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: $809 in Adam versus $1,115 in Salalah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,201 in Adam versus $1,669 in Salalah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,593 in Adam versus $2,224 in Salalah.

Living in Adam costs roughly 27% less than in Salalah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Adam 40% lower, Salalah 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.31 OMR 2.04

$5.12 OMR 1.97

3.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.54 OMR 9.83

$26.37 OMR 10.15

-3.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 OMR 3.00

$13.06 OMR 5.03

-40.43%

Cappuccino

$4.92 OMR 1.89

$5.97 OMR 2.30

-17.59%

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

$1.05 OMR 0.40

$0.67 OMR 0.26

56.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

$0.27 OMR 0.10

25.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.11 OMR 4.66

$9.35 OMR 3.60

29.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.80 OMR 4.54

$10.46 OMR 4.03

12.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 OMR 0.73

$1.77 OMR 0.68

7.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 OMR 0.46

$1.27 OMR 0.49

-6.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 OMR 0.64

$2.05 OMR 0.79

-18.54%

Eggs

$2.34 OMR 0.90

$1.91 OMR 0.73

22.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.71 OMR 1.43

$6.99 OMR 2.69

-46.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.97 OMR 1.91

$4.74 OMR 1.82

4.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.56 OMR 3.29

$8.84 OMR 3.40

-3.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.51 OMR 0.96

$2.05 OMR 0.79

22.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 OMR 0.67

$1.06 OMR 0.41

65.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

$1.60 OMR 0.61

15.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 OMR 0.45

$1.15 OMR 0.44

2.61%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$1.08 OMR 0.41

-8.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$0.84 OMR 0.32

22.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 OMR 0.40

$0.51 OMR 0.20

103.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 OMR 0.20

$0.57 OMR 0.22

-8.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.55 OMR 2.52

$5.91 OMR 2.28

10.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.50 OMR 5.97

$19.71 OMR 7.59

-21.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.22 OMR 1.62

$3.85 OMR 1.48

9.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.58 OMR 2.92

$4.58 OMR 1.76

65.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.2 OMR 21.26

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 OMR 1.22

$2.33 OMR 0.90

36.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

$1.33 OMR 0.51

-39.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.54 OMR 4.06

$11.48 OMR 4.42

-8.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

$0.59 OMR 0.23

3.39%

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

$23.2K OMR 8,938

$20.7K OMR 7,986

11.92%

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

$21.8K OMR 8,400

$18.0K OMR 6,941

21.03%

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

$107 OMR 41.21

$65.3 OMR 25.14

63.93%

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

$41.52 OMR 15.98

$48.94 OMR 18.84

-15.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.8 OMR 27.25

$75.8 OMR 29.19

-6.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.7 OMR 36.43

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.78 OMR 9.92

Cinema Ticket

$10.26 OMR 3.95

$7.75 OMR 2.98

32.39%

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

$189 OMR 72.9

$111 OMR 42.81

70.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,873 OMR 3,800

$2,414 OMR 929

308.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.0 OMR 19.26

$28.00 OMR 10.78

78.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.87 OMR 15.35

$30.70 OMR 11.82

29.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 OMR 30.61

$62.7 OMR 24.11

26.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.6 OMR 34.09

$43.93 OMR 16.91

101.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 OMR 98.3

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$211 OMR 81.3

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 OMR 193

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$380 OMR 146

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,052 OMR 790

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,219 OMR 469

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,625 OMR 1,010

$1,800 OMR 693

45.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.15

4.58

12.45%

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

Last update for Adam: June 7, 2026

Last update for Salalah: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Adam pays 46% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $26.00 in Adam vs $26.00 in Salalah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $228 vs $228 per month, with Adam 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 Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Adam pays 46% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $189 in Adam versus $111 in Salalah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Adam – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $26.00 in Salalah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $809 in Adam versus $1,115 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 38% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.