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The Real Cost ofUtilities and Bills in Riyadh? Don’t Be fooled by the Desert Magic

@Logan Frost2/7/2026blog

i moved to riyadh expecting a certain level of chaos and i got it-just not the kind i wanted. like, the city’s not all sand dunes and kaleidoscope markets. the real magic happens in your utility bills. let me tell you, waking up to a sar 200 electricity bill when you barely ran the ac is not a riyadh welcome mat. it’s a wake-up call.

my first week here, i thought i was living the minimalist dream. i rented a tiny apartment in al- shredia for sar 2,200 a month. checked the box for ‘safety’ because hey, the job market here is weirdly good for remote work if you’re techy. but then i realized sar 2,200 doesn’t include water, gas, or that horrid electricity thing. and don’t get me started on the data packages. my phone became a disposable mug. i paid sar 30 a month but downloaded 50gb then binged a 100gb streaming app. oops.

but here’s the thing: riyadh isn’t cheap, and it’s not wildly expensive either. unless you’re a data addict or a fan of sudden power cuts. i’ve heard from three different landlords (overheard gossiping in a bar) that utility companies here are like dysfunctional families. they’ll cut your power for an hour at 3 am, then charge you extra for a service you didn’t ask for. but hey, maybe it’s just how the desert runs.

i asked a local yoga instructor (who was also a drone pilot-whatever) about the average bill. he said, ‘if you’re not careful, you’ll end up paying more for electricity than your rent.’ i didn’t believe him until i got a sar 250 bill for using my ac two days. yeah, i’m dramatic, but that’s riyadh. the weather is a character. 50c summers? sure, it’s drama queen territory. but the neighbors? the same ones who’ll let you borrow a fan because theirs broke? they’re the real heroes.

let’s talk rent. i heard from a tripadvisor review that sar 2,200 is average for a one-bed. but then i checked yelp, and a local said rent prices are like a rollercoaster. if you’re in a new building, it’s one thing. if you’re in an old courtyard? you might get charged for ‘maintenance’ that’s just your neighbor’s goat chewing through the wiring. i’m not kidding. i saw this in a subreddit thread where someone wrote, ‘the goats are the real landlords here.’

and the job market? here’s the tea: if you’re a freelancer, you’re golden. remote work is booming. but if you’re looking for a 9-to-5? it’s like trying to find a cup of good coffee in a place that only sells milchig. i met an expat consultant (disillusioned, of course) who said riyadh’s corporate world is stuck in 2005. salaries are decent, but benefits? forget about it. no paid leave, no healthcare plan. just a shared office and a hope that the market doesn’t crash.

but here’s the kicker: utilities in riyadh have a hidden tax. they don’t tell you. i found out when my water bill doubled for no reason. turns out, the city is charging me for water I didn’t use. and this isn’t just my problem. a local grocer told me over dessert (we’re both lost in a mall after midnight), ‘the water here is subsidized, but the subsidy doesn’t cover everything. you think you’re paying sar 50, but half of that is the city’s greedy hand.’

so how do you survive? well, you start becoming a data ninja. track every bill, negotiate with providers (yes, negotiate), and maybe invest in solar panels. i’m not kidding. i talked to a pro dancer friend who switched to solar, and her electricity bill dropped by 40%. she says it’s worth it. plus, you get to flex while saving money. riyadh’s desert vibe? it’s not just about the sun. it’s about the sun messing with your wallet.

if you’re into history, check out the sidebar on al-masmak palace. it’s a 19th-century dump but still has that riyadh grit. also, don’t trust anyone who says riyadh is walkable. i tried walking three blocks and now i owe a taxi driver sar 100 because he ‘didn’t see the pedestrian crossing.’

here’s the deal: riyadh is a place where you can make it work if you’re savvy. but don’t let the beauty fool you. the cost of living here is like a surprise party. you think it’s a birthday cake, but it’s actually a hernia.

if you’re curious about co-working spaces, check out this WeWork review. it’s mixed. some say it’s great, others say the coffee is weak as hell. and if you’re looking for a good spot to grab a shawarma without paying a fortune, try this Yelp listing. the reviews are brutal, but the food? worth it.

wait… can i mention the weather again? it’s relentless. like, the ac is always on, and the sun is a master of sabotage. i asked a ghost hunter (yes, really) about the climate. he said, ‘it’s like the desert is hellbent on making your utility bills skyrocket.’ i don’t know if he’s joking or possessed, but either way, it’s accurate.

so yeah, riyadh’s not for the faint of wallet. but if you’re a digital nomad or a freelancer who knows how to hustle, you can make it. just don’t forget to budget for the invisible costs. the ones that sneak in when you least expect it. like that sar 250 electricity bill. or the fact that your neighbor’s goat is now your landlord.

if you want to dive deeper into the local vibe, this Reddit thread has some raw takes. one guy wrote, ‘i left riyadh because my water bill was a joke.’ another said, ‘i stayed because the coffee was finally good.’ take your pick.

and here’s a map if you’re lost. don’t be.


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About the author: Logan Frost

Dedicated to telling stories that resonate.

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