"What does all of this actually cost?" – that's one of the most common questions we get from prospective students. Understandable: anyone coming to Medina for a few weeks or months wants to know what they're in for. This article is a realistic cost overview – with only numbers we can actually back up. Where we don't know exactly, we say so.
What we can pin down – and what we can't
We can give you very precise information about everything that happens in our camp (course, accommodation, shuttle, example prices from our direct neighbourhood). For factors outside our control (flight prices, your visa depending on nationality, your personal lifestyle), we only give ranges or point you to the right research sources. We'd rather say "we don't know exactly, please ask directly" than sell you false numbers.
1. Course + accommodation (fixed, transparent)
This is the only major item we can name 100 % precisely – the prices are right there in our course overview:
- Standard course (men): 799 € / month – incl. accommodation, 2 hrs Arabic + 1 hr Quran daily, shuttle
- Intensive course (men): 945 € / month – incl. accommodation, 4 hrs Arabic + 1 hr Quran daily, shuttle
- Arabic intensive course (women, 2 months): 1,890 € – incl. accommodation, shuttle
- Speaking intensive course (women, 2 months): 1,890 € – incl. accommodation, shuttle
- Quran in the Mosque (women): 499 € / month – incl. accommodation in the camp; Quran lessons in the mosque opposite itself free of charge
- Online reading & writing (women, 1 month): from 169 € (group from 5) or 229 € (private)
Important: Our on-site prices already include accommodation and shuttle between camp and study venue. That means: you do not need to budget these separately. More details about the camp facilities and location can be found on the main page.
2. Food – with real example prices from our neighbourhood
Here we can get concrete because we know the prices from restaurants directly in our neighbourhood. Example dishes (as of 2026, in the Al-Mabuth district):
- Breakfast from about 1 USD
- Lunch from about 3 USD (e.g. a large portion of rice with a quarter chicken, sides and sauce – often enough for two people)
- Dinner from about 4 USD (e.g. burger with fries and a soft drink)
These are minimum prices – some restaurants are pricier, others even cheaper. Important to know: the price level in Al-Mabuth is noticeably lower than around the Prophet's Mosque. Whoever eats there pays significantly more.
Cooking yourself is the cheapest option
Our accommodations are fully equipped – stove, pots, pans, kettle, fridge, cutlery and dishes. Supermarkets are within walking distance. Cooking yourself significantly reduces food costs.
Realistic monthly ranges depending on lifestyle:
| Style | Food per month |
|---|---|
| Eating out only | approx. 220–330 USD |
| Mix: cooking yourself + occasionally out | approx. 110–165 USD |
| Consistently cooking yourself | under 110 USD possible |
More details and example prices can also be found in our FAQ on food.
3. Visa – no flat-rate number
Visa costs depend heavily on your nationality. We can arrange the visa for you – for a small processing fee on top of the actual visa cost. Because Saudi Arabia regularly adjusts visa fees and they vary for different passports, we deliberately don't publish a specific number here – so you don't book with false expectations.
How it works:
- At registration you tell us which country you're from.
- We tell you the current total (visa fee + our handling).
- Alternatively you can apply for the visa yourself.
Easiest is to message us directly via WhatsApp – you'll get the current figure in a few minutes.
4. Flight – highly variable
The flight is the most unpredictable item, because it depends on season, departure airport, lead time and airline. We deliberately don't invent an average number here. Instead:
- Airports: Direct to Medina (MED) or alternatively to Jeddah (JED) – from there onwards by high-speed train or bus.
- Research: Skyscanner, Google Flights, Kayak. Compare direct vs. with stopover.
- Hajj and Ramadan periods: During these times flights to Saudi Arabia are typically significantly more expensive and book out faster. If your timing is flexible, it pays to avoid these periods.
5. Local transport – little extra effort
- Shuttle between accommodation and school: Included in the course price, no extra cost.
- Within Al-Mabuth: Much is reachable on foot – mosque, park, supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants, laundry.
- Trips to the Prophet's Mosque: Participants organise themselves (taxi or apps like Careem/Uber). On request and for an extra fee we can also arrange a separate shuttle to the Prophet's Mosque – just message us.
We don't name specific taxi / Careem prices here because they change depending on time of day, demand and route. Both apps show you the price before booking.
6. SIM card, internet, miscellaneous
Wi-Fi in the camp: Fast Wi-Fi is included in the accommodation. For most things that's enough.
Local SIM card: Available on-site from the three big providers STC, Mobily or Zain. Realistic starter offers (as of 2026):
- Mobily from 30 SAR (~8 USD) for 5 GB data + social media allowance – currently the cheapest entry
- Zain 34.50 SAR (~9 USD) for 3 GB + 1 GB social – good compromise
- STC 40.25 SAR (~11 USD) – slightly pricier, but densest network
Prices and packages change regularly – best to compare directly in the shop what's currently the best offer.
Laundry, hygiene items, small purchases: Very affordable in the surrounding shops. Realistically budget 30–65 USD extra per month, depending on your needs.
7. Rough total cost – example calculation (men's standard course, 1 month)
This is what a month could realistically look like if you cook yourself and live frugally:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Course + accommodation + shuttle (standard course) | 799 € |
| Food (mix: cooking yourself + eating out) | ~145 USD |
| Miscellaneous (SIM, hygiene, small purchases) | ~55 USD |
| Flight (variable, one-time) | not included monthly |
| Visa (variable, one-time) | not included monthly |
| Total (excl. flight & visa) | ~799 € + ~200 USD / month |
Whoever eats out exclusively comes in at around ~799 € + ~300 USD / month plus flight and visa.
What we deliberately do NOT write
We deliberately skip specific numbers we can't reliably back up – e.g. "average flight cost", "made-up visa fees", "taxi ride from xy to yz costs x €". Such figures change constantly, depend on too many variables and only lead to frustration when reality looks different. If you need a specific figure for your case, just message us – we reply directly or usually within a few hours on WhatsApp.
Bottom line
What you can plan for fixed: course and accommodation costs, example prices for food, the fact that shuttle and camp facilities are included. What you have to research yourself: your flight (Skyscanner) and your visa (ask us for your nationality).
If you have more questions, just message us. And if you want to know exactly how the registration process works, check our article How to sign up.
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