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We constantly update this blog post, so the rent figures below reflect the latest Saudi Arabia rental market information we had for June 2026.
Saudi Arabia rents are rising, but the story is different in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Khobar and the expat-heavy districts.
This guide gives simple rent estimates for normal residential apartments, with amounts in Saudi riyals, US dollars and euros.
And if you’re planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Saudi Arabia.
What are typical rents in Saudi Arabia as of 2026?
What's the average monthly rent for a studio in Saudi Arabia as of 2026?
As of 2026, the average monthly rent for a studio in Saudi Arabia is about SAR 2,300, which is roughly USD 610 or EUR 570.
In practice, most studios in Saudi Arabia rent for about SAR 1,700 to SAR 3,200 per month, which is around USD 450 to USD 850 or EUR 420 to EUR 790.
The studio rent in Saudi Arabia changes mainly with the city, the furniture, the building age, the parking, the air-conditioning quality and the distance to office areas such as North Riyadh, Olaya, KAFD, Al Khobar and central Jeddah.
What's the average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom in Saudi Arabia as of 2026?
As of 2026, the average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Saudi Arabia is about SAR 3,500, which is roughly USD 930 or EUR 870.
For most 1-bedroom apartments in Saudi Arabia, a realistic monthly range is SAR 2,400 to SAR 4,800, which is about USD 640 to USD 1,280 or EUR 590 to EUR 1,190.
The cheapest 1-bedroom rents are usually found in older or less central areas of Dammam, South Riyadh and inland Jeddah, while the highest rents are in Al Malqa, Hittin, Al Olaya, Al Shati, Al Hamra and Khobar Corniche.
What's the average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom in Saudi Arabia as of 2026?
As of 2026, the average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Saudi Arabia is about SAR 5,000, which is roughly USD 1,330 or EUR 1,240.
Most 2-bedroom apartments in Saudi Arabia rent for about SAR 3,500 to SAR 6,500 per month, which is around USD 930 to USD 1,730 or EUR 870 to EUR 1,610.
The cheapest 2-bedroom rents are usually in older stock in Dammam, South Riyadh and outer Jeddah, while the most expensive 2-bedroom apartments are in Al Malqa, Hittin, Al Narjis, Al Shati, Al Zahra and Al Khobar Corniche.
By the way, you will find much more detailed rent ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in Saudi Arabia.
What's the average rent per square meter in Saudi Arabia as of 2026?
As of 2026, the average apartment rent in Saudi Arabia is about SAR 45 per square meter per month, which is roughly USD 12 or EUR 11.
Across Saudi Arabia, most apartment rents sit between SAR 30 and SAR 75 per square meter per month, or about USD 8 to USD 20 and EUR 7 to EUR 19.
Riyadh is usually more expensive per square meter than Jeddah and Dammam, while Khobar and Dhahran can match Riyadh pricing when the apartment is furnished, modern or aimed at expat tenants.
Small furnished apartments, new buildings, strong air-conditioning, covered parking, elevator access, compound facilities and short commutes to office districts can all push Saudi Arabia rent per square meter well above average.
How much have rents changed year-over-year in Saudi Arabia in 2026?
As of 2026, average residential rents in Saudi Arabia are up by about 4.5% year over year at national level.
This rent growth is mainly driven by job creation, relocation to Riyadh, limited good-quality family stock, expat demand and the higher cost of housing shown in official inflation data.
Compared with the previous year, Saudi Arabia rent growth in 2026 looks more controlled in Riyadh because of the rent freeze, while Jeddah, Khobar and Dammam still move more freely.
What's the outlook for rent growth in Saudi Arabia in 2026?
As of 2026, our estimate is that Saudi Arabia rents will rise by about 3% to 5% for the full year.
The main support for rent growth in Saudi Arabia is employment, Vision 2030 projects, corporate relocation, tourism growth and demand for modern apartments in Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province.
The strongest rent growth is likely in Jeddah coastal districts, Khobar and Dhahran expat corridors, and Riyadh units that are new, furnished or outside the strict effect of the rent freeze.
The main risks are new supply, weaker hiring, stricter rent rules, affordability pressure and the fact that asking rents on portals can move faster than signed Ejar contracts.
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Which neighborhoods rent best in Saudi Arabia as of 2026?
Which neighborhoods have the highest rents in Saudi Arabia as of 2026?
As of 2026, the top high-rent areas in Saudi Arabia are Al Malqa and Hittin in Riyadh at about SAR 7,000 to SAR 10,000 per month for strong apartments, Al Shati in Jeddah at about SAR 6,000 to SAR 9,000, and Khobar Corniche or Dhahran at about SAR 5,500 to SAR 8,500, equal to roughly USD 1,470 to USD 2,670 or EUR 1,360 to EUR 2,480.
