Moving to Saudi Arabia from Pennsylvania
What to Expect
Considering a move from Pennsylvania to Saudi Arabia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Pennsylvania to Saudi Arabia, you would find that Saudi Arabia is 31.7% cheaper than Pennsylvania. A $75,000 salary in Pennsylvania would need to be roughly SAR195,141 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 61°F in Harrisburg, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Pennsylvania and Saudi Arabia.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → SAR195,141
To maintain the same standard of living in Saudi Arabia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 61.6% less
Groceries
pay 40.3% less
Transportation
pay 22.7% less
Housing
pay 40.0% less
Childcare
pay 75.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 14.9% more
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 Pennsylvania.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Pennsylvania performs better than Saudi Arabia across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Saudi Arabia performs significantly better than Pennsylvania across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
Pennsylvania performs better than Saudi Arabia across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Pennsylvania 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 | Harrisburg | Riyadh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 42°/25°F (5°/-4°C) | 75°/50°F (24°/10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 71°/50°F (22°/10°C) | 101°/72°F (38°/22°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 81°/61°F (27°/16°C) | 109°/77°F (43°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 52°/34°F (11°/1°C) | 84°/56°F (29°/13°C) |
View all months
| Month | Harrisburg | Riyadh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/21°F (2.5°/-5.9°C) | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.9°C) |
| Feb | 40°/23°F (4.4°/-5.1°C) | 74°/49°F (23.3°/9.3°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.3°/-0.9°C) | 82°/56°F (27.7°/13.2°C) |
| Apr | 61°/40°F (16.1°/4.6°C) | 92°/65°F (33.3°/18.4°C) |
| May | 72°/50°F (22.2°/10.1°C) | 103°/74°F (39.4°/23.4°C) |
| Jun | 81°/60°F (27.2°/15.5°C) | 109°/78°F (42.6°/25.3°C) |
| Jul | 85°/64°F (29.2°/17.8°C) | 111°/80°F (43.7°/26.4°C) |
| Aug | 83°/63°F (28.2°/17.0°C) | 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.3°C) |
| Sep | 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.8°C) | 105°/73°F (40.6°/22.9°C) |
| Oct | 63°/42°F (17.4°/5.6°C) | 96°/65°F (35.5°/18.2°C) |
| Nov | 52°/35°F (11.1°/1.6°C) | 83°/56°F (28.1°/13.3°C) |
| Dec | 40°/26°F (4.4°/-3.2°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 Pennsylvania?
On average Saudi Arabia is about 30% less expensive than Pennsylvania, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Saudi Arabia?
Budget about SAR48,785 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 Pennsylvania and Saudi Arabia are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Saudi Arabia compared to Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania performs better than Saudi Arabia across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Saudi Arabia compared to Pennsylvania?
The average high temperature in Riyadh is 92°F, compared to 61°F in Harrisburg. Riyadh receives around 4.4 in of rainfall per year, while Harrisburg gets 43.6 in.
What language do they speak in Saudi Arabia?
The official language in Saudi Arabia is Arabic. In Pennsylvania, the official language is English.
