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: $869 in Al Mukalla versus $987 in Ibb.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,546 in Al Mukalla versus $1,625 in Ibb.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,222 in Al Mukalla versus $2,263 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

$16.60 YER 3,930

$6.79 YER 1,606

144.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.53 YER 8,883

$41.32 YER 9,781

-9.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.58 YER 3,924

$12.77 YER 3,023

29.84%

Cappuccino

$8.15 YER 1,929

$2.03 YER 480

301.48%

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

$3.77 YER 891

$1.67 YER 395

125.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 YER 197

$0.53 YER 126

56.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.29 YER 778

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 YER 185

$1.17 YER 277

-33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.46 YER 1,528

$4.82 YER 1,140

34.02%

Eggs

$7.18 YER 1,700

$6.53 YER 1,545

9.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.54 YER 3,442

$9.58 YER 2,268

51.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$22.96 YER 5,434

$12.30 YER 2,912

86.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$56.6 YER 13.4K

$27.51 YER 6,512

105.78%

Apples (1kg)

$12.91 YER 3,056

$5.71 YER 1,352

126.09%

Banana (1kg)

$4.70 YER 1,112

$2.14 YER 507

119.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.86 YER 1,151

$6.26 YER 1,482

-22.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.25 YER 770

$3.73 YER 883

-12.87%

Potato (1kg)

$5.46 YER 1,292

$2.30 YER 545

137.39%

Onion (1kg)

$4.14 YER 980

$2.10 YER 496

97.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 YER 182

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 YER 596

$1.46 YER 346

72.60%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.43 YER 813

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.18 YER 988

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.06 YER 488

Gasoline (1 liter)

$4.06 YER 961

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

$91.3 YER 21.6K

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

$15.57 YER 3,685

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.6 YER 18.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.2 YER 19.4K

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

$29.42 YER 6,963

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,391 YER 802.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.45 YER 6,735

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.93 YER 11.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.1 YER 13.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$216 YER 51.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$161 YER 38.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$586 YER 138.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$396 YER 93.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$354 YER 83.8K

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

Last update for Al Mukalla: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ibb: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $38.00 in Al Mukalla vs $41.00 in Ibb. Groceries flip the comparison at $574 vs $380, 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 14% 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 51% 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 $38.00 versus $41.00 in Ibb. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $869 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 14% less than in Ibb. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.