These Saudi Arabia neighborhoods command premium rents because they offer better roads, modern buildings, international schools, offices, shopping, parking, compound options, waterfront lifestyle or easier access to business hubs.
The tenants in these high-rent neighborhoods are usually senior professionals, expat families, executives, diplomats, consultants, oil and energy workers, and Saudi households looking for comfort and status.
By the way, we’ve written a blog article detailing Sources and methodology: we compared premium listings on Bayut, Property Finder and Riyadh market signals from Darak. We checked the premium-neighborhood logic against Knight Frank. We also used our own district-level investment scoring.
Where do young professionals prefer to rent in Saudi Arabia right now?
Young professionals in Saudi Arabia often prefer Al Olaya, Al Sulimaniyah and KAFD-adjacent areas in Riyadh, plus Al Hamra and Al Rawdah in Jeddah and central Al Khobar in the Eastern Province.
Young professionals usually pay about SAR 3,000 to SAR 6,000 per month in these areas, which is roughly USD 800 to USD 1,600 or EUR 740 to EUR 1,490.
These neighborhoods attract young professionals because they offer short commutes, cafés, gyms, furnished apartments, ride-hailing access, nightlife alternatives, malls and stronger access to office districts.
By the way, you will find a detailed tenant analysis in our property pack covering the real estate market in Saudi Arabia.
Where do families prefer to rent in Saudi Arabia right now?
Families in Saudi Arabia often prefer Al Yasmin, Al Nakheel and Qurtubah in Riyadh, Al Zahra, Al Salamah and Al Naeem in Jeddah, and Al Rakah, Al Hamra and Dhahran in the Eastern Province.
Families usually pay about SAR 4,500 to SAR 8,000 per month for good 2-bedroom or 3-bedroom apartments in these Saudi Arabia neighborhoods, which is around USD 1,200 to USD 2,130 or EUR 1,120 to EUR 1,980.
These family-friendly areas work well because they offer larger layouts, calmer streets, schools, parking, supermarkets, mosque access, elevators, better maintenance and more privacy.
Important school options near these areas include international schools in North Riyadh, King Saud University-area education options, schools around Al Zahra and Al Salamah in Jeddah, and Dhahran schools linked to the energy and expat community.
Which areas near transit or universities rent faster in Saudi Arabia in 2026?
As of 2026, fast-renting areas near transit or universities in Saudi Arabia include KAFD, Al Aqiq and Al Malqa near Riyadh Metro and office hubs, Al Nakheel near King Saud University, and Dhahran or Al Rakah near KFUPM and Aramco-linked demand.
Good apartments in these high-demand Saudi Arabia areas often stay listed for only 15 to 30 days when the rent is realistic and the apartment is ready to move into.
A home close to metro access, a major university or a large employment node can add about SAR 500 to SAR 1,500 per month in rent, which is around USD 130 to USD 400 or EUR 120 to EUR 370.
Which neighborhoods are most popular with expats in Saudi Arabia right now?
The most popular expat rental areas in Saudi Arabia are the Diplomatic Quarter, Al Malqa and Hittin in Riyadh, Al Shati and Al Hamra in Jeddah, and Khobar, Dhahran and Al Rakah in the Eastern Province.
Expats usually pay about SAR 5,000 to SAR 12,000 per month in these areas, which is roughly USD 1,330 to USD 3,200 or EUR 1,240 to EUR 2,970.
These Saudi Arabia neighborhoods attract expats because they offer furnished apartments, compounds, English-speaking maintenance, security, international schools, restaurants, gyms and shorter commutes.
The expat communities most represented in these neighborhoods often include South Asian professionals, Arab expatriates, Europeans, Americans and energy-sector workers in the Eastern Province.
And if you are also an expat, you may want to read our Sources and methodology: we used Expat Focus, expat-grade listings from Property Finder and labor context from DataSaudi. We separated normal expat apartments from luxury serviced units. We also used our own relocation-demand notes for Saudi Arabia.
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Who rents, and what do tenants want in Saudi Arabia right now?
What tenant profiles dominate rentals in Saudi Arabia?
The top tenant profiles in Saudi Arabia are Saudi families, young Saudi professionals, expatriate professionals and project-based staff linked to large public and private developments.
As a simple estimate, Saudi families represent about 40% of mainstream rental demand, young professionals about 25%, expatriate professionals about 25%, and project-based or short-stay tenants about 10%.
Saudi families usually want 2-bedroom to 4-bedroom apartments, young professionals often want studios or 1-bedroom units, and expats often look for furnished 1-bedroom to 3-bedroom apartments or compound homes.
