Gold is steadier and easier to store; silver is far cheaper but swings more and weighs more. On 1 November 2026 a gram of 24K gold was worth 78.9 g of silver, and SAR 100,000 bought about 214 g of gold or about 16.9 kg of silver before margins. Investopedia notes that silver is more volatile, has more industrial use and a smaller market. So the choice depends on the amount, where you'd store it and how much price movement you can stand. This is general information, not investment advice.
Should I save in gold or silver? The difference in numbers
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Last updated: Source: metals.dev in Saudi riyals, dollars at the 3.75 peg · World benchmark: LBMA price · How we get our prices
Side by side
| Gold | Silver | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (1 November 2026) | SAR 467.27 per gram, 24K | SAR 5.92 per gram |
| SAR 100,000 buys | About 214 g | About 16.9 kg |
| Volatility | Lower | Higher |
| Industrial use | Less | More |
| Market size | Much larger | Smaller |
| VAT (99% purity or above) | 0% | 0% |
| Zakat nisab | 85 g of pure gold | 595 g (Arabic) |
Today 24K gold is 467.27 SAR per gram.
Volatility: one day's example
On 1 November 2026 our gold price fell 3.62% and silver 5.81%. One day proves no rule, but it illustrates the point Investopedia makes: gold tends to be less volatile. Savings that can't stand a big fall sit closer to gold.
Storage matters more than you'd think
16.9 kg of silver is real weight and bulk, while 214 g of gold fits in a small box. That matters if you use a bank safe deposit box, where size has a price, or if you need to move and sell it. On small amounts it hardly matters.
VAT: bars or finished pieces
The VAT Implementing Regulations treat gold, silver and platinum as qualifying metals: zero-rated at 99% purity or higher if tradable on the global bullion market. So a 999 silver bar can qualify, while 925 silver and finished pieces carry 15%. Ask for the VAT to be shown on the invoice. With silver, margins and VAT can be a bigger share of the value on small weights, so compare before you buy.
What is the gold-to-silver ratio?
The ratio is how many units of silver equal one unit of gold. It was about 72 on 16 October 2026, according to Investopedia, and 78.9 on our figures on 1 November. It has moved a lot: between 65 and above 100 from 2021 to 2025, 125.7 in 2020, and about 15 in 1980.
Some traders switch between the metals using this ratio, but Investopedia itself advises against doing that with physical metal, as repeated buying and selling is hard and expensive. It's useful for understanding, not a signal to buy, and we don't say any given figure is "cheap".
Ask about selling before you buy
You can sell gold at gold shops. Before you buy silver, ask the seller whether they would buy it back and at what price, since that sets your real loss. Don't rely on the world gram price alone.
Can you hold both?
Investopedia says diversifying between the two can give balance. But neither pays income, and each is subject to zakat at its own nisab, so read is gold a good investment?
Sources
- Investopedia: Investing in Gold: Is It Still Worthwhile?: gold compared with silver.
- Investopedia: How To Trade the Gold-Silver Ratio (updated 19 October 2026).
- ZATCA: VAT Implementing Regulations, Article 36 (Arabic).
- Dhahabi: silver price and bar prices on 1 November 2026 (Arabic).
- Weights are worked out: 100,000 ÷ 467.27 and 100,000 ÷ 5.92.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to save in gold or silver?
Gold swings less and is easier to store; silver is cheaper and swings more. It depends on your budget and how much movement you can stand.
Is there VAT on silver?
Finished pieces and silver below 99% carry 15%. Investment silver of 99% purity or higher that trades on the global bullion market is zero-rated.
What is the gold-to-silver ratio today?
It was 78.9 on 1 November 2026 and changes daily.
Should I switch between gold and silver using the ratio?
Investopedia advises against doing this with physical metal, as it is hard and expensive.