Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-hamra' and Salalah Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-hamra' and Salalah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $814 per month in Al-hamra' vs $1,086 in Salalah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,217 per month in Al-hamra' vs $1,648 in Salalah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,620 per month in Al-hamra' vs $2,209 in Salalah, rent included.

Al-hamra' is about 25% cheaper than Salalah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Al-hamra' and Salalah are more affordable than the global median – Al-hamra' 39% lower, Salalah 19% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-hamra'
Salalah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.23 OMR 2.01
$5.35 OMR 2.06
-2.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.79 OMR 9.93
$26.28 OMR 10.12
-1.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.86 OMR 3.02
$12.82 OMR 4.93
-38.69%
Cappuccino
$4.96 OMR 1.91
$6.01 OMR 2.32
-17.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 OMR 0.39
$0.64 OMR 0.25
57.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 OMR 0.13
$0.25 OMR 0.10
36.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.33 OMR 4.75
$9.21 OMR 3.55
33.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.64 OMR 4.48
$10.59 OMR 4.08
9.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-hamra'
Salalah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 OMR 0.75
$1.69 OMR 0.65
14.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 OMR 0.47
$1.28 OMR 0.49
-4.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 OMR 0.66
$2.11 OMR 0.81
-18.48%
Eggs
$2.36 OMR 0.91
$1.95 OMR 0.75
21.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.82 OMR 1.47
$6.92 OMR 2.66
-44.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.08 OMR 1.96
$4.57 OMR 1.76
11.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.52 OMR 3.28
$8.90 OMR 3.43
-4.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.62 OMR 1.01
$2.13 OMR 0.82
23.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 OMR 0.64
$1.11 OMR 0.43
50.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 OMR 0.72
$1.61 OMR 0.62
15.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.17 OMR 0.45
$1.20 OMR 0.46
-2.50%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 OMR 0.37
$1.14 OMR 0.44
-14.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 OMR 0.40
$0.78 OMR 0.30
32.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 OMR 0.42
$0.54 OMR 0.21
100.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 OMR 0.21
$0.58 OMR 0.22
-3.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.29 OMR 2.42
$5.75 OMR 2.21
9.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.43 OMR 5.94
$19.58 OMR 7.54
-21.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.35 OMR 1.67
$3.88 OMR 1.49
12.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.99 OMR 3.08
$4.65 OMR 1.79
71.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Al-hamra'
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)
$3.09 OMR 1.19
$2.25 OMR 0.87
37.33%
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)
$0.63 OMR 0.24
$0.60 OMR 0.23
5.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K OMR 8,750
$20.9K OMR 8,064
8.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K OMR 8,488
$18.0K OMR 6,917
22.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-hamra'
Salalah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$107 OMR 41.26
$65.8 OMR 25.32
62.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.81 OMR 15.71
$49.61 OMR 19.10
-17.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.0 OMR 26.56
$76.6 OMR 29.48
-9.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-hamra'
Salalah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$93.7 OMR 36.09
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.21 OMR 10.09
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.45 OMR 4.02
$7.93 OMR 3.05
31.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-hamra'
Salalah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$195 OMR 75.0
$111 OMR 42.88
74.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,715 OMR 3,740
$2,377 OMR 915
308.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-hamra'
Salalah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.86 OMR 19.20
$27.90 OMR 10.74
78.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.04 OMR 15.03
$31.60 OMR 12.17
23.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.5 OMR 30.59
$64.5 OMR 24.82
23.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.8 OMR 34.56
$43.98 OMR 16.93
104.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-hamra'
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-hamra'
Salalah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,358 OMR 1,678
$1,753 OMR 675
148.62%
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-hamra': June 1, 2026

Last update for Salalah: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 149% higher in Al-hamra', which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Al-hamra' versus $26.00 in Salalah. Groceries tell a different story – $231 in Al-hamra' 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-hamra' vs Salalah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salalah cheaper than Al-hamra'?
Yes – Salalah is pricier by about 33%, 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 $1,222 per month in Al-hamra' 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-hamra' vs Salalah?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $814 in Al-hamra' 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 $195 per month in Al-hamra' 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-hamra' or Salalah?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-hamra', where all-in costs run around $814, than in Salalah at $1,086. In Al-hamra' it covers expenses comfortably, while in Salalah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Al-hamra' or Salalah more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al-hamra' – 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-hamra' 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-hamra'. 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.

Al-hamra' vs other spots: cost of living compared

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