Moving to Saudi Arabia from Tennessee

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Tennessee to Saudi Arabia — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Tennessee to Saudi Arabia, you would find that Saudi Arabia is 29.1% cheaper than Tennessee. A $75,000 salary in Tennessee would need to be roughly SAR198,482 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 70°F in Nashville, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

How your spending power changes when you relocate from Tennessee to Saudi Arabia.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 SAR198,482

To maintain the same standard of living in Saudi Arabia

Calculate with your salary →

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 63.3% less

Groceries

pay 34.7% less

Transportation

pay 10.0% less

Housing

pay 43.5% less

Childcare

pay 68.4% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 21.8% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 3.7 SAR (June 2026)

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

How Tennessee and Saudi Arabia stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

TN
37.9%
SA
35.4%

Saudi Arabia performs significantly better than Tennessee across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

TN
87.6%
SA
100.0%

Saudi Arabia performs significantly better than Tennessee across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

TN
3.4%
SA
4.9%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

TN
$60,177
SA
$49,600

Tennessee performs better than Saudi Arabia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

TN
73.8 yrs
SA
76.7 yrs

Saudi Arabia performs significantly better than Tennessee 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.

Nashville Rain: 47.2 in/yr (1200 mm)
70° / 49°F

Avg. annual high / low

Riyadh Rain: 4.4 in/yr (111 mm)
92° / 64°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Nashville Riyadh
Jan–Mar 53°/33°F (12°/1°C) 75°/50°F (24°/10°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/56°F (26°/14°C) 101°/72°F (38°/22°C)
Jul–Sep 87°/66°F (30°/19°C) 109°/77°F (43°/25°C)
Oct–Dec 60°/40°F (16°/4°C) 84°/56°F (29°/13°C)
View all months
Month Nashville Riyadh
Jan 47°/28°F (8.3°/-2.0°C) 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.9°C)
Feb 52°/32°F (11.0°/-0.2°C) 74°/49°F (23.3°/9.3°C)
Mar 61°/39°F (16.1°/3.9°C) 82°/56°F (27.7°/13.2°C)
Apr 71°/47°F (21.4°/8.6°C) 92°/65°F (33.3°/18.4°C)
May 78°/57°F (25.7°/13.8°C) 103°/74°F (39.4°/23.4°C)
Jun 86°/65°F (30.0°/18.6°C) 109°/78°F (42.6°/25.3°C)
Jul 89°/69°F (31.8°/20.8°C) 111°/80°F (43.7°/26.4°C)
Aug 89°/68°F (31.7°/20.2°C) 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.3°C)
Sep 82°/61°F (28.0°/15.9°C) 105°/73°F (40.6°/22.9°C)
Oct 72°/49°F (22.1°/9.4°C) 96°/65°F (35.5°/18.2°C)
Nov 60°/39°F (15.7°/4.1°C) 83°/56°F (28.1°/13.3°C)
Dec 49°/31°F (9.7°/-0.4°C) 72°/47°F (22.1°/8.4°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, National Center for Meteorology 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

United States passport holder visiting Saudi Arabia

Visa on Arrival
United States passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia passport

Saudi Arabia passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Saudi Arabia passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: 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 Tennessee?

Generally yes: Saudi Arabia runs about 28% cheaper than Tennessee on average, though it depends heavily on the city.

How much money do I need to move to Saudi Arabia?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around SAR49,620 in Saudi Arabia for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Saudi Arabia?

Working remotely from Saudi Arabia's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Tennessee and Saudi Arabia.

How is healthcare in Saudi Arabia compared to Tennessee?

Saudi Arabia performs significantly better than Tennessee across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Saudi Arabia compared to Tennessee?

The average high temperature in Riyadh is 92°F, compared to 70°F in Nashville. Riyadh receives around 4.4 in of rainfall per year, while Nashville gets 47.2 in.

What language do they speak in Saudi Arabia?

The official language in Saudi Arabia is Arabic. In Tennessee, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

SA
Population 6,346,105 35,354,380
Currency United States Dollar ($) Saudi Riyal (SAR)
Languages English Arabic
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +966
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 911