Cost of Living Comparison Between Nizwa and Salalah Cost of Living Comparison Between Nizwa and Salalah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $582 in Nizwa versus $1,086 in Salalah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $787 in Nizwa versus $1,648 in Salalah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $993 in Nizwa versus $2,209 in Salalah.

Living in Nizwa costs roughly 46% less than in Salalah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nizwa 57% lower, Salalah 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.54 OMR 0.98

$5.35 OMR 2.06

-52.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.21 OMR 10.09

$26.28 OMR 10.12

-0.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.84 OMR 1.48

$12.82 OMR 4.93

-70.05%

Cappuccino

$6.01 OMR 2.32

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

$0.87 OMR 0.33

$0.64 OMR 0.25

35.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

$0.25 OMR 0.10

8.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.21 OMR 3.55

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.59 OMR 4.08

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 OMR 0.51

$1.69 OMR 0.65

-22.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.28 OMR 0.49

-0.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 OMR 0.68

$2.11 OMR 0.81

-16.11%

Eggs

$2.13 OMR 0.82

$1.95 OMR 0.75

9.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.83 OMR 1.47

$6.92 OMR 2.66

-44.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.02 OMR 3.09

$4.57 OMR 1.76

75.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.90 OMR 3.43

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 OMR 0.79

$2.13 OMR 0.82

-3.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

$1.11 OMR 0.43

15.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 OMR 0.50

$1.61 OMR 0.62

-18.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.32 OMR 0.51

$1.20 OMR 0.46

10.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 OMR 0.41

$1.14 OMR 0.44

-7.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 OMR 0.41

$0.78 OMR 0.30

35.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 OMR 0.19

$0.54 OMR 0.21

-7.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 OMR 0.31

$0.58 OMR 0.22

41.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.75 OMR 2.21

Wine (Bottle)

$19.58 OMR 7.54

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.88 OMR 1.49

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 OMR 1.79

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.31 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.7 OMR 21.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 OMR 0.87

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.58 OMR 4.46

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 OMR 0.23

$0.60 OMR 0.23

-1.67%

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

$20.9K OMR 8,064

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

$18.0K OMR 6,917

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

$130 OMR 49.97

$65.8 OMR 25.32

97.32%

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

$49.61 OMR 19.10

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.1 OMR 24.68

$76.6 OMR 29.48

-16.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.7 OMR 36.09

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.21 OMR 10.09

Cinema Ticket

$7.93 OMR 3.05

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

$111 OMR 42.88

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,377 OMR 915

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.90 OMR 10.74

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.60 OMR 12.17

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.5 OMR 24.82

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.98 OMR 16.93

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 OMR 102

$255 OMR 98.1

4.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 OMR 78.6

$215 OMR 82.8

-5.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$389 OMR 150

$492 OMR 189

-20.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 OMR 102

$370 OMR 142

-28.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,991 OMR 766

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,225 OMR 472

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,309 OMR 504

$1,753 OMR 675

-25.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.58

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

Last update for Nizwa: June 2, 2026

Last update for Salalah: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $265 in Nizwa and $255 in Salalah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Salalah pays 34% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $26.00 in Nizwa vs $26.00 in Salalah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $140 vs $228 per month, with Nizwa 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

Nizwa vs Salalah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nizwa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Eating Out, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear. The 87% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Salalah earns 34% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $265 in Nizwa versus $255 in Salalah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 63% higher in Salalah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Nizwa – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $26.00 in Salalah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $582 in Nizwa versus $1,086 in Salalah, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nizwa but tight or insufficient in Salalah. The gap between the two cities makes Nizwa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Nizwa 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.

Expats usually find Nizwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.