Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Duqm and Salalah

For one person, living is cheaper in Duqm: $310 a month against $1,055 in Salalah, rent and utilities included – about $8,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Duqm
🇴🇲 Oman
$310
/mo nomad
Salalah
🇴🇲 Oman
$1,055
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Duqm and in Salalah

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Duqm and in Salalah actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $310 in Duqm versus $1,055 in Salalah.

  • Duqm $310
  • Salalah $1,055

Estimated couple costs with rent: $510 in Duqm versus $1,587 in Salalah.

  • Duqm $510
  • Salalah $1,587

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $710 in Duqm versus $2,118 in Salalah.

  • Duqm $710
  • Salalah $2,118

Living in Duqm costs roughly 71% less than in Salalah, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Duqm 77% lower, Salalah 22% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Duqm
Salalah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.01 OMR 1.93
$5.07 OMR 1.95
-1.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.12 OMR 5.05
$25.69 OMR 9.89
-48.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$12.75 OMR 4.91
-
Cappuccino
$2.41 OMR 0.93
$6.05 OMR 2.33
-60.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 OMR 0.20
$0.90 OMR 0.35
-43.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 OMR 0.13
$0.27 OMR 0.10
25.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.98 OMR 3.07
$8.98 OMR 3.46
-11.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$13.09 OMR 5.04
$10.22 OMR 3.94
28.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Duqm
Salalah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.89 OMR 0.73
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$1.27 OMR 0.49
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.68 OMR 1.03
$2.62 OMR 1.01
2.29%
Eggs
$2.82 OMR 1.09
$1.91 OMR 0.74
47.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$4.58 OMR 1.76
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.18 OMR 1.99
$4.73 OMR 1.82
9.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$6.37 OMR 2.45
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 OMR 1.32
$1.94 OMR 0.75
76.29%
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.85 OMR 0.71
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$2.05 OMR 0.79
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$1.78 OMR 0.69
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.49 OMR 0.57
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.80 OMR 0.31
$1.01 OMR 0.39
-20.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.10 OMR 0.42
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.18 OMR 0.07
$0.52 OMR 0.20
-65.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$5.87 OMR 2.26
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$20.15 OMR 7.76
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$3.98 OMR 1.53
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$13.04 OMR 5.02
$4.70 OMR 1.81
177.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Duqm
Salalah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.33 OMR 0.51
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$54.8 OMR 21.09
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.25 OMR 0.87
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.27 OMR 0.49
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$11.87 OMR 4.57
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$0.64 OMR 0.25
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.1K OMR 8,112
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$18.3K OMR 7,061
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duqm
Salalah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$77.6 OMR 29.89
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$48.92 OMR 18.84
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$73.7 OMR 28.39
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Duqm
Salalah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.2 OMR 29.74
$39.07 OMR 15.04
97.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.08 OMR 10.04
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$7.67 OMR 2.95
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Duqm
Salalah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$105 OMR 40.24
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$1,925 OMR 741
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Duqm
Salalah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$29.01 OMR 11.17
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$31.47 OMR 12.12
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$59.0 OMR 22.69
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$46.02 OMR 17.72
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Duqm
Salalah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$244 OMR 94.1
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$205 OMR 79.0
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$626 OMR 241
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$387 OMR 149
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,999 OMR 770
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,203 OMR 463
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Duqm
Salalah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,769 OMR 681
-
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 Duqm: October 10, 2026

Last update for Salalah: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Duqm
–
Salalah
$231
Eating Out
Duqm
–
Salalah
$222
Accommodation & Living
Duqm
–
Salalah
$205
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duqm
–
Salalah
$200
Clothing & Footwear
Duqm
–
Salalah
$74
Getting Around
Duqm
–
Salalah
$69
Sport & Entertainment
Duqm
–
Salalah
$54

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $13.00 in Duqm vs $26.00 in Salalah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $231 per month, with Duqm cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇴🇲 Duqm
🇴🇲 Salalah
🕒 Local time
10:37 10:37 AM
10:37 10:37 AM
Same time as Duqm
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
12,000
178,469
💱 Currency
Omani Rial OMR ر.ع.
Omani Rial OMR ر.ع.
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to OMR – Omani Rial Converter

Omani Rial exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.385 OMR (1 OMR = 2.6 USD). 1 EUR = 0.433 OMR (1 OMR = 2.31 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Duqm Salalah 470 km
From you
  • Duqm
  • Salalah

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Duqm vs Salalah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salalah cheaper than Duqm?
Duqm is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and transport. The 240% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $466 in Duqm and $1,583 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.
How do food prices compare in Duqm and in Salalah?
Supermarket bills run roughly 144% higher in Salalah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Duqm or in Salalah?
Dining out is cheaper in Duqm – a meal for two runs $13.00 versus $26.00 in Salalah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Duqm or in Salalah?
At $310 in Duqm versus $1,055 in Salalah, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Duqm but tight or insufficient in Salalah. The gap between the two cities makes Duqm the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Duqm or in 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, Duqm or Salalah?
Safety-wise, Duqm 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 Duqm gentler on the wallet – expenses run 240% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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