Is your housing allowance enough for rent in Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam? Compare against real market rents and see how much is standard for your salary level.
| Salary Range | Standard Housing Allowance | Typical Monthly Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SAR 3,000–5,000 | 25–30% of basic | SAR 750–1,500 |
| SAR 5,000–8,000 | 25–30% of basic | SAR 1,250–2,400 |
| SAR 8,000–12,000 | 25–30% of basic | SAR 2,000–3,600 |
| SAR 12,000–20,000 | 25–30% of basic | SAR 3,000–6,000 |
| SAR 20,000+ | 25–30% of basic or fixed | SAR 5,000–10,000+ |
| Rule of thumb: 25–30% of basic salary is the Saudi private sector norm. Government sector: 30%. Some multinational companies provide housing in kind (company housing) instead of allowance. | ||
Ejar (إيجار) is Saudi Arabia's official rental registration platform. All rental contracts must be registered on Ejar. Without Ejar registration, the contract is not legally binding and you cannot use it for Iqama renewal, bank applications or residency purposes.
Landlord registers on Ejar: The landlord (or their agent) creates the contract on ejar.sa with the property details, rent amount and duration.
Tenant verifies via Absher: You receive an SMS notification and approve the contract via Absher or the Ejar app. Your Iqama number is linked to the contract.
Contract is activated: Once both parties sign digitally, the Ejar contract is issued with an official contract number. Keep this — you'll need it for Iqama renewal and bank applications.
Payments via SADAD: Rent payments linked to the contract can be set up via SADAD bill payment. Cheques are still used but SADAD is increasingly common for annual rent.
Sources: Publicly available Saudi rental market data and employer housing-allowance norms. Figures and rules are set by the issuing authority and may change — verify current details on the official portal before relying on them. Last reviewed: June 2026.
⚠️ Disclaimer: All results are estimates based on publicly available Saudi government regulations and rates. Always verify important financial or legal decisions with your employer, bank, or the relevant Saudi authority (Ministry of Human Resources, GOSI, ZATCA, Jawazat, or SAMA).