Riyadh Expats

9 Major Differences Between Living In

Social Issues Others

2016-Mar-04

If you are new to Saudi Arabia and have an option to settle down in either of these two cities, I think you have landed the correct page. Both cities are beautiful in their own ways, but they are largely different from each other. Therefore, we have made a comparison of Jeddah vs Riyadh in this article.

Especially, if you talk about the culture of both cities, it is largely different from each other. Here are the 10 basic differences which can be found between the two cities;

Food – Jeddah vs Riyadh

Both the cities have some of the finest eateries, however in Riyadh, they are mostly located on the well-known Tahlia Street and in Jeddah they are spread out across the city.

For a long time, there was no AlBaik in Riyadh but this is not the case anymore as AlBaik has opened its several branches in Riyadh as well so it is not a point of comparison between Jeddah vs Riyadh.

Housing Areas – Jeddah vs Riyadh

In Jeddah, you can find a variety of residential compounds, apartments, and villas; however, in Jeddah apartments are the most commonly found residences. Another difference between Jeddah vs Riyadh is the amount of rent charged by landlords.

Generally, it is believed that the housing in Jeddah is a little more expensive as compared to Riyadh. For example, you can rent a villa in Riyadh for an annual cost of SR 48,000 but in Jeddah, it is only possible to get a big apartment on rent in this budget.

Infrastructure – Jeddah vs Riyadh

Riyadh has the utmost metropolitan infrastructure from around the Kingdom. The infrastructure network has been based heavily on the western highways, motorways and road networks. Riyadh is also getting an internal metro very soon.

Jeddah, on the other hand, had been initially ignored, the road network is pretty basic, and they have only a few through highways. So, if you are comparing Jeddah vs Riyadh on the basis of infrastructure, Riyadh clearly leads the table.

Shopping – Jeddah vs Riyadh

One of the commonalities between the two major cities of the Kingdom is that both these cities have larger than life malls and other souks where you can go and shop till you drop.

I personally think that the shopping experience in Jeddah vs Riyadh is almost the same as you will find similar brands and shops in both cities. However, you can find warehouse sale of different brands in Riyadh which is not possible in Jeddah.

Activities – Jeddah vs Riyadh

Riyadh, although a more developed city has fewer activities, one has to really research on something new to do on the weekend. Here we are talking about the activities in the city. There are many things to do in the outskirts of Riyadh and we have detailed them in this article.

Jeddah, on the other hand, has the red sea to their side which provides water-related activities and festivals which will keep you occupied. However, if you compare Jeddah vs Riyadh in terms of activities, Jeddah has very few activities which have been listed in this link.

People – Jeddah vs Riyadh

If you compare people of Jeddah vs Riyadh, the people of Riyadh are generally a bit more conservative in comparison to the rest of the country, however, they possess great traditions, and you can truly feel the Saudi-ness in the city.

Jeddah, on the other hand, is lesser conservative in comparison. A lot of foreigners and expat communities can be found in the city and the Saudi ness found in the rest of the country is least evident in this city.

Jeddah is the most culturally diverse city in the Kingdom. Generally, the Saudi or Arab region crowd inside the Kingdom will be found in the city of Riyadh and the expatriates, foreigners or any visitors to the kingdom will be found in Jeddah city.

Education and Job Opportunities – Jeddah vs Riyadh

Riyadh has the world-famous Princess Nourah University and other numerous opportunities for education and employment for the youth.

In Jeddah there is the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology which is another university of similar standards, providing equal opportunities for education and employment.

A comparison between Jeddah vs Riyadh in terms of education reveals that they are equally equipped with educational institutes, colleges, and universities. However, there are more job opportunities in Riyadh.

Weather – Jeddah vs Riyadh

Riyadh city experiences all the weathers in the year. During the winter months you can actually wear winter wear and dress up according to the weather, however during the summer months, the desert heat can be almost lethal.

Jeddah, on the other hand, is a coastal land and they pretty much experience similar or the same weather all year round. The same types of clothes can be used all year round. Humidity does increase, and it can become extremely sticky during the hotter months.

To summarize, a comparison of Jeddah vs Riyadh reveals that the weather of Riyadh is quite extreme in Summer as well as Winter but this is not the case with the weather in Jeddah.

Awesomeness – Jeddah vs Riyadh

In conclusion, both the cities of Riyadh and Jeddah are two of the most awesome cities in the Kingdom. Both are holding unique values and specifics which truly make them awesome in their own different ways. Both cities provide exactly what you are looking for in your life.

Source: Destination Jeddah

9 Major Differences Between Living In

9 Major Differences Between Living In

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Riyadh Expats