Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-`awabi and Salalah Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-`awabi and Salalah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Al-`awabi vs $1,022 in Salalah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,420 per month in Al-`awabi vs $1,542 in Salalah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,884 per month in Al-`awabi vs $2,061 in Salalah, rent included.

Al-`awabi is about 6% cheaper than Salalah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Al-`awabi and Salalah are more affordable than the global median – Al-`awabi 30% lower, Salalah 26% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.16 OMR 1.98
$5.28 OMR 2.03
-2.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.34 OMR 13.22
$26.36 OMR 10.15
30.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.00 OMR 3.08
$13.14 OMR 5.06
-39.12%
Cappuccino
$4.84 OMR 1.86
$6.29 OMR 2.42
-23.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 OMR 0.32
$0.85 OMR 0.33
-1.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 OMR 0.10
$0.27 OMR 0.10
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$13.16 OMR 5.07
$8.90 OMR 3.43
47.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.90 OMR 4.97
$10.43 OMR 4.02
23.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.27 OMR 0.87
$2.00 OMR 0.77
13.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 OMR 0.48
$1.21 OMR 0.47
3.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 OMR 0.70
$2.67 OMR 1.03
-31.84%
Eggs
$2.98 OMR 1.15
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.79 OMR 3.00
$4.62 OMR 1.78
68.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.91 OMR 2.66
$4.63 OMR 1.78
49.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.67 OMR 4.11
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 OMR 1.37
$1.94 OMR 0.75
82.99%
Banana (1kg)
$2.00 OMR 0.77
$1.80 OMR 0.69
11.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.37 OMR 0.91
$2.12 OMR 0.82
11.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.21 OMR 0.46
$1.87 OMR 0.72
-35.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 OMR 0.45
$1.44 OMR 0.55
-19.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 OMR 0.48
$1.02 OMR 0.39
21.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 OMR 0.69
$1.09 OMR 0.42
65.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 OMR 0.24
$0.49 OMR 0.19
28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.63 OMR 2.55
$5.94 OMR 2.29
11.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.56 OMR 5.99
$20.10 OMR 7.74
-22.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.64 OMR 2.17
$3.88 OMR 1.50
45.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 OMR 3.47
$4.82 OMR 1.85
86.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.32 OMR 0.51
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$55.0 OMR 21.17
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.18 OMR 1.22
$2.23 OMR 0.86
42.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.67 OMR 1.03
$1.27 OMR 0.49
110.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.75 OMR 2.98
$11.51 OMR 4.43
-32.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 OMR 0.25
$0.63 OMR 0.24
1.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K OMR 9,926
$21.1K OMR 8,121
22.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K OMR 8,766
$18.2K OMR 6,998
25.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 OMR 65.0
$79.6 OMR 30.63
112.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.28 OMR 12.04
$48.86 OMR 18.81
-35.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.1 OMR 27.37
$73.1 OMR 28.14
-2.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$39.76 OMR 15.31
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$25.79 OMR 9.93
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.52 OMR 4.05
$7.76 OMR 2.99
35.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$288 OMR 111
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K OMR 4,033
$1,912 OMR 736
447.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0 OMR 21.94
$28.56 OMR 11.00
99.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.75 OMR 16.85
$30.61 OMR 11.78
42.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.3 OMR 35.14
$57.4 OMR 22.10
58.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.5 OMR 36.38
$45.61 OMR 17.56
107.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$248 OMR 95.6
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$206 OMR 79.4
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$621 OMR 239
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$393 OMR 151
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,001 OMR 770
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,246 OMR 480
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,813 OMR 698
-
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 Al-`awabi: August 31, 2026

Last update for Salalah: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Al-`awabi versus $26.00 in Salalah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $204 – making Salalah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Al-`awabi vs Salalah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salalah cheaper than Al-`awabi?
Yes – Salalah is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,435 per month in Al-`awabi and $1,532 in Salalah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do food prices compare in Al-`awabi and in Salalah?
Interestingly, groceries are about 41% cheaper in Salalah – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Al-`awabi or in Salalah?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Al-`awabi and $26.00 in Salalah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Al-`awabi or Salalah?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $957 in Al-`awabi and $1,022 in Salalah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Al-`awabi or Salalah more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al-`awabi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Al-`awabi or Salalah?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Al-`awabi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Salalah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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