Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-Buraimi and Salalah Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-Buraimi and Salalah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $923 in Al-Buraimi versus $1,022 in Salalah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Al-Buraimi versus $1,542 in Salalah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,778 in Al-Buraimi versus $2,061 in Salalah.

Living in Al-Buraimi costs roughly 10% less than in Salalah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-Buraimi 33% lower, Salalah 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.07 OMR 1.95

$5.28 OMR 2.03

-3.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.24 OMR 5.10

$26.36 OMR 10.15

-49.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 OMR 3.02

$13.14 OMR 5.06

-40.33%

Cappuccino

$4.87 OMR 1.87

$6.29 OMR 2.42

-22.58%

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

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.84 OMR 4.94

$8.90 OMR 3.43

44.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.96 OMR 4.99

$10.43 OMR 4.02

24.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 OMR 0.89

$2.00 OMR 0.77

15.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.21 OMR 0.47

2.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 OMR 0.59

$2.67 OMR 1.03

-42.70%

Eggs

$2.91 OMR 1.12

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.62 OMR 2.55

$4.62 OMR 1.78

43.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.56 OMR 2.14

$4.63 OMR 1.78

20.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.90 OMR 3.42

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 OMR 0.82

$1.94 OMR 0.75

9.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 OMR 0.70

$1.80 OMR 0.69

0.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 OMR 0.79

$2.12 OMR 0.82

-2.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 OMR 0.48

$1.87 OMR 0.72

-33.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 OMR 0.47

$1.44 OMR 0.55

-15.97%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$1.02 OMR 0.39

-2.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 OMR 0.33

$1.09 OMR 0.42

-22.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 OMR 0.25

$0.49 OMR 0.19

34.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.06 OMR 1.95

$5.94 OMR 2.29

-14.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.70 OMR 6.04

$20.10 OMR 7.74

-21.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.68 OMR 2.19

$3.88 OMR 1.50

46.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.86 OMR 3.41

$4.82 OMR 1.85

83.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.22 OMR 15.10

$55.0 OMR 21.17

-28.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 OMR 1.26

$2.23 OMR 0.86

47.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.86 OMR 3.03

$11.51 OMR 4.43

-31.71%

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)

$25.3K OMR 9,741

$21.1K OMR 8,121

19.94%

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

$22.4K OMR 8,610

$18.2K OMR 6,998

23.03%

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

$76.7 OMR 29.53

$79.6 OMR 30.63

-3.59%

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

$31.38 OMR 12.08

$48.86 OMR 18.81

-35.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 OMR 26.59

$73.1 OMR 28.14

-5.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.0 OMR 24.63

$39.76 OMR 15.31

60.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.79 OMR 9.93

Cinema Ticket

$7.86 OMR 3.03

$7.76 OMR 2.99

1.29%

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

$264 OMR 102

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K OMR 4,121

$1,912 OMR 736

459.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.0 OMR 21.56

$28.56 OMR 11.00

96.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.79 OMR 16.47

$30.61 OMR 11.78

39.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.5 OMR 35.63

$57.4 OMR 22.10

61.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.3 OMR 37.47

$45.61 OMR 17.56

113.40%

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,575 OMR 1,376

$1,813 OMR 698

97.19%

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-Buraimi: August 31, 2026

Last update for Salalah: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al-Buraimi pays 97% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $13.00 in Al-Buraimi vs $26.00 in Salalah. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 vs $204, with Salalah cheaper for home cooking.

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-Buraimi vs Salalah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Buraimi is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 97% higher in Al-Buraimi, 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 27% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $923 per month in Al-Buraimi versus $1,022 in Salalah – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Al-Buraimi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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, Al-Buraimi 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 Al-Buraimi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.