Tax Rate
#3
of 124 cities
0%
Current value (lower is better)
#20 of 124
Middle East
Riyadh
Saudi Arabia
Salary & Cost of Living
How do salaries and expenses in Riyadh compare to San Francisco?
Purchasing Power Comparison
An engineer in Riyadh is 19% worse off vs in San Francisco
This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Riyadh compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.
Net Salary
$60,000
-$112K (-65%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 0%
Community Insights
NewRiyadh presents a high-risk, high-reward proposition for software engineers. The city is aggressively modernizing under Vision 2030, creating a booming market for senior tech talent with the allure of 0% income tax. However, the lifestyle requires a significant adjustment. While the financial upside is undeniable—often allowing engineers to save 2-3x what they would at home—the extreme weather, traffic, and conservative social environment (despite rapid loosening of rules) mean it is not a destination for everyone. It is less of a permanent home and more of a strategic 2-5 year career move to build wealth.
Resident Sentiment
The consensus among expat residents is pragmatic: 'Come for the money, leave with a house deposit.' Most software engineers view their time in Riyadh as a temporary financial accelerator rather than a forever home. While many are pleasantly surprised by the safety and the rapid pace of social liberalization (cinemas, concerts, mixed-gender workspaces), complaints about driving habits, bureaucratic hurdles, and the summer confinement are persistent. There is a strong sense of community within expat circles to combat potential isolation.
Rankings
Top 2%
Safety Index
#11
of 124 cities
75.4/100
Current value
Home Affordability
#19
of 124 cities
≈3.3 yrs to buy 80m²
Current value
Housing Affordability
How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Riyadh compared to San Francisco?
Salary Converter
Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Riyadh to maintain the same standard of living.
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