Saudi cost of living up 3.8% in July

The cost of living in Saudi Arabia increased by 3.8 per cent in July compared to the previous year, according to the country’s Department of Statistics and Information.

In its Cost of Living Index the government body noted a 20.5 per cent increase in tobacco prices, 9.4 per cent increase in transport costs, 7.5 per cent increase in housing, water, electricity and other fuel bills and 6.9 per cent increase in health costs.

The price of education also increased 5.4 per cent compared to the same month last year, miscellaneous goods and services 4.3 per cent, clothing and footwear 4.2 per cent, furnishing and household equipment 2 per cent, communication 1.1 per cent and recreation 0.1 per cent.

Decreased costs were noted in restaurants and hotels (1.6 per cent) and food and beverages (0.1 per cent).

On a month-on-month basis, the cost of living in the kingdom increased only 0.1 per cent, with higher prices noted for miscellaneous goods and services (1.6 per cent), recreation and culture (0.4 per cent), housing, electricity gas and water (0.3 per cent) and healthcare (0.2 per cent).

Slight decreases were noted for clothing and footwear, communication and transport. While restaurant and hotel prices were down 1.3 per cent.