Jeddah vs Makkah
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Jeddah leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Makkah where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Makkah's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Jeddah | Makkah |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 50 | 49 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 41 | 44 |
| Climate | 54 | 45 |
| Safety | 56 | 58 |
| Summer °C | 33.2 | 35.0 |
| Winter °C | 23.5 | 23.1 |
| Top disaster risk | drought | extreme heat |
Jeddah vs Makkah: the short answer
Jeddah comes out ahead on overall livability (50/100), only marginally above Makkah (49/100). The two cities diverge most on climate. On affordability Makkah is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Jeddah 41 vs Makkah 44, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Makkah runs warmer in summer (about 35.0°C peak vs 33.2°C in Jeddah), while winter lows sit near 23.5°C in Jeddah and 23.1°C in Makkah. On natural-disaster exposure Makkah is the safer choice (safety 58/100); the dominant modelled hazard is drought for Jeddah and extreme heat for Makkah.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Makkah — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Makkah — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Makkah — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Jeddah — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is Jeddah or Makkah better to live in?
Jeddah scores higher overall — 50 vs 49 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Jeddah or Makkah?
Makkah has the lower cost of living (cost index 44 vs 41; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Jeddah or Makkah?
Makkah — summer highs reach about 35.0°C versus 33.2°C in Jeddah.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Jeddah or Makkah?
Makkah (disaster-safety 58/100). Main hazard: drought in Jeddah, extreme heat in Makkah.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Jeddah?
drought is the dominant modelled hazard for Jeddah on our risk index.
How is the Jeddah vs Makkah comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.