Quick answer: the average monthly rent for a furnished apartment in Riyadh ranges from 7,200 to 16,600 SAR, and the biggest difference comes from the district, not the size of the apartment. Al Arid, Al Aqiq and Al Nafal are the cheapest at around 7,200 to 8,400 SAR, while prices in Hittin, Al Mutamarat and Al Yasmin rise to between 12,400 and 16,600 SAR a month.
The figures in this guide are not general market estimates. They are actual averages for furnished units listed for monthly rental on Kease in August 2026, calculated from the published prices in each district. That means they are prices you can book today, not indicative figures.
Monthly rent prices in Riyadh by district
We have ordered the districts by average price, lowest first, and shown the number of available units in each, because a district with dozens of units gives you more choice and more room to negotiate than one with only a unit or two.
| District | Average monthly rent | Available units | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Arid | 7,193 SAR | 29 units | Budget |
| Al Aqiq | 8,119 SAR | 33 units | Budget |
| Al Nafal | 8,382 SAR | 35 units | Budget |
| Al Malqa | 8,438 SAR | 38 units | Mid-range |
| Al Sulimaniyah | 8,440 SAR | 3 units | Mid-range |
| Al Mughrizat | 8,440 SAR | 3 units | Mid-range |
| Qurtubah | 8,786 SAR | 39 units | Mid-range |
| Al Mohammadiyah | 8,894 SAR | 9 units | Mid-range |
| Al Rabi | 10,771 SAR | 5 units | Mid-range |
| Al Olaya | 11,900 SAR | 5 units | Premium |
| Al Yasmin | 12,440 SAR | 14 units | Premium |
| Irqah | 12,936 SAR | 8 units | Premium |
| Al Taawun | 13,333 SAR | 5 units | Premium |
| Al Mutamarat | 14,477 SAR | 6 units | Premium |
| Al Narjis | 15,000 SAR | 3 units | Premium |
| Hittin | 16,561 SAR | 10 units | Premium |
Averages are calculated from the monthly prices actually listed and change as supply changes. Districts with fewer than three units were left out, because their average would not represent the district.
What determines the monthly rent?
1. District first, size second
The gap between the cheapest and the most expensive district in the table is more than double: 7,193 SAR in Al Arid versus 16,561 SAR in Hittin. That gap is far larger than the difference between a two-bedroom and a three-bedroom apartment within the same district. So the fastest way to cut your budget is not to downsize the apartment, but to move one district north or west.
2. Proximity to business hubs
The districts around King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) and King Fahd Road — Al Olaya, Al Mutamarat and Al Taawun — carry a clear price premium in exchange for a shorter daily commute. Northern districts such as Al Arid, Al Nafal and Al Aqiq, on the other hand, give you more space for the same price, at the cost of an extra 20 to 30 minutes on the road.
3. Building age and furnishing level
Within a single district, two units can be 2,000 SAR a month apart for reasons that have nothing to do with location: a modern building with a lift and covered parking, or full furnishing with new appliances versus basic furnishing.
4. Length of stay
The monthly price is not the nightly rate multiplied by thirty; it is a separate rate that varies from one unit to another. For some units, monthly becomes cheaper after roughly 16 to 21 nights; others are offered for monthly stays only and have no nightly rate at all, because their minimum stay is a full month. So the practical rule is simple: compare both rates on the unit's own page before booking, and don't assume monthly is automatically cheaper.
What does monthly rent usually include?
This is where most misunderstandings happen, and the difference between two seemingly identical offers can be 1,000 SAR worth of services:
- Full furnishing: furniture, appliances and kitchenware ready from day one.
- Basic utilities: electricity, water and internet are included in most furnished units — but confirm this in the unit details before booking, as some listings exclude them.
- No meter transfers or setup: you pay no electricity deposit and don't wait for an internet connection, which alone saves you a week and an amount that never shows up in the listed price.
- Regular cleaning: available in some units, sometimes as an add-on service at a separate price.
When comparing a furnished monthly apartment with an unfurnished yearly one, work out the true cost of the latter: furniture and appliances, meter deposits, an internet subscription, and a month or more of waiting before it is ready to live in.
Who is monthly rental for?
- Employees on assignment: a three- to six-month posting doesn't justify a yearly lease and can't absorb the cost of a hotel.
- Families in transition: between selling one home and buying another, or waiting for a new unit to be handed over.
- Newcomers to Riyadh: two or three months to get to know the districts before committing to a yearly lease in a district you haven't tried.
- Patients and their companions: a long stay near the specialist hospitals at far less than the cost of a hotel.
- Work and project teams: housing for an entire team under one contract for a fixed period.
How to get the best price
- Widen your search by one district: the gap between Qurtubah and Al Arid in the table is close to 1,600 SAR a month, or nearly 20,000 SAR a year.
- Look in districts with deep supply: Qurtubah, Al Malqa, Al Nafal, Al Aqiq and Al Arid alone hold more than 170 units, and competition among that many units shows in the price.
- Book early, ahead of peak seasons: demand rises at the start of the school year and during major event seasons, and with it prices go up and options shrink.
- Compare the all-in cost, not the listed price: a unit that costs 500 SAR more but includes utilities and cleaning may actually work out cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
What is the lowest monthly rent for a furnished apartment in Riyadh?
The lowest district-level average is 7,193 SAR a month in Al Arid, but the cheapest unit actually listed starts at around 5,244 SAR a month. The spread within a single district comes down to size, number of bedrooms and furnishing level.
Is monthly rental cheaper than booking nightly?
It depends on the unit. In many units the monthly rate becomes cheaper after 16 to 21 nights, while other units are offered for monthly stays only, with a minimum of a full month. The only reliable way to know is to compare both rates on the page of the unit you intend to book.
Do I need a registered (Ejar) contract for a monthly rental?
A monthly stay in a furnished unit is handled as a booking, not as a yearly residential lease, and doesn't require the procedures that come with yearly contracts. If your plans extend beyond a year, a yearly lease is the better option.
Can a monthly stay be extended?
Yes, provided the unit is available for the new period. It is best to request the extension well before the end of the current month, especially in districts with limited supply.
What is the difference between a furnished apartment and a hotel apartment?
A hotel apartment comes with hotel services such as reception and daily cleaning and costs more, while a furnished apartment is a self-contained, fully furnished residential unit that suits long stays better in terms of both privacy and cost.
Start your search
Browse apartments available for monthly rental in Riyadh and check the current prices in each district, or filter by district and budget to go straight to the units that suit you.