Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Mukalla and Ibb Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Mukalla and Ibb

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $870 in Al Mukalla versus $987 in Ibb.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,554 in Al Mukalla versus $1,658 in Ibb.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,238 in Al Mukalla versus $2,329 in Ibb.

Living in Al Mukalla costs roughly 12% less than in Ibb, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Mukalla 35% lower, Ibb 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.72 YER 3,985

$6.85 YER 1,633

144.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.33 YER 8,895

$40.65 YER 9,687

-8.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.27 YER 3,877

$12.50 YER 2,978

30.16%

Cappuccino

$8.09 YER 1,929

$2.08 YER 495

288.94%

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

$3.77 YER 899

$1.60 YER 382

135.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 YER 186

$0.50 YER 119

56.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.26 YER 778

White Bread (500g)

$0.86 YER 205

$1.16 YER 276

-25.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.60 YER 1,572

$4.74 YER 1,131

39.24%

Eggs

$7.29 YER 1,738

$6.43 YER 1,531

13.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 YER 3,401

$9.11 YER 2,172

56.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.34 YER 5,561

$12.60 YER 3,002

85.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$58.5 YER 13.9K

$27.63 YER 6,585

111.65%

Apples (1kg)

$12.76 YER 3,042

$5.80 YER 1,382

120.00%

Banana (1kg)

$4.83 YER 1,151

$2.17 YER 517

122.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.80 YER 1,144

$6.45 YER 1,537

-25.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.20 YER 764

$3.67 YER 876

-12.81%

Potato (1kg)

$5.21 YER 1,243

$2.32 YER 554

124.57%

Onion (1kg)

$4.16 YER 990

$2.02 YER 481

105.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 YER 186

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 YER 591

$1.40 YER 334

77.14%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.34 YER 795

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.04 YER 963

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 YER 496

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.99 YER 952

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

$90.8 YER 21.6K

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

$15.33 YER 3,652

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.6 YER 18.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 YER 19.2K

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

$28.67 YER 6,833

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,323 YER 791.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.35 YER 6,993

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.95 YER 11.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.5 YER 13.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$216 YER 51.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$160 YER 38.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$571 YER 136.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$395 YER 94.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$352 YER 83.9K

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

Last update for Al Mukalla: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ibb: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $37.00 in Al Mukalla vs $41.00 in Ibb. Groceries flip the comparison at $581 vs $379, with Ibb cheaper for home cooking.

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 Mukalla vs Ibb: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Mukalla is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,304 in Al Mukalla and $1,480 in Ibb to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Ibb pay roughly 53% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Al Mukalla – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $41.00 in Ibb. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $870 in Al Mukalla versus $987 in Ibb, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Mukalla but tight or insufficient in Ibb. The gap between the two cities makes Al Mukalla 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.

Expats usually find Al Mukalla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Ibb. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.