19
votes
Best areas to live in Jeddah for Sri Lankan expats on a mid-range salary?
OtherHi everyone, I've been in Riyadh for 4 years and just got transferred to Jeddah by my company. Really excited about the sea and the vibe there, but completely lost about which area to live in.
My salary is around SAR 4,500/month. I'm single, prefer quiet neighbourhoods, need easy access to a supermarket and a mosque (I'm Muslim). Would like to be within a 30-minute commute to the Al-Balad area where my new restaurant is located.
I've heard Al-Rawabi, Bawadi, and Al-Zahra are options — but no clue about rent prices or the Sri Lankan community presence there. Anyone been in Jeddah? Please help!
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Chaminda Kumara
24 days ago
314 views
4 answers
4 Answers
Accepted Answer
14
Welcome to Jeddah, bro! I was posted there for 6 months last year. Al-Rawabi is honestly the best pick for your budget — you can get a decent studio for SAR 1,200–1,500/month. Close to lots of South Asian grocery stores and several Sri Lankan families live in that belt. Commute to Al-Balad is maybe 20–25 minutes without traffic (but Jeddah traffic is a thing, be warned!).
Al-Zahra is nicer but pricier — studios start at SAR 2,000. Bawadi is very central but tends to be older buildings.
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Saman Wickramasinghe
23 days ago
11
Thank you all so much! Went with Al-Rawabi — found a nice clean studio for SAR 1,350 including water/electricity. Lulu is literally a 5-minute walk. The Sri Lankan uncle who runs the small grocery nearby has already introduced me to 4 families. Feeling at home already! 🙏
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Chaminda Kumara
12 days ago
9
I stayed in Al-Hamra area in Jeddah for a short project. Not bad, close to the corniche. But for Al-Balad commute from Al-Hamra it's about 35 minutes in peak time. Al-Rawabi sounds like Saman's advice is spot on.
Also — budget SAR 400–500/month for groceries if you cook. Jeddah has a Lulu Hypermarket in Al-Rawabi itself which stocks Sri Lankan stuff (Marmite, dried fish, coconut milk — the works!). 😄
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Nuwan Dahanayake
22 days ago
6
Not in Jeddah myself (I'm Doha) but my brother lives there. He says Al-Rawabi and Al-Safa are both popular with South Asian expats. Al-Safa has a bit more greenery and is quieter. Worth walking the streets before committing to a lease — Jeddah landlords sometimes rent to only specific nationalities so just be prepared to shop around.
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Ayasha Bandara
21 days ago
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