🙂A single person spends $931 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $1,021 in Salalah, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,409 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $1,552 in Salalah, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,887 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $2,082 in Salalah, rent included.
🙂Al-masna'ah is about 9% cheaper than Salalah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Al-masna'ah and Salalah are more affordable than the global median – Al-masna'ah33% lower, Salalah26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-masna'ah
Salalah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.31OMR 2.04
$5.35OMR 2.06
-0.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.62OMR 12.94
$25.78OMR 9.92
30.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.63OMR 2.94
$12.89OMR 4.96
-40.81%
Cappuccino
$4.94OMR 1.90
$6.11OMR 2.35
-19.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90OMR 0.35
$0.89OMR 0.34
1.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29OMR 0.11
$0.27OMR 0.10
7.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.78OMR 4.92
$8.85OMR 3.41
44.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.87OMR 4.95
$10.60OMR 4.08
21.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-masna'ah
Salalah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.29OMR 0.88
$1.89OMR 0.73
21.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29OMR 0.50
$1.24OMR 0.48
4.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87OMR 0.72
$2.66OMR 1.02
-29.70%
Eggs
$2.86OMR 1.10
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.57OMR 2.91
$4.55OMR 1.75
66.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.92OMR 2.66
$4.73OMR 1.82
46.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.49OMR 4.04
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.54OMR 1.36
$1.91OMR 0.74
85.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.99OMR 0.77
$1.80OMR 0.69
10.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.34OMR 0.90
$2.10OMR 0.81
11.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.24OMR 0.48
$1.78OMR 0.69
-30.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.21OMR 0.47
$1.49OMR 0.57
-18.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27OMR 0.49
$1.01OMR 0.39
25.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.79OMR 0.69
$1.10OMR 0.42
62.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63OMR 0.24
$0.51OMR 0.20
23.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.52OMR 2.51
$6.01OMR 2.31
8.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.33OMR 5.90
$19.50OMR 7.51
-21.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.43OMR 2.09
$3.84OMR 1.48
41.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.82OMR 3.39
$4.63OMR 1.78
90.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Al-masna'ah
Salalah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.32OMR 0.51
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$55.5OMR 21.34
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.34OMR 1.28
$2.29OMR 0.88
45.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.68OMR 1.03
$1.27OMR 0.49
111.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.71OMR 2.97
$11.66OMR 4.49
-33.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.61OMR 0.23
$0.61OMR 0.23
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7KOMR 9,908
$20.5KOMR 7,877
25.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9KOMR 8,801
$18.4KOMR 7,094
24.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-masna'ah
Salalah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$174OMR 66.8
$77.5OMR 29.83
123.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.57OMR 11.77
$48.48OMR 18.66
-36.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.0OMR 27.32
$73.3OMR 28.20
-3.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-masna'ah
Salalah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$40.49OMR 15.59
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.45OMR 10.18
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.41OMR 4.01
$7.64OMR 2.94
36.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-masna'ah
Salalah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$282OMR 108
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6KOMR 4,089
$1,963OMR 756
441.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-masna'ah
Salalah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8OMR 21.87
$28.13OMR 10.83
102.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98OMR 16.93
$31.00OMR 11.93
41.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.6OMR 35.26
$58.4OMR 22.47
56.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.2OMR 37.02
$44.91OMR 17.28
114.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-masna'ah
Salalah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$243OMR 93.7
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$209OMR 80.4
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$645OMR 248
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$389OMR 150
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,043OMR 787
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,218OMR 469
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-masna'ah
Salalah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,968OMR 1,527
$1,775OMR 683
123.50%
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-masna'ah: September 8, 2026
Last update for Salalah: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 123% 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 $34.00 in Al-masna'ah versus $26.00 in Salalah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 vs $201 – making Salalah 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 in Salalah compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $931 in Al-masna'ah, $1,021 in Salalah – roughly 10% apart. Salalah costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Al-masna'ah compared to Salalah?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,396 per month in Al-masna'ah and $1,532 in Salalah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Al-masna'ah and $26.00 in Salalah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Al-masna'ah or Salalah?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $931 in Al-masna'ah and $1,021 in Salalah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How far does $1,200 go in Al-masna'ah compared to Salalah?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $931 in Al-masna'ah and $1,021 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