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 $768 per month in Al-`awabi vs $1,106 in Salalah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,159 per month in Al-`awabi vs $1,665 in Salalah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,549 per month in Al-`awabi vs $2,225 in Salalah, rent included.

Al-`awabi is about 31% cheaper than Salalah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Al-`awabi and Salalah are more affordable than the global median – Al-`awabi 43% lower, Salalah 17% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.32 OMR 2.05
$5.13 OMR 1.98
3.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.36 OMR 10.14
$25.64 OMR 9.87
2.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.01 OMR 2.31
$13.10 OMR 5.04
-54.12%
Cappuccino
$4.46 OMR 1.72
$6.19 OMR 2.38
-27.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 OMR 0.31
$0.68 OMR 0.26
17.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 OMR 0.10
$0.25 OMR 0.10
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.38 OMR 4.00
$8.92 OMR 3.43
16.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.57 OMR 4.07
$10.37 OMR 3.99
1.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.97 OMR 0.76
$1.76 OMR 0.68
11.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 OMR 0.47
$1.27 OMR 0.49
-3.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 OMR 0.63
$2.02 OMR 0.78
-18.81%
Eggs
$2.45 OMR 0.94
$1.90 OMR 0.73
28.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.75 OMR 1.44
$6.73 OMR 2.59
-44.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.88 OMR 1.88
$4.65 OMR 1.79
4.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.28 OMR 3.19
$8.84 OMR 3.40
-6.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.52 OMR 0.97
$2.04 OMR 0.79
23.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 OMR 0.67
$1.09 OMR 0.42
58.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 OMR 0.69
$1.59 OMR 0.61
11.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.17 OMR 0.45
$1.14 OMR 0.44
2.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.00 OMR 0.38
$1.12 OMR 0.43
-10.71%
Onion (1kg)
$0.97 OMR 0.38
$0.78 OMR 0.30
24.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 OMR 0.42
$0.54 OMR 0.21
101.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 OMR 0.20
$0.54 OMR 0.21
-1.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.19 OMR 2.38
$5.88 OMR 2.26
5.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.63 OMR 6.01
$20.01 OMR 7.70
-21.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.24 OMR 1.63
$3.84 OMR 1.48
10.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.90 OMR 3.04
$4.82 OMR 1.85
63.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.28 OMR 0.49
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$54.3 OMR 20.88
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.06 OMR 1.18
$2.35 OMR 0.90
30.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 OMR 0.31
$1.33 OMR 0.51
-39.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.53 OMR 4.05
$11.83 OMR 4.55
-10.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.60 OMR 0.23
$0.60 OMR 0.23
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K OMR 8,830
$21.1K OMR 8,112
8.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3K OMR 8,195
$18.5K OMR 7,125
15.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$108 OMR 41.44
$63.8 OMR 24.54
68.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.67 OMR 15.65
$49.44 OMR 19.03
-17.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.8 OMR 26.85
$77.0 OMR 29.61
-9.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$93.1 OMR 35.80
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$25.71 OMR 9.89
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.49 OMR 4.04
$8.03 OMR 3.09
30.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$196 OMR 75.3
$111 OMR 42.86
75.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.1K OMR 3,868
$2,399 OMR 923
318.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.1 OMR 19.65
$27.70 OMR 10.66
84.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.03 OMR 15.40
$30.71 OMR 11.82
30.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 OMR 30.74
$62.2 OMR 23.94
28.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.4 OMR 34.40
$42.75 OMR 16.45
109.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$259 OMR 99.7
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$208 OMR 80.2
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$500 OMR 193
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$367 OMR 141
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,034 OMR 783
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,218 OMR 469
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,785 OMR 687
-
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 Al-`awabi: July 11, 2026

Last update for Salalah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Al-`awabi versus $26.00 in Salalah. Groceries tell a different story – $229 in Al-`awabi vs $227 in Salalah – so Salalah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 44%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. 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 $1,152 per month in Al-`awabi and $1,658 in Salalah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Al-`awabi and in Salalah?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $768 in Al-`awabi and $1,106 in Salalah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $196 per month in Al-`awabi and $111 in Salalah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Al-`awabi or in Salalah?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-`awabi, where all-in costs run around $768, than in Salalah at $1,106. In Al-`awabi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Salalah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
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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