14 14 schools$2,200/mo avg rentLarge expat community
Riyadh's primary business and commercial spine, suited to professional expats wanting walkable urban lifestyle.
4/5
Safety
3/5
Family Friendly
4/5
Quality of Life
4/5
Expat Friendly
5/5
Healthcare
Large
Expat Community
9-43°C
Temp Range
High
English Level
☀️ Climate & Weather
Monthly temperatures, rainfall, and sea conditions
44°C
Hottest (Aug)
8°C
Coolest (Jan)
26
Sunny days/mo avg
41mm
Annual rainfall
Avg highAvg lowRainfall
💰 Cost of Living
Monthly family budget estimates (USD)
At a Glance
$2,200
Avg. rent /mo
$10
Budget meal
$45
Mid-range dinner (2 ppl)
Dining & Drinks
Cappuccino$5.50
Water (1.5L)$0.60
Groceries
Loaf of bread$1.20
Milk (1L)$2.00
Dozen eggs$3.50
Chicken (1 kg)$5.00
Transport
Taxi flag-drop$1.50
Taxi per km$0.80
Monthly transit pass$27
Gasoline (per liter)$0.35
Monthly Bills
Internet$60 /mo
Utilities (avg.)$80 /mo
Gym membership$60 /mo
Domestic help$350 /mo
Preschool / nursery$700 /mo
Comfortable
High-rise apartment, public transport, city conveniences
$4,500/mo
Rent$2,500
Groceries$450
Lifestyle & leisure$200
Transport$180
Utilities$100
Dining out$400
Healthcare$120
School fees (per child)$500
Domestic help$70
Established
Premium apartment or villa, private car, international school
$9,500/mo
Rent$5,500
Groceries$700
Lifestyle & leisure$500
Transport$350
Utilities$130
Dining out$900
Healthcare$250
School fees (per child)$1,400
Domestic help$130
Premium
Penthouse or luxury villa, full staff, elite school, frequent fine dining
$18,000/mo
Rent$10,000
Groceries$1,000
Lifestyle & leisure$1,400
Transport$600
Utilities$170
Dining out$2,000
Healthcare$500
School fees (per child)$2,800
Domestic help$450
Al Olaya is Riyadh premier commercial and residential hub. Rents are the highest in the city outside the Diplomatic Quarter. The trade-off is unmatched convenience, prestige, and proximity to KAFD and the top multinationals.
🌬️ Air Quality
Average monthly AQI (US EPA scale)
75Jan
80Feb
110Mar
125Apr
120May
100Jun
90Jul
85Aug
80Sep
70Oct
65Nov
70Dec
Good (0–50)Moderate (51–100)USG (101–150)Unhealthy (151+)
Yearly average AQI is 89. Best air quality Jan–Dec (best: Nov at 65). Mar–May air quality worsens due to heat, humidity, and dust (peak: Apr at 125). Families with children who have asthma or respiratory conditions should plan indoor activities during summer months.
👥 Demographics
45%
Expat Population
High
Income Level
80000
Population
Nationalities
Saudi55%
Western15%
Egyptian10%
Indian10%
Other Arab10%
Languages Spoken
Arabic60%
English28%
🏘️ Community & Culture
Riyadh premier corporate and residential addressKingdom Centre tower as landmark and social hubHighest concentration of Western expat professionalsTransformed by Vision 2030 entertainment reforms
Riyadh Business and Prestige Address
🌳 Parks & Recreation
Premium hotel gyms and rooftop poolsBoutique fitness studios — yoga, pilates, CrossFitLuxury cinemas and fine dining in walking distanceSaudi National Museum a short drive away
Urban Recreation in a Dense District
🚗 Getting Around
Riyadh Metro Blue Line stations at Kingdom CentreMost walkable district in RiyadhUber and Careem wait times under 3 minutesKing Fahd Road provides direct city-wide connectivity
Best Transit Connectivity in Riyadh
🛒 Daily Life
Premium supermarkets and gourmet grocersBest restaurant density in RiyadhHotels now serve alcohol post-Vision 2030Specialist hospitals and clinics nearby
Urban Convenience at a Premium
📝 Living with the Climate
Riyadh experiences an extreme hot desert climate. Al Olaya is in the urban core, where the heat island effect can push nighttime temperatures slightly higher than suburban areas. Summer highs regularly exceed 44 degrees C; outdoor activity is limited to early mornings June through August. The comfortable season runs October to April. Air conditioning is essential year-round. Spring sandstorms can sweep across the city with little warning.
