What if you were born in Saudi Arabia?

If you had grown up in Saudi Arabia instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Riyadh could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Qasr al-Farid tomb at Hegra, AlUla. Photo: Sammy Six, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Saudi Arabia

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in SAR and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Saudi Arabia: SAR 7,860Rs 580,000
Rent (city centre): SAR 2,270
Transport (public transport): SAR 534
Food: SAR 1,140
Saved: SAR 1,180

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Saudi Arabia: SAR 18,000Rs 1,330,000
Rent (suburbs): SAR 4,600
Transport (public transport): SAR 1,230
Food: SAR 3,070
Saved: SAR 2,710

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Saudi Arabia: SAR 29,300Rs 2,160,000
Rent (city centre): SAR 7,160
Transport (car): SAR 2,740
Food: SAR 3,580
Saved: SAR 8,190

Try it with my own income

A day in Riyadh

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Riyadh, a city of mild winters around 14°C and hot summers near 36°C, and rain is rare.
Commute
Public transport is limited here, so you share rides or use taxis and buses for a longer commute.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak Arabic at work; English helps in the big cities.
Lunch
Lunch might be kabsa: spiced rice cooked with chicken or lamb.
Evening
You get home with SAR 2,710 saved each month. Walking home late feels completely normal here.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast and the mountains.

Saudi Arabia compared with Pakistan

	Saudi Arabia	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	2.2× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	79 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	74 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	3.0%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	26°C	26°C
Languages	Arabic	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	SAR	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Saudi Arabia, living in Saudi Arabia and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Saudi Arabia?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around SAR 18,000 a month at the same level in Saudi Arabia (about Rs 1,330,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Saudi Arabia more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 2.2 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in Saudi Arabia?

Mainly Arabic. English is spoken by some people, mostly in cities.

Can I actually move to Saudi Arabia?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Saudi Arabia page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.