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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $869 in Al Mukalla versus $914 in Sanaa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,546 in Al Mukalla versus $1,460 in Sanaa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,222 in Al Mukalla versus $2,006 in Sanaa.

Living in Al Mukalla costs roughly 5% less than in Sanaa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Mukalla 35% lower, Sanaa 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.60 YER 3,930

$6.33 YER 1,499

162.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.53 YER 8,883

$22.96 YER 5,433

63.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.58 YER 3,924

$10.47 YER 2,479

58.36%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 YER 417

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 YER 431

Cappuccino

$8.15 YER 1,929

$3.69 YER 873

120.87%

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

$3.77 YER 891

$1.16 YER 274

225.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 YER 197

$0.47 YER 111

76.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 YER 446

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 YER 185

$1.22 YER 289

-36.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.46 YER 1,528

$2.48 YER 588

160.48%

Eggs

$7.18 YER 1,700

$4.03 YER 953

78.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.54 YER 3,442

$9.87 YER 2,337

47.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$22.96 YER 5,434

$6.69 YER 1,582

243.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$56.6 YER 13.4K

$18.58 YER 4,397

204.68%

Apples (1kg)

$12.91 YER 3,056

$3.85 YER 912

235.32%

Banana (1kg)

$4.70 YER 1,112

$1.39 YER 329

238.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.86 YER 1,151

$2.39 YER 566

103.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.25 YER 770

$1.64 YER 389

98.17%

Potato (1kg)

$5.46 YER 1,292

$1.79 YER 424

205.03%

Onion (1kg)

$4.14 YER 980

$1.62 YER 384

155.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 YER 149

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 YER 596

$0.73 YER 172

245.21%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.38 YER 800

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 YER 395

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 YER 775

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.05 YER 958

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 YER 101

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.8 YER 19.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.15 YER 982

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.03 YER 953

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 YER 1,661

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.74 YER 648

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$16.7K YER 3.9M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.9K YER 8.0M

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

$71.5 YER 16.9K

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

$13.56 YER 3,209

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.21 YER 9,042

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.4 YER 16.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.43 YER 3,889

Cinema Ticket

$5.89 YER 1,394

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

$112 YER 26.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,809 YER 428.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.44 YER 9,336

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$147 YER 34.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.85 YER 9,668

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.77 YER 9,885

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$166 YER 39.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.4 YER 22.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$403 YER 95.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 YER 61.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,070 YER 963.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$808 YER 191.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$190 YER 45.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.25

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

Last update for Al Mukalla: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sanaa: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $38.00 in Al Mukalla vs $23.00 in Sanaa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $574 vs $241 per month, with Sanaa cheaper across the board.

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 Sanaa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Mukalla is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,304 in Al Mukalla and $1,371 in Sanaa 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 Sanaa pay roughly 138% 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 $23.00 in Sanaa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Al Mukalla gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 5% less than in Sanaa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.