Ramadan Meal Cost Calculator
Plan your Iftar & Suhoor budget for the holy month of Ramadan
Meal & Budget Information
Saudi Ramadan Meal Cost Reference (SAR per person)
| Level | Iftar (Home Cooking) | Suhoor (Home Cooking) | Iftar (Restaurant) | Suhoor (Restaurant) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | 15 - 25 | 8 - 12 | 30 - 50 | 16 - 24 |
| Standard | 30 - 50 | 15 - 20 | 60 - 100 | 30 - 40 |
| Premium | 60 - 100 | 25 - 40 | 120 - 200 | 50 - 80 |
Money-Saving Tips for Ramadan
💰 Planning & Shopping
- Plan meals ahead: Create a weekly meal plan to avoid waste and impulse buying
- Buy in bulk: Dates, rice, oil, and staples are cheaper when bought in large quantities
- Take advantage of sales: Follow Ramadan deals at major stores and shop before the month begins
- Compare prices: Shop at multiple stores and compare prices, especially for essentials
🍴 Cooking & Preparation
- Cook at home: Home cooking saves up to 50% compared to restaurant ordering
- Batch cook and freeze: Prepare samosas and pastries in advance and freeze them
- Reduce portions: Don't cook more than needed to avoid throwing away food
- Use alternatives: Substitute expensive ingredients with cheaper options of equal nutritional value
🌱 Reduce Waste
- Don't overdo the dishes: 3-4 dishes for Iftar are enough for an average family
- Use leftovers: Transform Iftar leftovers into new Suhoor meals
- Proper storage: Store food correctly to extend its shelf life
🤝 Community Sharing
- Exchange dishes with neighbors: Adds variety while reducing cost and effort
- Group Iftars: Organize group Iftars with relatives to split costs
- Donate surplus: Give excess food as charity instead of throwing it away
Typical Saudi Ramadan Meals
Iftar Table
- 🌴 Dates & Arabic Coffee - To start Iftar (Prophetic tradition)
- 🥣 Soup - Harees soup, lentil soup, or vegetable soup
- 🍲 Main Dish - Kabsa, Mandi, Madhbi, or Mataziz
- 🥗 Appetizers - Samosa, pastries, salads
- 🥤 Drinks - Vimto, Sobia, Erk Sous, Tamarind
- 🍰 Sweets - Luqaimat, Kunafa, Basbousa, Qatayef
Suhoor Table
- 🧈 Ful Medames - A Saudi Suhoor staple
- 🧀 Bread & Cheese - Arabic bread with assorted cheeses
- 🥚 Eggs - Boiled, fried, or Shakshuka
- 🍶 Yogurt & Laban - Helps with hydration during fasting
- 🌴 Dates & Milk - For sustained energy
- 💧 Plenty of Water - Adequate hydration before fasting begins
How to Use the Ramadan Meal Cost Calculator
- Enter family members: The number of people eating Iftar and Suhoor daily at home.
- Set guest count: The average daily number of expected Iftar guests. Guests are calculated for Iftar only, not Suhoor.
- Choose budget level: Economy for simple meals, Standard for varied meals, or Premium for gourmet meals.
- Set Ramadan days: Usually 29 or 30 days.
- Select preparation method: Home cooking (lowest cost), restaurant ordering (2x cost), or a mix of both.