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: $1,034 in Salalah versus $945 in Adam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,538 in Salalah versus $1,427 in Adam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,042 in Salalah versus $1,910 in Adam.

Living in Salalah is roughly 9% more expensive than in Adam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Salalah 24% lower, Adam 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.18 OMR 2.00

$5.33 OMR 2.05

-2.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.51 OMR 10.21

$33.37 OMR 12.85

-20.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.81 OMR 4.93

$7.71 OMR 2.97

66.15%

Cappuccino

$6.37 OMR 2.45

$4.83 OMR 1.86

31.88%

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

$0.87 OMR 0.33

$0.85 OMR 0.33

2.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

$0.29 OMR 0.11

-13.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.91 OMR 3.43

$13.07 OMR 5.03

-31.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.47 OMR 4.03

$12.97 OMR 4.99

-19.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$2.37 OMR 0.91

-16.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

$1.29 OMR 0.50

-0.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.56 OMR 0.99

$1.88 OMR 0.72

36.17%

Eggs

$2.87 OMR 1.10

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.74 OMR 1.82

$7.67 OMR 2.95

-38.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.76 OMR 1.83

$6.81 OMR 2.62

-30.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.51 OMR 4.04

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$3.44 OMR 1.32

-42.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

$1.92 OMR 0.74

-3.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.02 OMR 0.78

$2.34 OMR 0.90

-13.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.71

$1.20 OMR 0.46

52.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 OMR 0.58

$1.19 OMR 0.46

26.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$1.24 OMR 0.48

-16.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 OMR 0.42

$1.78 OMR 0.68

-39.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 OMR 0.19

$0.66 OMR 0.26

-25.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.83 OMR 2.24

$6.32 OMR 2.43

-7.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.98 OMR 7.69

$15.88 OMR 6.11

25.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.86 OMR 1.49

$5.67 OMR 2.18

-31.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 OMR 1.83

$8.94 OMR 3.44

-46.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 OMR 21.27

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 OMR 0.88

$3.28 OMR 1.26

-30.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 OMR 0.49

$2.61 OMR 1.01

-51.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.53 OMR 4.44

$7.61 OMR 2.93

51.51%

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 8,053

$25.9K OMR 9,979

-19.31%

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

$18.5K OMR 7,136

$22.4K OMR 8,642

-17.42%

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

$78.8 OMR 30.33

$172 OMR 66.3

-54.25%

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

$49.07 OMR 18.89

$30.89 OMR 11.89

58.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 OMR 28.59

$71.3 OMR 27.45

4.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.68 OMR 15.28

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.54 OMR 10.22

Cinema Ticket

$7.99 OMR 3.07

$10.43 OMR 4.01

-23.39%

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

$288 OMR 111

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,944 OMR 749

$10.4K OMR 4,017

-81.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.98 OMR 11.16

$55.7 OMR 21.44

-47.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.69 OMR 11.81

$43.50 OMR 16.75

-29.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.6 OMR 22.94

$89.2 OMR 34.33

-33.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.98 OMR 17.32

$96.6 OMR 37.18

-53.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 OMR 94.6

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 OMR 80.8

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$639 OMR 246

$258 OMR 99.4

147.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$385 OMR 148

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,994 OMR 768

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,244 OMR 479

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,759 OMR 677

$2,619 OMR 1,008

-32.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.58

5.25

-12.76%

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

Last update for Salalah: September 15, 2026

Last update for Adam: September 13, 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: $27.00 in Salalah vs $33.00 in Adam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $287 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, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

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

Shoppers in Salalah pay roughly 40% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Adam – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $27.00 in Salalah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $945 in Adam versus $1,034 in Salalah, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Adam but tight or insufficient in Salalah. The gap between the two cities makes Adam 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, 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 9% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.