Compare countries · Qatar vs Saudi Arabia
Qatar vs Saudi Arabia
Qatar(Asia)·
Saudi Arabia(Asia)
Across 12 comparable indicators: Qatar leads on 8, Saudi Arabia on 3, 1 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Qatar cheaper than Saudi Arabia?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Qatar at 50.4 and Saudi Arabia at 43.9. Saudi Arabia is about 13% cheaper overall.
Is Qatar or Saudi Arabia safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Qatar scores 1.68 and Saudi Arabia scores 2.07. Qatar ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Qatar or Saudi Arabia?
On the UN Human Development Index, Qatar scores 0.886 and Saudi Arabia scores 0.900. The two are effectively tied. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Qatar compared to Saudi Arabia?
GNI per capita runs $74,330 in Qatar against $36,070 in Saudi Arabia; people live 82.5 years on average against 79.0; Numbeo users rate healthcare 74 against 62. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Qatar
50.4
Worse than 68% of countries
Saudi Arabia
43.9
Worse than 56% of countries
Saudi Arabia: 13% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Qatar
40.0
Worse than 94% of countries
Saudi Arabia
13.5
Around the global middle
Saudi Arabia: 66% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Qatar
1.68
Better than 81% of countries
Saudi Arabia
2.07
Worse than 58% of countries
Qatar: more peaceful (1.68 vs 2.07).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Qatar
84.8
Better than 98% of countries
Saudi Arabia
76.7
Better than 91% of countries
Qatar: higher perceived safety (84.8 vs 76.7).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Qatar
0.886
Better than 78% of countries
Saudi Arabia
0.900
Better than 81% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Qatar
$128,883
Better than 98% of countries
Saudi Arabia
$73,784
Better than 89% of countries
Qatar: 75% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Qatar
82.5 yrs
Better than 88% of countries
Saudi Arabia
79.0 yrs
Better than 76% of countries
Qatar: 3.5 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Qatar
73.6
Better than 82% of countries
Saudi Arabia
62.2
Worse than 56% of countries
Qatar: better-rated healthcare (73.6 vs 62.2).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Qatar
197 Mbps
Better than 77% of countries
Saudi Arabia
164 Mbps
Better than 71% of countries
Qatar: 20% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Qatar
60/100
Better than 58% of countries
Saudi Arabia
19/100
Worse than 98% of countries
Qatar: freer press (60 vs 19 of 100).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Qatar
469
Worse than 70% of countries
Saudi Arabia
404
Worse than 93% of countries
Qatar: stronger English proficiency (469 vs 404).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Qatar
36.0
Worse than 98% of countries
Saudi Arabia
38.6
Worse than 95% of countries
Saudi Arabia: more pleasant climate rating (38.6 vs 36.0).
Not comparable for this pair
- Happiness: The World Happiness Report doesn't cover one of these countries.
Deciding between Qatar and Saudi Arabia for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Qatar profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Saudi Arabia profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.