Moving to Saudi Arabia from Australia
What to Expect
Considering a move from Australia to Saudi Arabia? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Australia to Saudi Arabia, you would find that Saudi Arabia is 32.7% cheaper than Australia overall. A A$104,312 salary in Australia would need to be roughly SAR197,137 in Saudi Arabia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Riyadh averages 92°F vs 67°F in Canberra, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Australia and Saudi Arabia.
What does your salary buy?
A$104,312 → SAR197,137
To maintain the same standard of living in Saudi Arabia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 60.5% less
Groceries
pay 33.2% less
Transportation
pay 27.3% less
Housing
pay 29.6% less
Childcare
pay 64.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 1.5% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Saudi Arabia compared to Australia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Australia performs better than Saudi Arabia across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Australia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Saudi Arabia leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Australia performs better than Saudi Arabia across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Saudi Arabia generally does better on infrastructure, though Australia leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Australia generally does better on employment & economy, though Saudi Arabia leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Australia generally does better on family life, though Saudi Arabia leads in education spending.
Data: Australian Taxation Office, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Canberra | Riyadh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 80°/54°F (26°/12°C) | 75°/50°F (24°/10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 61°/39°F (16°/4°C) | 101°/72°F (38°/22°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/35°F (13°/1°C) | 109°/77°F (43°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 73°/47°F (23°/9°C) | 84°/56°F (29°/13°C) |
View all months
| Month | Canberra | Riyadh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C) | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.9°C) |
| Feb | 81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C) | 74°/49°F (23.3°/9.3°C) |
| Mar | 76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C) | 82°/56°F (27.7°/13.2°C) |
| Apr | 68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C) | 92°/65°F (33.3°/18.4°C) |
| May | 60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C) | 103°/74°F (39.4°/23.4°C) |
| Jun | 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C) | 109°/78°F (42.6°/25.3°C) |
| Jul | 52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C) | 111°/80°F (43.7°/26.4°C) |
| Aug | 55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C) | 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.3°C) |
| Sep | 61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C) | 105°/73°F (40.6°/22.9°C) |
| Oct | 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C) | 96°/65°F (35.5°/18.2°C) |
| Nov | 72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C) | 83°/56°F (28.1°/13.3°C) |
| Dec | 79°/52°F (26.0°/11.2°C) | 72°/47°F (22.1°/8.4°C) |
Data:
Bureau of Meteorology,
National Center for Meteorology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Australia and Saudi Arabia. To live, work, or study long-term in Saudi Arabia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Saudi Arabia's immigration authority.
Australia passport holder visiting Saudi Arabia
Visa on Arrival
Saudi Arabia passport holder visiting Australia
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Saudi Arabia than Australia?
On average Saudi Arabia is about 30% less expensive than Australia, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Saudi Arabia?
Budget about SAR49,284 for 3 months in Saudi Arabia (based on a A$104,312 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Saudi Arabia?
Connectivity is usually fine (Saudi Arabia: 37.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Saudi Arabia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Saudi Arabia safe for expats?
Australia performs better than Saudi Arabia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Saudi Arabia is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Australia.
How is healthcare in Saudi Arabia compared to Australia?
Australia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Saudi Arabia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 30.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Saudi Arabia, compared to 39.8 in Australia. Saudi Arabia scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Australia: 87).
What's the weather like in Saudi Arabia compared to Australia?
The average high temperature in Riyadh is 92°F, compared to 67°F in Canberra. Riyadh receives around 4.4 in of rainfall per year, while Canberra gets 24.8 in.
What language do they speak in Saudi Arabia?
The official language in Saudi Arabia is Arabic. In Australia, the official language is English.
