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: $355 in Al Ghubra versus $1,106 in Salalah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $473 in Al Ghubra versus $1,665 in Salalah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $591 in Al Ghubra versus $2,225 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 73% lower, Salalah 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.13 OMR 1.98

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.64 OMR 9.87

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.10 OMR 5.04

Cappuccino

$6.19 OMR 2.38

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

$0.68 OMR 0.26

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.92 OMR 3.43

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.37 OMR 3.99

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 OMR 0.71

$1.76 OMR 0.68

4.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 OMR 0.82

$2.02 OMR 0.78

5.45%

Eggs

$5.10 OMR 1.96

$1.90 OMR 0.73

168.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.73 OMR 2.59

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.65 OMR 1.79

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.84 OMR 3.40

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 OMR 0.81

$2.04 OMR 0.79

3.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 OMR 0.72

$1.09 OMR 0.42

70.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.70

$1.59 OMR 0.61

15.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.14 OMR 0.44

11.40%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 OMR 0.24

$1.12 OMR 0.43

-44.64%

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)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.88 OMR 2.26

Wine (Bottle)

$20.01 OMR 7.70

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.84 OMR 1.48

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.82 OMR 1.85

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)

$2.35 OMR 0.90

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 OMR 0.51

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.83 OMR 4.55

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

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

$21.1K OMR 8,112

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

$18.5K OMR 7,125

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

$113 OMR 43.33

$63.8 OMR 24.54

76.59%

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

$49.44 OMR 19.03

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.8 OMR 33.01

$77.0 OMR 29.61

11.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.51 OMR 16.74

$93.1 OMR 35.80

-53.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.04 OMR 14.25

$25.71 OMR 9.89

44.07%

Cinema Ticket

$8.88 OMR 3.42

$8.03 OMR 3.09

10.59%

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

$182 OMR 69.9

$111 OMR 42.86

63.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K OMR 4,037

$2,399 OMR 923

337.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.70 OMR 10.66

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.71 OMR 11.82

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.2 OMR 23.94

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.75 OMR 16.45

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,096 OMR 1,191

$1,785 OMR 687

73.39%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Salalah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al Ghubra pays 73% 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 212% in total monthly costs ($355 vs $1,106 including rent). Al Ghubra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 73% higher in Al Ghubra, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $182 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 $355 per month in Al Ghubra versus $1,106 in Salalah – a 212% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $355 in Al Ghubra versus $1,106 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 212% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.