Cost of Living Comparison Between Ar-rustaq and Salalah Cost of Living Comparison Between Ar-rustaq and Salalah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $934 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $1,021 in Salalah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,412 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $1,552 in Salalah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,890 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $2,082 in Salalah, rent included.

Ar-rustaq is about 9% cheaper than Salalah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ar-rustaq and Salalah are more affordable than the global median – Ar-rustaq 32% lower, Salalah 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 OMR 2.03

$5.35 OMR 2.06

-1.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.12 OMR 13.13

$25.78 OMR 9.92

32.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.61 OMR 2.93

$12.89 OMR 4.96

-40.96%

Cappuccino

$4.88 OMR 1.88

$6.11 OMR 2.35

-20.13%

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

$0.85 OMR 0.33

$0.89 OMR 0.34

-4.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 OMR 0.11

$0.27 OMR 0.10

7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.01 OMR 5.01

$8.85 OMR 3.41

47.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$13.14 OMR 5.06

$10.60 OMR 4.08

23.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 OMR 0.87

$1.89 OMR 0.73

20.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

$1.24 OMR 0.48

3.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.70

$2.66 OMR 1.02

-31.20%

Eggs

$2.86 OMR 1.10

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.47 OMR 2.88

$4.55 OMR 1.75

64.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.70 OMR 2.58

$4.73 OMR 1.82

41.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.59 OMR 4.08

Apples (1kg)

$3.51 OMR 1.35

$1.91 OMR 0.74

83.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$1.80 OMR 0.69

11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.42 OMR 0.93

$2.10 OMR 0.81

15.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 OMR 0.46

$1.78 OMR 0.69

-33.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 OMR 0.47

$1.49 OMR 0.57

-18.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.01 OMR 0.39

22.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

$1.10 OMR 0.42

68.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 OMR 0.24

$0.51 OMR 0.20

21.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.32 OMR 2.43

$6.01 OMR 2.31

5.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.53 OMR 5.98

$19.50 OMR 7.51

-20.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 OMR 2.09

$3.84 OMR 1.48

41.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 OMR 3.47

$4.63 OMR 1.78

94.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.5 OMR 21.35

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 OMR 1.23

$2.29 OMR 0.88

39.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.68 OMR 1.03

$1.27 OMR 0.49

111.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 OMR 3.09

$11.66 OMR 4.49

-31.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

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

$25.2K OMR 9,695

$20.5K OMR 7,879

23.05%

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

$22.4K OMR 8,606

$18.4K OMR 7,096

21.29%

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

$174 OMR 66.9

$77.5 OMR 29.83

124.16%

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

$30.45 OMR 11.72

$48.48 OMR 18.66

-37.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 OMR 26.60

$73.3 OMR 28.21

-5.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.49 OMR 15.59

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.45 OMR 10.18

Cinema Ticket

$10.37 OMR 3.99

$7.64 OMR 2.94

35.73%

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

$288 OMR 111

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K OMR 4,064

$1,963 OMR 756

437.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 OMR 21.44

$28.13 OMR 10.83

97.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.38 OMR 16.70

$31.00 OMR 11.94

39.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 OMR 34.47

$58.4 OMR 22.47

53.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.3 OMR 37.44

$44.91 OMR 17.29

116.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 OMR 93.7

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 OMR 80.4

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$645 OMR 248

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 OMR 150

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,043 OMR 787

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,218 OMR 469

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,389 OMR 1,690

$1,775 OMR 683

147.27%

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 Ar-rustaq: September 8, 2026

Last update for Salalah: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 147% higher in Ar-rustaq, 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 Ar-rustaq versus $26.00 in Salalah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 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

Ar-rustaq vs Salalah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Salalah is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,401 per month in Ar-rustaq and $1,532 in Salalah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Interestingly, groceries are about 41% cheaper in Salalah – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Ar-rustaq and $26.00 in Salalah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $934 in Ar-rustaq and $1,021 in Salalah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Ar-rustaq – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Ar-rustaq. 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.