"Commute Depression": The Hidden Psychological Cost of Living in Saudi Suburbs 2025

Introduction: The Question No One Asks

Picture this: You're sitting in your car at 7 AM, traffic is jammed, and you have a full hour before reaching your office. You turn on the radio, scroll through your phone at every signal, and wonder: "Is this life?"

Then you return in the evening, another hour in traffic. You arrive exhausted, eat quickly, sleep, and repeat the same cycle tomorrow.

The real question most buyers never ask: Are those extra 100 square meters in a distant villa worth 500 hours of your life annually?

In this comprehensive guide, we'll reveal the true cost of living on the city outskirts - a cost that doesn't appear on your purchase contract but is paid daily from your mental health, family relationships, and wallet.

💡 Shocking fact: Scientific studies confirm that commuting more than 45 minutes daily increases divorce probability by 40% and raises depression risk by 16%!

The Scientific Diagnosis: When Your Car Steals Your Life

It's not just "road fatigue" - it goes much deeper. Scientific studies reveal alarming facts about how long commutes affect your mental and physical health.

Shocking Numbers from Global Research

Massive Korean Study (37,758 workers): Commuting over 2 hours daily significantly increases depression and anxiety risk. South Korea has the longest commute times among OECD countries, averaging 61.6 minutes daily - double the global average.

Another Study (23,415 people): Commuting over an hour increases depression symptoms by 16%. Low-income women and mothers are most affected, and unmarried men working over 52 hours weekly face higher risk.

German Study (407 commuters): 31% of male long-distance commuters need medical treatment, and 37% of women are in the same situation. Symptoms include: chronic headaches, back pain, and severe sleep disorders.

Why Does This Happen?

Cognitive Resource Depletion: Two hours of stressed driving daily depletes your mental energy completely. You arrive home "empty" - unable to interact with your family or even enjoy your time.

HPA Axis Dysfunction: Chronic commuting stress continuously raises cortisol hormone levels, leading to hormonal system dysfunction responsible for mood regulation - directly linked to depression.

Social Isolation: Living far away means difficulty attending events, meeting friends, or even going to a restaurant. Your life becomes: work → road → home → sleep.

Saudi Women and Driving: Recent Study 2024-2025

This is the first scientific study examining 6 years of Saudi women's driving experience since they were permitted to drive in 2018. The study included over 1,300 Saudi women and found crucial results.

Key Findings

Commuting under 30 minutes: No noticeable difference between drivers and non-drivers in anxiety, depression, or sleep quality levels.

Commuting over 30 minutes: Noticeable increase in anxiety and depression, clear sleep disorders, and chronic fatigue.

📌 Important Conclusion: The problem isn't driving itself, but distance and time. Saudi women who drive less than 30 minutes show no negative effects compared to non-drivers!

The "Time vs. Space" Equation: Calculate It Yourself

Before being dazzled by the large space in distant suburbs, let's calculate together the real cost you'll pay from your life and money.

Scenario: Suburban Villa vs. Central Apartment

Option A - 400 sqm villa in a distant suburb: Price 1,500,000 SAR, commute one hour each way meaning 2 hours daily, and with 250 work days annually, total annual commute time is 500 hours.

Option B - 200 sqm apartment in a central neighborhood: Price 1,200,000 SAR, commute 15 minutes each way meaning 30 minutes daily, and total annual commute time is only 125 hours.

The Real Difference

Annual commute time: Distant villa 500 hours, central apartment 125 hours, difference of 375 hours annually.

Over 10 years: Distant villa 5,000 hours, central apartment 1,250 hours, difference of 3,750 hours.

In full days (24 hours): Distant villa 208 days, central apartment 52 days, difference of 156 full days of your life!

⚠️ You're paying 156 days of your life (over 10 years) for 200 extra square meters!

Financial Value of Lost Time

If your salary is 15,000 SAR monthly (approximately 94 SAR per hour), then 375 lost hours × 94 SAR = 35,250 SAR annually. Over 10 years = 352,500 SAR! And this is just the time value, without calculating fuel and car depreciation!

Impact of Proximity on Marital Happiness

Here comes the most alarming statistic that every couple looking for housing should know.

🚨 If one spouse commutes more than 45 minutes, the probability of divorce increases by 40%!

Why Does Commuting Affect Marriage?

Time is the glue of relationships: Long commuting steals precious time that could be spent with spouse and children. Every hour in the car is an hour stolen from the family.

Post-driving irritability: You arrive home stressed and exhausted, and trivial problems begin to accumulate day after day until they become a mountain of conflicts.

Limiting partner's career options: If the wife commutes far, the husband may need to limit his job options to stay close to home and children, and vice versa.

The Good News

If couples exceed 5 years of long commuting, the additional divorce rate drops to only 1% because they learned to adapt. Also, if long commuting existed before marriage, the impact is much less.

The Solution? Choose your home location together, and put family quality of life into the equation before space and price.

The "15-Minute City" Concept: The Global Solution

In 2016, Professor Carlos Moreno from Sorbonne University introduced a revolutionary concept that changed the world's view of urban planning and became a global standard for urban quality of life.

What is a 15-Minute City?

Simply: A residential neighborhood where you can reach all your daily needs within 15 minutes walking or cycling. These needs include: mosque, school, supermarket, medical clinic, park, café, and workplace or metro station.

