Cost of Living Comparison Between Beirut and Salalah Cost of Living Comparison Between Beirut and Salalah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,437 in Beirut versus $1,086 in Salalah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,353 in Beirut versus $1,648 in Salalah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,269 in Beirut versus $2,209 in Salalah.

Living in Beirut is roughly 32% more expensive than Salalah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Beirut is 7% above, Salalah is 19% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beirut
Salalah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76 LBP 963.0K
$5.35 OMR 2.06
101.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.7 LBP 5.3M
$26.28 OMR 10.12
127.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.04 LBP 720.0K
$12.82 OMR 4.93
-37.29%
Cappuccino
$3.27 LBP 292.4K
$6.01 OMR 2.32
-45.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 LBP 141.4K
$0.64 OMR 0.25
146.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 LBP 82.4K
$0.25 OMR 0.10
268.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.45 LBP 308.9K
$9.21 OMR 3.55
-62.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06 LBP 453.3K
$10.59 OMR 4.08
-52.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beirut
Salalah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 LBP 160.5K
$1.69 OMR 0.65
5.92%
White Bread (500g)
$0.85 LBP 76.5K
$1.28 OMR 0.49
-33.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 LBP 163.3K
$2.11 OMR 0.81
-13.74%
Eggs
$3.19 LBP 285.4K
$1.95 OMR 0.75
63.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.51 LBP 1.0M
$6.92 OMR 2.66
66.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.60 LBP 859.6K
$4.57 OMR 1.76
110.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.36 LBP 1.0M
$8.90 OMR 3.43
27.64%
Apples (1kg)
$1.73 LBP 154.6K
$2.13 OMR 0.82
-18.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 LBP 129.4K
$1.11 OMR 0.43
30.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.15 LBP 103.0K
$1.61 OMR 0.62
-28.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.08 LBP 96.9K
$1.20 OMR 0.46
-10.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 LBP 88.2K
$1.14 OMR 0.44
-13.16%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 LBP 92.8K
$0.78 OMR 0.30
33.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.81 LBP 72.8K
$0.54 OMR 0.21
50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 LBP 46.7K
$0.58 OMR 0.22
-10.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.46 LBP 220.6K
$5.75 OMR 2.21
-57.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 LBP 890.6K
$19.58 OMR 7.54
-49.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 LBP 110.6K
$3.88 OMR 1.49
-68.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 LBP 197.3K
$4.65 OMR 1.79
-52.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Beirut
Salalah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 LBP 175.4K
$1.31 OMR 0.51
49.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$71.1 LBP 6.4M
$55.7 OMR 21.44
27.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.94 LBP 442.2K
$2.25 OMR 0.87
119.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.28 LBP 114.5K
$1.27 OMR 0.49
0.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.91 LBP 1.8M
$11.58 OMR 4.46
71.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 LBP 80.9K
$0.60 OMR 0.23
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K LBP 3.1B
$20.9K OMR 8,064
66.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K LBP 2.5B
$18.0K OMR 6,917
53.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beirut
Salalah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 LBP 19.5M
$65.8 OMR 25.32
230.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.46 LBP 3.4M
$49.61 OMR 19.10
-24.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.30 LBP 3.3M
$76.6 OMR 29.48
-51.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beirut
Salalah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.4 LBP 6.1M
$93.7 OMR 36.09
-27.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.84 LBP 2.7M
$26.21 OMR 10.09
13.85%
Cinema Ticket
$8.13 LBP 727.3K
$7.93 OMR 3.05
2.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beirut
Salalah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 LBP 26.6M
$111 OMR 42.88
166.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,404 LBP 394.1M
$2,377 OMR 915
85.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beirut
Salalah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.6 LBP 6.4M
$27.90 OMR 10.74
156.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.80 LBP 4.0M
$31.60 OMR 12.17
41.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 LBP 10.8M
$64.5 OMR 24.82
86.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.5 LBP 8.6M
$43.98 OMR 16.93
117.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beirut
Salalah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$809 LBP 72.4M
$255 OMR 98.1
217.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 LBP 33.1M
$215 OMR 82.8
71.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,023 LBP 181.0M
$492 OMR 189
311.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$950 LBP 85.0M
$370 OMR 142
156.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,685 LBP 329.8M
$1,991 OMR 766
85.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,978 LBP 177.1M
$1,225 OMR 472
61.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beirut
Salalah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$651 LBP 58.2M
$1,753 OMR 675
-62.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.16
4.58
143.67%

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

Last update for Beirut: June 1, 2026

Last update for Salalah: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $809 in Beirut and $255 in Salalah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Salalah pays 169% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $60.0 in Beirut vs $26.00 in Salalah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $228 per month, with Salalah 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
Beirut vs Salalah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salalah cheaper than Beirut?
Salalah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Beirut or Salalah?
On paper, Salalah earns 169% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Beirut and Salalah?
Rent for a central apartment: $809 in Beirut versus $255 in Salalah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Beirut vs Salalah?
All in, you'll spend $1,437 per month in Beirut versus $1,086 in Salalah – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Salalah runs roughly 28% less than in Beirut. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Beirut or Salalah?
At $1,086 in Salalah versus $1,437 in Beirut, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Salalah but tight or insufficient in Beirut. The gap between the two cities makes Salalah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Beirut 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, Beirut or Salalah?
Safety-wise, Beirut 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 Salalah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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