If you want to optimize your cashflow, you can read our Sources and methodology: we used GASTAT Labor Market Statistics, readable official datasets from DataSaudi and demand commentary from JLL. We inferred tenant shares because Saudi Arabia does not publish this exact split. We then checked the result against our own rental-demand analysis.
Do tenants prefer furnished or unfurnished in Saudi Arabia?
In Saudi Arabia, we estimate that about 60% of mainstream tenants prefer unfurnished rentals, while about 40% prefer furnished rentals.
A furnished apartment in Saudi Arabia often rents for about SAR 500 to SAR 2,000 more per month than a similar unfurnished apartment, which is about USD 130 to USD 530 or EUR 120 to EUR 500.
Furnished rentals are most popular with expats, single professionals, consultants, project staff and tenants who are new to Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar or Dhahran.
Which amenities increase rent the most in Saudi Arabia?
The five amenities that usually increase rent the most in Saudi Arabia are strong air-conditioning, covered parking, modern kitchens, elevators and building security or compound-style facilities.
Strong air-conditioning can add about SAR 300 to SAR 800 per month, covered parking SAR 200 to SAR 600, a modern kitchen SAR 300 to SAR 1,000, elevator access SAR 200 to SAR 500, and compound facilities SAR 1,000 to SAR 3,000, which together equals roughly USD 50 to USD 800 or EUR 50 to EUR 740 depending on the feature.
In our property pack covering the real estate market in Saudi Arabia, we cover what are the best investments a landlord can make.
What renovations get the best ROI for rentals in Saudi Arabia?
The best rental renovations in Saudi Arabia are usually air-conditioning upgrades, bathroom refreshes, kitchen improvements, repainting and lighting, plus storage or wardrobe improvements.
A simple refresh can cost SAR 20,000 to SAR 60,000, or about USD 5,300 to USD 16,000 and EUR 5,000 to EUR 14,900, and can often support a rent increase of about 5% to 12% when it makes the apartment feel cleaner and easier to rent.
Poor-ROI renovations in Saudi Arabia often include over-luxury finishes in average areas, expensive décor with narrow taste, weak furniture packages, and upgrades that ignore air-conditioning, plumbing, parking or elevator problems.
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How strong is rental demand in Saudi Arabia as of 2026?
What's the vacancy rate for rentals in Saudi Arabia as of 2026?
As of 2026, the estimated vacancy rate for mainstream rental apartments in Saudi Arabia is about 5% to 8%.
Vacancy is often closer to 3% to 5% in prime Riyadh, strong Jeddah coastal areas and good Khobar or Dhahran expat stock, while older apartments without parking, elevators or maintenance can sit above 8%.
Compared with the historical average, Saudi Arabia vacancy in good urban rental areas looks lower than usual because demand has been supported by jobs, relocation, expat workers and limited modern family stock.
Finally please note that you will have all the indicators you need in our property pack covering the real estate market in Saudi Arabia.
How many days do rentals stay listed in Saudi Arabia as of 2026?
As of 2026, a well-priced apartment in Saudi Arabia usually stays listed for about 25 to 40 days before being rented.
The realistic range is about 15 to 30 days for good Riyadh, Jeddah or Khobar apartments, 30 to 60 days for average stock, and longer for overpriced furnished units or older buildings with weak maintenance.
Compared with one year ago, good rental apartments in Saudi Arabia appear to move slightly faster in strong districts, while overpriced listings still take time because tenants compare many online options.
Which months have peak tenant demand in Saudi Arabia?
The strongest tenant-demand months in Saudi Arabia are usually August, September, January, February and March.
August and September are busy because of school starts and relocation, while January to March is supported by new jobs, company budgets, expat arrivals and project staffing.
The slower months are often parts of Ramadan, Eid periods and peak summer travel weeks, when many tenants delay viewings or decisions.
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What will my monthly costs be in Saudi Arabia as of 2026?
What property taxes should landlords expect in Saudi Arabia as of 2026?
As of 2026, a normal completed residential apartment landlord in Saudi Arabia should usually expect SAR 0 per year in annual municipal property tax, which is USD 0 or EUR 0.
The realistic annual property-tax range for a normal rented apartment is also SAR 0 to SAR 0, while the main tax-like cost is the 5% Real Estate Transaction Tax paid on a sale or transfer.
Saudi Arabia property taxes are not calculated like many Western countries because normal completed residential apartments generally do not face an annual property tax, while transfer tax and special land fees depend on the asset type and transaction.
Please note that, in our property pack covering the real estate market in Saudi Arabia, we cover what exemptions or deductions may be available to reduce property taxes for landlords.
What utilities do landlords often pay in Saudi Arabia right now?
In Saudi Arabia, landlords most often pay building service charges, major repairs, shared-area costs and sometimes internet, water or electricity when the unit is furnished or serviced.
