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: $580 in Nizwa versus $1,106 in Salalah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $793 in Nizwa versus $1,665 in Salalah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,007 in Nizwa versus $2,225 in Salalah.

Living in Nizwa costs roughly 48% less than in Salalah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nizwa 57% lower, Salalah 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.66 OMR 1.02

$5.13 OMR 1.98

-48.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.58 OMR 9.84

$25.64 OMR 9.87

-0.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.99 OMR 1.54

$13.10 OMR 5.04

-69.54%

Cappuccino

$6.19 OMR 2.38

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

$0.82 OMR 0.31

$0.68 OMR 0.26

20.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

$0.25 OMR 0.10

8.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.92 OMR 3.43

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.37 OMR 3.99

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 OMR 0.51

$1.76 OMR 0.68

-23.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 OMR 0.51

$1.27 OMR 0.49

4.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 OMR 0.69

$2.02 OMR 0.78

-11.39%

Eggs

$2.23 OMR 0.86

$1.90 OMR 0.73

17.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.89 OMR 1.50

$6.73 OMR 2.59

-42.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.72 OMR 2.97

$4.65 OMR 1.79

66.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.84 OMR 3.40

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 OMR 0.78

$2.04 OMR 0.79

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.09 OMR 0.42

16.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 OMR 0.51

$1.59 OMR 0.61

-16.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.32 OMR 0.51

$1.14 OMR 0.44

15.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 OMR 0.41

$1.12 OMR 0.43

-4.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$0.78 OMR 0.30

32.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 OMR 0.29

$0.54 OMR 0.21

38.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.88 OMR 2.26

Wine (Bottle)

$20.01 OMR 7.70

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.84 OMR 1.48

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.82 OMR 1.85

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.3 OMR 20.88

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 OMR 0.90

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 OMR 0.51

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.83 OMR 4.55

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 OMR 0.24

$0.60 OMR 0.23

5.00%

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)

$18.5K OMR 7,125

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

$132 OMR 50.8

$63.8 OMR 24.54

106.81%

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

$49.44 OMR 19.03

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 OMR 25.21

$77.0 OMR 29.61

-14.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.1 OMR 35.80

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.71 OMR 9.89

Cinema Ticket

$8.03 OMR 3.09

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

$111 OMR 42.86

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,399 OMR 923

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.70 OMR 10.66

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.71 OMR 11.82

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.2 OMR 23.94

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.75 OMR 16.45

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$264 OMR 102

$259 OMR 99.7

1.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 OMR 80.5

$208 OMR 80.2

0.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$393 OMR 151

$500 OMR 193

-21.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 OMR 100

$367 OMR 141

-28.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,034 OMR 783

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,218 OMR 469

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,323 OMR 509

$1,785 OMR 687

-25.89%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Salalah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $264 in Nizwa and $259 in Salalah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Salalah pays 35% 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 $139 vs $227 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 91% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 35% lower in Salalah. 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: $264 in Nizwa versus $259 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 $580 in Nizwa versus $1,106 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 91% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.