Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Al-Buraimi Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Al-Buraimi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,022 in Salalah versus $923 in Al-Buraimi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,542 in Salalah versus $1,351 in Al-Buraimi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,061 in Salalah versus $1,778 in Al-Buraimi.

Living in Salalah is roughly 11% more expensive than in Al-Buraimi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Salalah 26% lower, Al-Buraimi 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 OMR 2.03

$5.07 OMR 1.95

4.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.36 OMR 10.15

$13.24 OMR 5.10

99.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.14 OMR 5.06

$7.84 OMR 3.02

67.60%

Cappuccino

$6.29 OMR 2.42

$4.87 OMR 1.87

29.16%

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

$0.85 OMR 0.33

$0.84 OMR 0.32

1.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.90 OMR 3.43

$12.84 OMR 4.94

-30.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.43 OMR 4.02

$12.96 OMR 4.99

-19.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$2.31 OMR 0.89

-13.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 OMR 0.47

$1.24 OMR 0.48

-2.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.67 OMR 1.03

$1.53 OMR 0.59

74.51%

Eggs

$2.91 OMR 1.12

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.62 OMR 1.78

$6.62 OMR 2.55

-30.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.63 OMR 1.78

$5.56 OMR 2.14

-16.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.90 OMR 3.42

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 OMR 0.75

$2.12 OMR 0.82

-8.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 OMR 0.69

$1.81 OMR 0.70

-0.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 OMR 0.82

$2.06 OMR 0.79

2.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.87 OMR 0.72

$1.25 OMR 0.48

49.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 OMR 0.55

$1.21 OMR 0.47

19.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$0.99 OMR 0.38

3.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$0.84 OMR 0.33

29.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 OMR 0.19

$0.66 OMR 0.25

-25.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.94 OMR 2.29

$5.06 OMR 1.95

17.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.10 OMR 7.74

$15.70 OMR 6.04

28.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.88 OMR 1.50

$5.68 OMR 2.19

-31.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.82 OMR 1.85

$8.86 OMR 3.41

-45.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.0 OMR 21.17

$39.22 OMR 15.10

40.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 OMR 0.86

$3.28 OMR 1.26

-32.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.51 OMR 4.43

$7.86 OMR 3.03

46.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 OMR 0.24

$0.64 OMR 0.25

-1.56%

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

$21.1K OMR 8,121

$25.3K OMR 9,741

-16.63%

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

$18.2K OMR 6,998

$22.4K OMR 8,610

-18.72%

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

$79.6 OMR 30.63

$76.7 OMR 29.53

3.73%

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

$48.86 OMR 18.81

$31.38 OMR 12.08

55.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.1 OMR 28.14

$69.1 OMR 26.59

5.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.76 OMR 15.31

$64.0 OMR 24.63

-37.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.79 OMR 9.93

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 OMR 2.99

$7.86 OMR 3.03

-1.27%

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

$264 OMR 102

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,912 OMR 736

$10.7K OMR 4,121

-82.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.56 OMR 11.00

$56.0 OMR 21.56

-49.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.61 OMR 11.78

$42.79 OMR 16.47

-28.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.4 OMR 22.10

$92.5 OMR 35.63

-37.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.61 OMR 17.56

$97.3 OMR 37.47

-53.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$248 OMR 95.6

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 OMR 79.4

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 OMR 239

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 OMR 151

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,001 OMR 770

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,246 OMR 480

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,813 OMR 698

$3,575 OMR 1,376

-49.29%

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Al-Buraimi: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al-Buraimi pays 97% 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 $13.00 in Al-Buraimi. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $258, with Salalah cheaper for home cooking.

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 Al-Buraimi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Buraimi is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 97% lower in Al-Buraimi. 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 27% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,022 per month in Salalah versus $923 in Al-Buraimi – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Al-Buraimi 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 Al-Buraimi 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 Al-Buraimi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.