Jeddah
Middle East · Saudi Arabia · Asia
Red Sea port city of coral-stone old quarters, a sprawling corniche, and a fast-loosening social scene.
Jeddah is Saudi Arabia's most relaxed and cosmopolitan city, a Red Sea port with a restored historic Al-Balad district and the country's best diving. It's noticeably more easygoing than Riyadh, with a corniche culture and a reform-era loosening of social rules, plus tax-free income. The tradeoffs are extreme humidity and heat, still-conservative norms, car dependence, and a foreign scene that's growing but in flux. Best for divers and professionals wanting Gulf earnings with a softer, coastal edge.
comfortable monthly budget
1-bed rent, good area
Best for
Not for
A diverse expat mix alongside relatively liberal-for-Saudi locals; the corniche and dive scenes give it social texture. Meeting other expats through work is straightforward, though nightlife is limited and norms still apply.
Where to land
The scorecard
Tax in Saudi Arabia
Special regime: No personal income tax on employment income
No personal income tax on salaries; foreign-owned companies pay 20% corporate tax while Saudi/GCC owners pay 2.5% zakat instead.
Representative estimate — not tax advice. · source
Make the move to Jeddah
Some links are partner links — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Is Jeddah your place?
Take the 60-second quiz and see how well it actually fits you — and what beats it.
Find my placePhoto via Wikimedia Commons · source