Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-qabil and Salalah Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-qabil and Salalah
Monthly Cost of Living
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $46.33 in Al-qabil versus $1,115 in Salalah.
Estimated couple costs with rent: $70.0 in Al-qabil versus $1,669 in Salalah.
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $94.5 in Al-qabil versus $2,224 in Salalah.
Living in Al-qabil costs roughly 96% less than in Salalah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
Both cities sit below the global median: Al-qabil 97% lower, Salalah 17% lower.
🍽 Eating Out
Al-qabil
Salalah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$5.12 OMR 1.97
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$26.37 OMR 10.15
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$13.06 OMR 5.03
-
Cappuccino
-
$5.97 OMR 2.30
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.67 OMR 0.26
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.27 OMR 0.10
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$9.35 OMR 3.60
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$10.46 OMR 4.03
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-qabil
Salalah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.77 OMR 0.68
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$1.27 OMR 0.49
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$2.05 OMR 0.79
-
Eggs
-
$1.91 OMR 0.73
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$6.99 OMR 2.69
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$4.74 OMR 1.82
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$8.84 OMR 3.40
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.05 OMR 0.79
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.06 OMR 0.41
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.60 OMR 0.61
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$1.15 OMR 0.44
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.08 OMR 0.41
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$0.84 OMR 0.32
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.51 OMR 0.20
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.57 OMR 0.22
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$5.91 OMR 2.28
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$19.71 OMR 7.59
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$3.85 OMR 1.48
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.58 OMR 1.76
-
🚌 Getting Around
Al-qabil
Salalah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.28 OMR 0.49
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$55.2 OMR 21.26
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.33 OMR 0.90
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.33 OMR 0.51
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$11.48 OMR 4.42
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$0.59 OMR 0.23
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$20.7K OMR 7,986
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$18.0K OMR 6,941
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-qabil
Salalah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$65.3 OMR 25.14
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$48.94 OMR 18.84
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$75.8 OMR 29.19
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-qabil
Salalah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.31 OMR 10.13
$94.7 OMR 36.43
-72.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$25.78 OMR 9.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.51 OMR 4.05
$7.75 OMR 2.98
35.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-qabil
Salalah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$111 OMR 42.81
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$2,414 OMR 929
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-qabil
Salalah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$28.00 OMR 10.78
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$30.70 OMR 11.82
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$62.7 OMR 24.11
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$43.93 OMR 16.91
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-qabil
Salalah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$255 OMR 98.3
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$211 OMR 81.3
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$501 OMR 193
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$380 OMR 146
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,052 OMR 790
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,219 OMR 469
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-qabil
Salalah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,800 OMR 693
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
4.58
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al-qabil: June 8, 2026
Last update for Salalah: June 6, 2026
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-qabil vs Salalah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salalah cheaper than Al-qabil?
Al-qabil is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 2306% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $69.5 in Al-qabil and $1,672 in Salalah 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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Al-qabil or Salalah?
At $46.33 in Al-qabil versus $1,115 in Salalah, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-qabil but tight or insufficient in Salalah. The gap between the two cities makes Al-qabil the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Al-qabil or Salalah?
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.
Which city is safer, Al-qabil or Salalah?
Safety-wise, Al-qabil and Salalah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Al-qabil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2306% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.