Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Ghubra and Salalah Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Ghubra and Salalah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $345 in Al Ghubra versus $1,086 in Salalah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $465 in Al Ghubra versus $1,648 in Salalah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $585 in Al Ghubra versus $2,209 in Salalah.

Living in Al Ghubra costs roughly 68% less than in Salalah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Ghubra 74% lower, Salalah 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.35 OMR 2.06

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 OMR 10.12

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.82 OMR 4.93

Cappuccino

$6.01 OMR 2.32

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

$0.64 OMR 0.25

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

$0.25 OMR 0.10

8.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.21 OMR 3.55

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.59 OMR 4.08

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 OMR 0.72

$1.69 OMR 0.65

10.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 OMR 0.82

$2.11 OMR 0.81

0.47%

Eggs

$5.18 OMR 1.99

$1.95 OMR 0.75

165.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.92 OMR 2.66

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.57 OMR 1.76

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.90 OMR 3.43

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 OMR 0.82

$2.13 OMR 0.82

-0.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 OMR 0.72

$1.11 OMR 0.43

68.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

$1.61 OMR 0.62

14.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.31 OMR 0.51

$1.20 OMR 0.46

9.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 OMR 0.26

$1.14 OMR 0.44

-40.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 OMR 0.26

$0.78 OMR 0.30

-12.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 OMR 0.19

$0.58 OMR 0.22

-13.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.75 OMR 2.21

Wine (Bottle)

$19.58 OMR 7.54

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.88 OMR 1.49

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 OMR 1.79

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)

$2.25 OMR 0.87

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.58 OMR 4.46

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

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

$20.9K OMR 8,064

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

$18.0K OMR 6,917

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

$113 OMR 43.36

$65.8 OMR 25.32

71.25%

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

$49.61 OMR 19.10

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.3 OMR 32.46

$76.6 OMR 29.48

10.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.59 OMR 16.78

$93.7 OMR 36.09

-53.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.90 OMR 14.21

$26.21 OMR 10.09

40.79%

Cinema Ticket

$9.02 OMR 3.47

$7.93 OMR 3.05

13.75%

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

$185 OMR 71.1

$111 OMR 42.88

65.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K OMR 4,066

$2,377 OMR 915

344.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.90 OMR 10.74

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.60 OMR 12.17

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.5 OMR 24.82

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.98 OMR 16.93

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,669 OMR 1,028

$1,753 OMR 675

52.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.58

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

Last update for Al Ghubra: June 2, 2026

Last update for Salalah: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al Ghubra pays 52% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Ghubra vs Salalah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Ghubra and Salalah differ by about 215% in total monthly costs ($345 vs $1,086 including rent). Al Ghubra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Al Ghubra pays 52% 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 $185 in Al Ghubra versus $111 in Salalah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $345 per month in Al Ghubra versus $1,086 in Salalah – a 215% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $345 in Al Ghubra versus $1,086 in Salalah, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al Ghubra but tight or insufficient in Salalah. The gap between the two cities makes Al Ghubra 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, Al Ghubra 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 Ghubra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 215% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.