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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $871 in Ibb versus $829 in Al Mukalla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,442 in Ibb versus $1,663 in Al Mukalla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,013 in Ibb versus $2,498 in Al Mukalla.

Living in Ibb is roughly 5% more expensive than in Al Mukalla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ibb 37% lower, Al Mukalla 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.22 YER 1,473

$16.67 YER 3,946

-62.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.96 YER 5,909

$85.8 YER 20.3K

-70.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 YER 2,994

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 YER 486

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 YER 604

Cappuccino

$2.07 YER 491

$8.53 YER 2,020

-75.73%

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

$1.13 YER 269

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 YER 127

$0.82 YER 195

-34.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.08 YER 492

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 YER 242

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.00 YER 473

Eggs

$3.57 YER 844

$10.65 YER 2,521

-66.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.97 YER 3,307

$14.47 YER 3,426

-3.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.16 YER 1,931

$26.13 YER 6,184

-68.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.18 YER 4,541

$60.1 YER 14.2K

-68.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 YER 785

$14.94 YER 3,538

-77.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 YER 240

$6.17 YER 1,461

-83.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 YER 513

$5.09 YER 1,205

-57.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 YER 368

$3.39 YER 802

-53.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 YER 347

$7.55 YER 1,787

-80.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 YER 321

$4.17 YER 987

-67.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 YER 191

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 YER 149

$2.49 YER 590

-74.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.40 YER 805

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 YER 441

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 YER 816

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.96 YER 936

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 YER 494

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.58 YER 610

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.11 YER 1,683

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.10 YER 498

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

$17.1K YER 4.0M

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

$34.6K YER 8.2M

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

$64.4 YER 15.3K

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

$16.07 YER 3,804

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.95 YER 6,854

Cinema Ticket

$6.07 YER 1,436

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

$24.22 YER 5,734

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,128 YER 503.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.82 YER 7,060

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$125 YER 29.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.60 YER 11.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.97 YER 9,699

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$312 YER 73.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 YER 59.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$757 YER 179.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$624 YER 147.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$352 YER 83.3K

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 Ibb: August 31, 2026

Last update for Al Mukalla: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Ibb vs $86.0 in Al Mukalla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $607 per month, with Ibb 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

Ibb vs Al Mukalla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

You'd need roughly $1,306 in Ibb and $1,243 in Al Mukalla 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 Ibb pay roughly 142% 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 $86.0 versus $25.00 in Ibb. 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 Ibb. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.