A simple landlord-paid cost allowance is about SAR 300 to SAR 1,500 per month, which is roughly USD 80 to USD 400 or EUR 70 to EUR 370, depending on building quality and what is included in the rent.
The common practice in Saudi Arabia is that tenants pay their own electricity, water and internet in normal unfurnished rentals, while furnished or premium rentals may include some bills inside a higher rent.
How is rental income taxed in Saudi Arabia as of 2026?
As of 2026, many Saudi or GCC individual landlords do not face a normal personal income tax on residential rent, while foreign owners, companies and non-resident structures can face different tax, zakat or corporate rules.
Where rental income is taxable, landlords should usually track maintenance, service charges, management fees, financing costs, insurance and other property costs, but the allowed deductions depend on the owner’s legal and tax status.
The common Saudi Arabia tax mistakes are confusing the 5% transfer tax with annual property tax, assuming every owner is taxed the same way, ignoring Ejar registration and treating personal, company and non-resident ownership as identical.
We cover these mistakes, among others, in our Sources and methodology: we used official income-tax information from ZATCA, investor guidance from MISA and lease-registration context from REGA Ejar. We did not treat this as personal tax advice. We used it to build simple landlord scenarios in our own analysis.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Saudi Arabia versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it’s in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Saudi Arabia, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can, and we don’t throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we’ve listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why we trust it | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| General Authority for Statistics | It is Saudi Arabia’s official statistical authority. | We used it as the main official anchor for inflation, population and labor context. We gave it more weight than property portals when the question was about national trends. |
| GASTAT CPI March 2026 | It gives official consumer-price and housing-cost inflation for Saudi Arabia. | We used it to anchor the year-on-year rent growth estimate. We then checked the direction against later market commentary and live listing evidence. |
| GASTAT Statistical Database | It is the official database behind Saudi national datasets. | We used it to confirm that official Saudi data is stronger for rent movement than for bedroom-level asking rents. We therefore used private portals for unit-level rent ranges. |
| GASTAT Labor Market Statistics | It is the official labor-market source for tenant-demand context. | We used it to frame rental demand from employment, expat workers and young professionals. We checked the direction with DataSaudi and market reports. |
| DataSaudi | It republishes official Saudi datasets in a more readable format. | We used it to sense-check labor-force and macro-demand indicators. We did not use it for asking rents because it does not publish unit-level listings. |
| REGA Ejar | It is the official Saudi rental-contract platform under the real estate regulator. | We used it for lease registration and rental-market formalization. We also used it to explain why signed rental contracts matter in Saudi Arabia. |
| ZATCA Real Estate Transaction Tax | It is the official Saudi tax authority source for real estate transfer tax. | We used it for the 5% Real Estate Transaction Tax. We separated this from annual landlord costs because it is a transaction cost. |
| ZATCA Income Tax | It is the official Saudi authority for income-tax rules. | We used it to explain that rental-income taxation depends on owner status and structure. We kept the wording simple because this is not personal tax advice. |
| MISA Tax Law Overview | It is official investment-ministry guidance for investors in Saudi Arabia. | We used it to cross-check foreign investor tax exposure and company-tax context. We did not use it to replace a tax adviser’s advice. |
| Saudi Electricity Regulatory Authority | It is the official regulator for electricity tariffs in Saudi Arabia. | We used it for utility-cost assumptions. We also used it to explain why air-conditioning matters so much for Saudi Arabia rentals. |
| JLL KSA Living Market Dynamics | JLL is a major global real estate consultancy with Saudi market coverage. | We used it for 2026 living-market direction and supply-demand context. We checked its conclusions against CBRE and Knight Frank. |
| CBRE Saudi Arabia Real Estate Market Review Q1 2026 | CBRE is a major property consultancy with local Saudi research. | We used it to understand the broader 2026 property-market backdrop. We did not use it as the only source for bedroom-by-bedroom rents. |
| Knight Frank Destination Saudi 2026 | Knight Frank is a recognized property consultancy with Saudi Arabia research. | We used it for foreign-ownership reform, Riyadh demand and premium-neighborhood context. We checked it against public market data and listing evidence. |
| Global Property Guide Saudi Rent Data | It publishes comparable residential rent data across countries. | We used it as a private-sector benchmark for 1-bedroom asking rents. We cross-checked it with Bayut, Property Finder and Darak. |
| Bayut Saudi Arabia Listings | Bayut is a major regional property portal with live Saudi listings. | We used it for current asking-rent ranges by bedroom count and neighborhood. We adjusted for the fact that portals can overrepresent better-quality stock. |
| Darak Riyadh Rental Report | It aggregates rental listings and gives useful market signals for Riyadh. | We used it to cross-check Riyadh medians and days-on-market assumptions. We used it mainly for Riyadh because national coverage is less transparent. |
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