Scientifically Proven Benefits

Health: Walking and cycling reduce heart disease risk by 11%, with notable improvement in mental health and better sleep.

Social: Stronger neighborhood relationships, more social interaction, and a sense of community belonging.

Economic: Save 50% of transportation costs, support local businesses, and rising property values in these neighborhoods.

Cities That Adopted the Concept

Paris: "15-Minute City" with reducing cars and increasing bicycles and pedestrians.

Melbourne: "20-Minute Neighborhood" saving $165 million annually in transportation and health costs.

Portland: 80% of residents reach their needs within 20 minutes walking or cycling.

Shanghai: "Community Life Circles" implemented since 2016 in all new neighborhoods.

The Hidden Economic Aspect: Calculating the Real Cost

Don't just look at property price, look at the complete cost you'll pay over years of living.

Annual Commuting Costs (Estimated for Saudi Arabia)

Fuel: 15-minute commute costs approximately 3,600 SAR annually, while 60-minute commute costs 14,400 SAR annually.

Car depreciation: 15-minute commute costs approximately 4,000 SAR annually, while 60-minute commute costs 16,000 SAR annually.

Maintenance and tires: 15-minute commute costs approximately 2,000 SAR annually, while 60-minute commute costs 8,000 SAR annually.

Insurance: 15-minute commute costs approximately 2,500 SAR annually, while 60-minute commute costs 4,000 SAR annually because long distances raise insurance value.

Total: 15-minute commute costs 12,100 SAR annually, while 60-minute commute costs 42,400 SAR annually. Annual difference is 30,300 SAR, and over 10 years the difference becomes 303,000 SAR!

🔑 The Golden Equation: If the property price difference (central vs. distant) is less than 300,000 SAR, the central property is more economical in the long run!

And this doesn't count: value of your lost time (35,000+ SAR annually), potential health costs, and the impact on your productivity and promotions.

Commuting Reality in Saudi Cities

Let's take a look at the commuting reality in major Saudi cities.

Riyadh

Commuters in Riyadh lose 52 hours annually due to congestion alone, on top of normal commute time. 93% of residents rely on private cars, and average delay during rush hours ranges between 30-45 minutes. Riyadh Metro has started operations and is expected to gradually ease pressure.

Jeddah

Average daily commute is 46 minutes, the lowest among major cities. Congestion concentrates during rush hours from 7-9 AM and 4-7 PM. Madinah Road intersection with Tahlia is one of the most congested points.

Dammam

Average daily commute is 55 minutes. Ranked as the most congested Saudi city in a 2007 survey, but there's notable improvement with new transportation projects.

Golden Tips for Choosing Your Home Location

If you're looking for new housing, here's what to consider before making the decision.

Before Buying, Ask Yourself

Test the commute yourself: Don't rely only on Google Maps. Go to the location during rush hour (7:30 AM) and actually try the route.

Calculate real time: Add 20-30% to Google's time to get actual time on congested days.

Think about the future: Will your job change? Will your children's school change? Are there road projects that will improve or increase congestion?

Evaluate nearby services: How far is the nearest supermarket? How far is the school? How far is the hospital?

Ask current residents: Talk to people living in the neighborhood and ask about their real experience.

Signs of an Ideal Neighborhood

Work commute under 30 minutes, mosque within 5 minutes walking, supermarket within 10 minutes, school within 15 minutes, nearby park or green space, restaurants and cafés in the neighborhood, and public transportation options if available.

Frequently Asked Questions

But central neighborhoods are too expensive!

True, the initial price is higher, but when calculating commuting costs over 10 years (300,000+ SAR), the central property may be cheaper. Also, you can look for an apartment instead of a villa in a better location.

I need large space for my family, what should I do?

Look for a middle ground: a neighborhood not in the city center but close to main transportation routes. Also, review your actual needs - do you really need 5 rooms or would 3 suffice?

I work from home, does location matter?

Less important but still matters! Think about: your spouse's commute, children's schools, proximity to services, social life. Isolation in a distant suburb can negatively affect you even if you work from home.

Will Riyadh Metro solve the problem?

It will help greatly if your home and work are close to metro stations. But if you need a car to reach the station, then metro, then another car, it may not save much time.

How do I convince my spouse of the importance of location?

Show them the numbers from this article. Calculate together: how many hours will you spend in the car annually? How much will it cost? What could you do with this time and money together?

Are suburbs always bad?

No! If your work is in the same suburb, or you work from home, or you're retired - a suburb might be an excellent choice. The problem is the long daily commute, not the suburb itself.

Conclusion: Invest in Your Time, Not Square Meters

Ultimately, property isn't just walls and a roof - it's a decision that affects every aspect of your life: your mental and physical health, your relationship with your spouse and children, your productivity and career future, and your wallet in the long term.

Before that spacious villa in the distant outskirts tempts you, ask yourself: Am I ready to pay 500 hours of my life annually? Am I ready for a 40% increase in marital problem probability? Am I ready to lose 30,000+ SAR annually in hidden costs?

The smart answer: Choose your location first, then find the right property in it.

At Raghdan, we believe our role isn't just helping you find a property, but helping you find quality of life. Browse our properties in full-service neighborhoods, and invest in your time and happiness.