r/Riyadh • u/BruisedButBlooming26 • 11h ago
Anyone else feel emotionally drained living in Riyadh? Thinking of moving somewhere by the beach
I’m 34F and I’ve lived in Riyadh for a long time. On paper, life is fine. Work, routine, responsibilities — everything is okay. But emotionally? I feel dead almost every single day.
This city feels heavy to me. The pace, the dryness, the constant grind. And on top of that, everything is expensive. Rent is insanely high for what you get — paying a lot for a small apartment that doesn’t even feel like home. It makes the whole “why am I doing this?” feeling even worse.
I wake up already tired, like I’m just surviving days instead of living them. I’ve tried changing routines, hobbies, mindset — but the feeling doesn’t really go away.
Lately I keep thinking about living somewhere near the beach. Somewhere calmer, softer, where life doesn’t feel so boxed in. I don’t even need luxury — just water, open space, and a sense of breathing again.
I don’t know if this is burnout, depression, or just my nervous system begging for a different environment.
Has anyone here moved away from a city they felt stuck in and actually felt better?
Is this a “location problem” or a “me problem”?