Off-Season: $650–$1,250

You can save money on flights by signing up for cheap flight alerts from Jetsetter Alerts.

What currency is used in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia uses the Saudi riyal (SAR). In this guide, prices are shown only in $ (USD) for U.S. travelers.
Do they accept US dollars in Saudi Arabia?
Not usually. Saudi Arabia prices goods and services in riyals, and most businesses won’t accept U.S. cash for everyday purchases. For the best value, pay by card or withdraw SAR from an ATM as needed.
Will US credit and debit cards work in Saudi Arabia?
Yes—most of the time. U.S. cards generally work well at hotels, malls, restaurants, and many attractions in major cities like Riyadh and Jeddah. Carry some cash for smaller shops, markets, and occasional card-terminal issues. If the card terminal offers a currency choice, pay in SAR to avoid dynamic currency conversion fees.
What is the cheapest month to visit Saudi Arabia?
August is often one of the cheapest months for on-the-ground costs because extreme heat lowers leisure demand in many areas.
  • Why it’s cheaper: hotel rates can soften and there’s often more availability.
  • Tradeoff: very hot weather, so sightseeing is best early morning/evening with more indoor time.
What is the most expensive month to visit Saudi Arabia?
December is often one of the most expensive months due to the most comfortable weather for exploring cities and deserts, which increases demand for hotels and tours—especially in popular regions like AlUla.
Is $2,000 enough for a week in Saudi Arabia?

Yes—often. A $2,000 weekly budget can work well if you keep lodging mid-range (or share costs), use rideshare for city trips, and choose a few paid experiences rather than private tours every day.

  • Budget Travelers (7-day total): $575–$1,210
  • Mid-Range Travelers (7-day total): $1,200–$2,465
  • Luxury Travelers (7-day total): $2,865–$7,510+

The fastest way to blow past $2,000 is stacking private drivers and guided excursions daily—especially in AlUla.

What’s the biggest cost driver in Saudi Arabia?
The biggest on-the-ground cost drivers are usually:
  • Hotels (especially top brands in Riyadh/Jeddah and limited-inventory areas like AlUla)
  • Guided experiences (desert tours, UNESCO sites, curated excursions)
  • Domestic flights if you’re covering multiple regions
Everyday local food can be very affordable, so your itinerary style matters a lot.
Is Saudi Arabia cheaper than the UAE?
Often, yes—on the ground. Saudi Arabia can be cheaper than Dubai/Abu Dhabi for everyday meals and some hotels, but costs can rise quickly with luxury stays and high-end tours—especially in AlUla.
Cheapest Time to Fly to Saudi Arabia (and Most Expensive)
The cheapest time to fly to Saudi Arabia is often May and late August–October—while December–February and major holiday weeks (like Eid and Hajj-season travel) are usually the priciest.
Jetsetter AlertsJetsetter Alerts

Sign Up For Cheap Flight Alerts