Makkah vs Madinah
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Makkah leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Madinah where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Madinah's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Makkah | Madinah |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 49 | 49 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 44 | 44 |
| Climate | 45 | 42 |
| Safety | 58 | 60 |
| Summer °C | 35.0 | 35.5 |
| Winter °C | 23.1 | 17.2 |
| Top disaster risk | extreme heat | extreme heat |
Makkah vs Madinah: the short answer
Madinah comes out ahead on overall livability (49/100), only marginally above Makkah (49/100). The two cities diverge most on climate. On affordability Madinah is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Makkah 44 vs Madinah 44, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Madinah runs warmer in summer (about 35.5°C peak vs 35.0°C in Makkah), while winter lows sit near 23.1°C in Makkah and 17.2°C in Madinah. On natural-disaster exposure Madinah is the safer choice (safety 60/100); the dominant modelled hazard is extreme heat for Makkah and extreme heat for Madinah.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Madinah — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Madinah — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Madinah — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Madinah — 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 Makkah or Madinah better to live in?
Madinah scores higher overall — 49 vs 49 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Makkah or Madinah?
Madinah has the lower cost of living (cost index 44 vs 44; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Makkah or Madinah?
Madinah — summer highs reach about 35.5°C versus 35.0°C in Makkah.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Makkah or Madinah?
Madinah (disaster-safety 60/100). Main hazard: extreme heat in Makkah, extreme heat in Madinah.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Makkah?
extreme heat is the dominant modelled hazard for Makkah on our risk index.
How is the Makkah vs Madinah 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.