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 $793 per month in Al-`awabi vs $1,086 in Salalah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,166 per month in Al-`awabi vs $1,648 in Salalah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,539 per month in Al-`awabi vs $2,209 in Salalah, rent included.

Al-`awabi is about 27% cheaper than Salalah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Al-`awabi and Salalah are more affordable than the global median – Al-`awabi 41% lower, Salalah 19% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.16 OMR 1.99
$5.35 OMR 2.06
-3.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.81 OMR 9.94
$26.28 OMR 10.12
-1.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.80 OMR 2.23
$12.82 OMR 4.93
-54.76%
Cappuccino
$4.51 OMR 1.74
$6.01 OMR 2.32
-24.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 OMR 0.32
$0.64 OMR 0.25
28.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 OMR 0.10
$0.25 OMR 0.10
8.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.56 OMR 4.07
$9.21 OMR 3.55
14.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.20 OMR 3.93
$10.59 OMR 4.08
-3.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.96 OMR 0.76
$1.69 OMR 0.65
15.98%
White Bread (500g)
$1.23 OMR 0.47
$1.28 OMR 0.49
-3.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.73 OMR 0.67
$2.11 OMR 0.81
-18.01%
Eggs
$2.45 OMR 0.94
$1.95 OMR 0.75
25.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.89 OMR 1.50
$6.92 OMR 2.66
-43.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.13 OMR 1.97
$4.57 OMR 1.76
12.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.75 OMR 3.37
$8.90 OMR 3.43
-1.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.51 OMR 0.97
$2.13 OMR 0.82
17.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 OMR 0.64
$1.11 OMR 0.43
48.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.83 OMR 0.70
$1.61 OMR 0.62
13.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.18 OMR 0.45
$1.20 OMR 0.46
-1.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.94 OMR 0.36
$1.14 OMR 0.44
-17.54%
Onion (1kg)
$0.99 OMR 0.38
$0.78 OMR 0.30
26.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 OMR 0.42
$0.54 OMR 0.21
101.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 OMR 0.22
$0.58 OMR 0.22
-1.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.46 OMR 2.49
$5.75 OMR 2.21
12.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.89 OMR 6.12
$19.58 OMR 7.54
-18.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.21 OMR 1.62
$3.88 OMR 1.49
8.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.81 OMR 3.01
$4.65 OMR 1.79
67.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.31 OMR 0.51
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$55.7 OMR 21.44
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 OMR 1.19
$2.25 OMR 0.87
36.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 OMR 0.31
$1.27 OMR 0.49
-36.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.22 OMR 3.94
$11.58 OMR 4.46
-11.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.59 OMR 0.23
$0.60 OMR 0.23
-1.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K OMR 8,983
$20.9K OMR 8,064
11.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K OMR 8,429
$18.0K OMR 6,917
21.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$109 OMR 41.99
$65.8 OMR 25.32
65.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.34 OMR 15.91
$49.61 OMR 19.10
-16.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 OMR 26.92
$76.6 OMR 29.48
-8.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$93.7 OMR 36.09
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.21 OMR 10.09
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.37 OMR 3.99
$7.93 OMR 3.05
30.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$190 OMR 73.2
$111 OMR 42.88
70.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,996 OMR 3,849
$2,377 OMR 915
320.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.36 OMR 19.00
$27.90 OMR 10.74
76.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.09 OMR 15.05
$31.60 OMR 12.17
23.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 OMR 30.67
$64.5 OMR 24.82
23.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.2 OMR 34.74
$43.98 OMR 16.93
105.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$255 OMR 98.1
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$215 OMR 82.8
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$492 OMR 189
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$370 OMR 142
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,991 OMR 766
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,225 OMR 472
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-`awabi
Salalah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,753 OMR 675
-
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Salalah: June 1, 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 – $232 in Al-`awabi vs $228 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 37%, 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 $1,190 per month in Al-`awabi and $1,629 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 vs Salalah?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $793 in Al-`awabi and $1,086 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 $190 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 Al-`awabi or Salalah?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-`awabi, where all-in costs run around $793, than in Salalah at $1,086. 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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