Rental costs vary enormously when it comes to villas for rent in Saudi Arabia according to their different sizes, some with swimming pools, others without, and between old and new apartment blocks, in good, bad and indifferent locations.

With plenty of new property being built, supply usually keeps pace with demand, and many Arabs are keen to rent property to expatriates, as it provides them with a regular, reliable income. Average monthly rents for good-quality unfurnished accommodation are shown below.

Air-conditioning might be included in the rent or be charged separately as part of your electricity bill. If there's a communal gas tank, gas is usually included in the rent. Otherwise, you can buy gas bottles. Other utilities will be separate. (Water is usually charged as part of the electricity bill). You should check these items at the time of negotiation and on the contract. You or your sponsor must also pay a deposit against damage to the property or to items of furnishing provided.

Note also that some states impose a local tax (baladiya) on property to cover expenses such as refuse collection and road maintenance. Whether the landlord or the tenant pays is one of the matters to sort out in the contract, although normally the property owner bears the cost.