Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Adam Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Adam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,111 in Salalah versus $819 in Adam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,643 in Salalah versus $1,212 in Adam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,175 in Salalah versus $1,605 in Adam.

Living in Salalah is roughly 36% more expensive than Adam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Salalah 17% lower, Adam 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.22 OMR 2.00

$5.07 OMR 1.95

2.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.83 OMR 9.92

$26.41 OMR 10.14

-2.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.07 OMR 5.02

$7.89 OMR 3.03

65.65%

Cappuccino

$6.04 OMR 2.32

$4.94 OMR 1.90

22.27%

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

$0.67 OMR 0.26

$1.01 OMR 0.39

-33.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

$0.31 OMR 0.12

-19.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.22 OMR 3.54

$12.39 OMR 4.76

-25.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.60 OMR 4.07

$11.77 OMR 4.52

-9.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 OMR 0.66

$1.92 OMR 0.74

-10.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 OMR 0.48

$1.17 OMR 0.45

7.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 OMR 0.81

$1.73 OMR 0.66

22.54%

Eggs

$1.96 OMR 0.75

$2.35 OMR 0.90

-16.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.72 OMR 2.58

$3.72 OMR 1.43

80.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 OMR 1.76

$4.86 OMR 1.87

-5.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.26 OMR 3.56

$8.77 OMR 3.37

5.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 OMR 0.82

$2.57 OMR 0.99

-16.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 OMR 0.42

$1.66 OMR 0.64

-33.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 OMR 0.60

$1.83 OMR 0.70

-13.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 OMR 0.44

$1.18 OMR 0.45

-1.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 OMR 0.44

$0.93 OMR 0.36

21.51%

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 OMR 0.32

$1.01 OMR 0.39

-16.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 OMR 0.20

$1.04 OMR 0.40

-49.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 OMR 0.21

$0.56 OMR 0.21

-5.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.68 OMR 2.18

$6.44 OMR 2.47

-11.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.62 OMR 7.53

$15.56 OMR 5.97

26.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.01 OMR 1.54

$4.38 OMR 1.68

-8.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 OMR 1.78

$8.03 OMR 3.08

-42.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 OMR 20.65

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.21 OMR 0.85

$3.14 OMR 1.21

-29.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

$0.80 OMR 0.31

60.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.76 OMR 4.52

$10.43 OMR 4.00

12.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 OMR 0.23

$0.64 OMR 0.24

-7.81%

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

$20.7K OMR 7,952

$22.7K OMR 8,730

-8.92%

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

$18.2K OMR 6,994

$21.9K OMR 8,401

-16.75%

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

$64.4 OMR 24.71

$107 OMR 41.04

-39.78%

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

$49.60 OMR 19.05

$40.67 OMR 15.62

21.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.5 OMR 29.75

$69.9 OMR 26.84

10.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.7 OMR 36.37

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.51 OMR 10.18

Cinema Ticket

$7.66 OMR 2.94

$10.36 OMR 3.98

-26.06%

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

$111 OMR 42.80

$193 OMR 74.0

-42.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,402 OMR 922

$10.0K OMR 3,842

-75.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.22 OMR 10.45

$49.69 OMR 19.08

-45.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.71 OMR 12.17

$39.32 OMR 15.10

-19.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.3 OMR 24.29

$78.3 OMR 30.05

-19.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.40 OMR 16.66

$87.3 OMR 33.53

-50.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$253 OMR 97.3

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 OMR 80.4

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$502 OMR 193

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 OMR 144

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,015 OMR 774

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,232 OMR 473

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,743 OMR 669

$2,591 OMR 995

-32.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.58

5.15

-11.07%

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

Last update for Salalah: April 28, 2026

Last update for Adam: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Adam pays 49% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $26.00 in Salalah vs $26.00 in Adam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $229 vs $230 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

Salalah vs Adam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Adam is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Adam earns 49% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $111 in Salalah versus $193 in Adam. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Adam – 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.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Adam 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.

Safety-wise, Salalah and Adam 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 Adam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.