Budget · Riyadh · Saudi Arabia
Riyadh on a budget
What a trip to Riyadh really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Radosław Botev, CC BY 3.0 pl
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Quick answer
Riyadh is moderately priced for most international visitors. Budget roughly $70–$120 per person per day on a tight budget, $180–$320 mid-range and $450–$1,200 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in July–August.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $70–$120 a day
- Mid-range
- $180–$320 a day
- Luxury
- $450–$1,200 a day
- Local currency
- SAR
- Free sights
- 5
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $70–$120 | $210–$360 | $350–$600 | $490–$840 |
| Mid-range | $180–$320 | $540–$960 | $900–$1,600 | $1,260–$2,240 |
| Luxury | $450–$1,200 | $1,350–$3,600 | $2,250–$6,000 | $3,150–$8,400 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Riyadh, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Metro single journey | about SAR 4 |
| Shawarma wrap | about SAR 8–15 |
| Kabsa or mandi plate | about SAR 30–60 |
| Specialty coffee | about SAR 15–25 |
| Ride-hailing trip across the city | about SAR 30–70 |
| Mid-range restaurant dinner | about SAR 100–200 per person |
| Fresh juice | about SAR 10–20 |
Money-saving tips
- Visit between May and September, if you can cope with the heat, for the lowest hotel rates.
- Use the metro for long north–south journeys instead of ride-hailing at rush hour.
- Mandi and Al Batha's South Asian restaurants offer filling meals at low prices.
- Cards and mobile payments are accepted almost everywhere, so you need little cash.
- Riyadh Season venues charge entry and premium prices inside; free events also run in public spaces during the season.
- Hotel prices spike during major conferences, concerts and Riyadh Season weekends; book early for those dates.
Free things to do
- Wadi Hanifa — This long valley runs along the western side of the city past Diriyah.
- Souq Al Zal — Riyadh's oldest market, a few minutes' walk from the Masmak Fortress, sells carpets, antique coffee pots, swords, incense burners, oud and bakhoor incense, and the bisht cloaks worn by Saudi men on formal occasions.
- King Abdullah Financial District — A cluster of contemporary towers linked by shaded pedestrian walkways and landscaped plazas, KAFD is the clearest view of Riyadh's new architecture.
- JAX District — A former industrial area of warehouses in Diriyah has been converted into an arts district with galleries, artists' studios, cinemas and cafés.
- Riyadh Camel Market — On the city's eastern outskirts, traders buy and sell camels, sheep and goats in a large open-air livestock market, with feed sellers and stalls of camel gear around it.
Where to stay on a budget
$ · Best for budget, culture and solo travellers
Deira and Al Batha
Old souqs, the Masmak Fortress and the historic core
Eating well for less
- Mutabbaq — Street stalls and casual cafeterias across the city, especially in the evening.
- Shawarma — Shawarma counters on almost every commercial street, open late into the night.
- Dates — Specialist date shops and the dates sections of large supermarkets and souqs.
Getting around for less
Riyadh is a car-oriented city of long distances and wide highways. The Riyadh Metro, whose six lines opened in stages from December 2024, now links Olaya, KAFD, the old centre and the airport, while ride-hailing apps fill the gaps, including trips to Diriyah.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Riyadh cost?
About $900–$1,600 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $350–$600 on a tight budget.
+Is Riyadh expensive?
It is moderately priced for international visitors. Visit between May and September, if you can cope with the heat, for the lowest hotel rates.
+How much money do I need per day in Riyadh?
Roughly $70–$120 on a budget and $180–$320 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Riyadh?
Usually in July–August.