Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-masna'ah and Salalah Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-masna'ah and Salalah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $818 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $1,111 in Salalah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,219 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $1,643 in Salalah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,619 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $2,175 in Salalah, rent included.

Al-masna'ah is about 26% cheaper than Salalah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Al-masna'ah and Salalah are more affordable than the global median – Al-masna'ah 39% lower, Salalah 17% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-masna'ah
Salalah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.09 OMR 1.95
$5.22 OMR 2.00
-2.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.23 OMR 10.07
$25.83 OMR 9.92
1.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.59 OMR 2.92
$13.07 OMR 5.02
-41.93%
Cappuccino
$4.95 OMR 1.90
$6.04 OMR 2.32
-18.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 OMR 0.41
$0.67 OMR 0.26
58.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 OMR 0.12
$0.25 OMR 0.10
28.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.52 OMR 4.81
$9.22 OMR 3.54
35.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.83 OMR 4.54
$10.60 OMR 4.07
11.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-masna'ah
Salalah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.91 OMR 0.73
$1.71 OMR 0.66
11.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.18 OMR 0.45
$1.26 OMR 0.48
-6.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 OMR 0.66
$2.12 OMR 0.81
-19.34%
Eggs
$2.39 OMR 0.92
$1.96 OMR 0.75
21.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.81 OMR 1.46
$6.72 OMR 2.58
-43.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.12 OMR 1.97
$4.59 OMR 1.76
11.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.66 OMR 3.33
$9.26 OMR 3.56
-6.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.57 OMR 0.99
$2.14 OMR 0.82
20.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 OMR 0.64
$1.10 OMR 0.42
51.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.76 OMR 0.67
$1.58 OMR 0.60
11.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 OMR 0.44
$1.16 OMR 0.44
-1.72%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 OMR 0.38
$1.13 OMR 0.44
-12.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 OMR 0.39
$0.84 OMR 0.32
22.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 OMR 0.40
$0.53 OMR 0.20
96.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 OMR 0.21
$0.53 OMR 0.21
5.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.45 OMR 2.48
$5.68 OMR 2.18
13.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.42 OMR 5.92
$19.62 OMR 7.53
-21.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.33 OMR 1.66
$4.01 OMR 1.54
7.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.58 OMR 2.91
$4.63 OMR 1.78
63.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Al-masna'ah
Salalah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.32 OMR 0.51
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$53.8 OMR 20.65
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 OMR 1.19
$2.21 OMR 0.85
39.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 OMR 0.31
$1.28 OMR 0.49
-36.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.28 OMR 3.95
$11.76 OMR 4.52
-12.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 OMR 0.25
$0.59 OMR 0.23
8.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K OMR 8,634
$20.7K OMR 7,952
8.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K OMR 8,434
$18.2K OMR 6,994
20.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-masna'ah
Salalah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$109 OMR 41.69
$64.4 OMR 24.71
68.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.99 OMR 16.12
$49.60 OMR 19.05
-15.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.2 OMR 26.94
$77.5 OMR 29.75
-9.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-masna'ah
Salalah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$94.7 OMR 36.37
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.51 OMR 10.18
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.59 OMR 4.07
$7.66 OMR 2.94
38.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-masna'ah
Salalah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$190 OMR 73.1
$111 OMR 42.80
70.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,774 OMR 3,753
$2,402 OMR 922
306.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-masna'ah
Salalah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.1 OMR 19.25
$27.22 OMR 10.45
84.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.12 OMR 15.02
$31.71 OMR 12.17
23.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 OMR 30.38
$63.3 OMR 24.29
25.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 OMR 34.14
$43.40 OMR 16.66
104.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-masna'ah
Salalah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$253 OMR 97.3
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$209 OMR 80.4
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$502 OMR 193
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$374 OMR 144
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,015 OMR 774
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,232 OMR 473
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-masna'ah
Salalah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,049 OMR 1,555
$1,743 OMR 669
132.33%
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-masna'ah: April 25, 2026

Last update for Salalah: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 132% higher in Al-masna'ah, 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-masna'ah versus $26.00 in Salalah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $229 vs $229 – making Al-masna'ah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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-masna'ah vs Salalah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Al-masna'ah and Salalah compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $818 in Al-masna'ah, $1,111 in Salalah – roughly 36% apart. Salalah costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Al-masna'ah compared to Salalah?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,227 per month in Al-masna'ah and $1,666 in Salalah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Al-masna'ah or Salalah?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $818 in Al-masna'ah and $1,111 in Salalah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Al-masna'ah and Salalah?
Kindergarten costs $190 per month in Al-masna'ah and $111 in Salalah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in Al-masna'ah vs Salalah?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $818 in Al-masna'ah and $1,111 in Salalah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Al-masna'ah or Salalah?
Families tend to lean toward Al-masna'ah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Al-masna'ah or Salalah safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Al-masna'ah and Salalah?
If budget matters most, go with Al-masna'ah. 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-masna'ah vs other spots: cost of living compared

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