The design of affordable housing in Saudi Arabia is usually governed by cost reduction and does not take people’s lifestyles into account. Such an approach has a number of harmful consequences on the affordable housing user such as costly alterations to the original plan to suit the lifestyle. This research argues that there is a need to build a concrete knowledge about people’s lifestyles and incorporate it into the design of affordable housing. This would improve the housing design, increase user satisfaction, and may have positive effects on the whole affordable housing estate. The affordable housing concept is a Western concept that defines who is eligible to get such type of housing. The definition is based on the annual income of the individual, the individual marital status, and health status. This concept has been adopted in the Arabic region including the Saudi Arabia Kingdom but a number of researchers point out that the concept was not clear and was not adapted to suit the local lifestyle and traditions.