Cost of Living Comparison Between Adam and Salalah Cost of Living Comparison Between Adam and Salalah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $945 in Adam versus $1,034 in Salalah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,427 in Adam versus $1,538 in Salalah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,910 in Adam versus $2,042 in Salalah.

Living in Adam costs roughly 9% less than in Salalah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Adam 31% lower, Salalah 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.33 OMR 2.05

$5.18 OMR 2.00

2.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.37 OMR 12.85

$26.51 OMR 10.21

25.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.71 OMR 2.97

$12.81 OMR 4.93

-39.81%

Cappuccino

$4.83 OMR 1.86

$6.37 OMR 2.45

-24.18%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 OMR 0.33

$0.87 OMR 0.33

-2.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 OMR 0.11

$0.25 OMR 0.10

16.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.07 OMR 5.03

$8.91 OMR 3.43

46.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.97 OMR 4.99

$10.47 OMR 4.03

23.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.37 OMR 0.91

$1.98 OMR 0.76

19.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 OMR 0.50

$1.28 OMR 0.49

0.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 OMR 0.72

$2.56 OMR 0.99

-26.56%

Eggs

$2.87 OMR 1.10

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.67 OMR 2.95

$4.74 OMR 1.82

61.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.81 OMR 2.62

$4.76 OMR 1.83

43.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.51 OMR 4.04

Apples (1kg)

$3.44 OMR 1.32

$1.98 OMR 0.76

73.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 OMR 0.74

$1.85 OMR 0.71

3.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.34 OMR 0.90

$2.02 OMR 0.78

15.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 OMR 0.46

$1.83 OMR 0.71

-34.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 OMR 0.46

$1.51 OMR 0.58

-21.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.03 OMR 0.40

20.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 OMR 0.68

$1.08 OMR 0.42

64.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 OMR 0.26

$0.49 OMR 0.19

34.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.32 OMR 2.43

$5.83 OMR 2.24

8.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.88 OMR 6.11

$19.98 OMR 7.69

-20.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.67 OMR 2.18

$3.86 OMR 1.49

46.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.94 OMR 3.44

$4.76 OMR 1.83

87.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 OMR 21.27

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 OMR 1.26

$2.29 OMR 0.88

43.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.61 OMR 1.01

$1.26 OMR 0.49

107.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 OMR 2.93

$11.53 OMR 4.44

-34.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

$0.59 OMR 0.23

1.69%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.9K OMR 9,979

$20.9K OMR 8,053

23.93%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.4K OMR 8,642

$18.5K OMR 7,136

21.10%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$172 OMR 66.3

$78.8 OMR 30.33

118.57%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$30.89 OMR 11.89

$49.07 OMR 18.89

-37.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.3 OMR 27.45

$74.3 OMR 28.59

-3.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.68 OMR 15.28

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.54 OMR 10.22

Cinema Ticket

$10.43 OMR 4.01

$7.99 OMR 3.07

30.54%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$288 OMR 111

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K OMR 4,017

$1,944 OMR 749

436.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 OMR 21.44

$28.98 OMR 11.16

92.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.50 OMR 16.75

$30.69 OMR 11.81

41.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.2 OMR 34.33

$59.6 OMR 22.94

49.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.6 OMR 37.18

$44.98 OMR 17.32

114.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 OMR 94.6

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 OMR 80.8

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$258 OMR 99.4

$639 OMR 246

-59.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$385 OMR 148

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,994 OMR 768

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,244 OMR 479

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,619 OMR 1,008

$1,759 OMR 677

48.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

4.58

14.63%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Adam: September 13, 2026

Last update for Salalah: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Adam pays 49% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Adam vs $27.00 in Salalah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $287 vs $205 per month, with Salalah cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Adam vs Salalah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Adam is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 49% higher in Adam, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Salalah pay roughly 40% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Adam – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $27.00 in Salalah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $945 in Adam versus $1,034 in Salalah, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Adam but tight or insufficient in Salalah. The gap between the two cities makes Adam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Adam and Salalah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Adam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.