Moving to Saudi Arabia from Iowa
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iowa to Saudi Arabia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iowa to Saudi Arabia, you would find that Saudi Arabia is 27.5% cheaper than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly SAR227,972 in Saudi Arabia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Riyadh averages 92°F vs 60°F in Des Moines, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Iowa and Saudi Arabia.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → SAR227,972
To maintain the same standard of living in Saudi Arabia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 60.4% less
Groceries
pay 26.3% less
Transportation
pay 4.9% less
Housing
pay 32.8% less
Childcare
pay 67.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.4% 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.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Saudi Arabia cost about 20% less than cities in Iowa.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Saudi Arabia compared to Iowa.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Saudi Arabia performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Saudi Arabia performs significantly better than Iowa across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
Iowa performs better than Saudi Arabia across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa performs better than Saudi Arabia across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Des Moines | Riyadh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 75°/50°F (24°/10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 101°/72°F (38°/22°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 109°/77°F (43°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 84°/56°F (29°/13°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Riyadh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.9°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 74°/49°F (23.3°/9.3°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 82°/56°F (27.7°/13.2°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 92°/65°F (33.3°/18.4°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 103°/74°F (39.4°/23.4°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 109°/78°F (42.6°/25.3°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 111°/80°F (43.7°/26.4°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.3°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 105°/73°F (40.6°/22.9°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 96°/65°F (35.5°/18.2°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 83°/56°F (28.1°/13.3°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) | 72°/47°F (22.1°/8.4°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
National Center for Meteorology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.
United States passport holder visiting Saudi Arabia
Visa on Arrival
Saudi Arabia passport holder visiting United States
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 Iowa?
On average Saudi Arabia is about 18% less expensive than Iowa, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Saudi Arabia?
Budget about SAR56,993 for 3 months in Saudi Arabia (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Saudi Arabia?
From major Saudi Arabia cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Iowa and Saudi Arabia are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Saudi Arabia compared to Iowa?
Saudi Arabia performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Saudi Arabia compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Riyadh is 92°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Riyadh receives around 4.4 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Saudi Arabia?
The official language in Saudi Arabia is Arabic. In Iowa, the official language is English.
