Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Al Ghubra Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Al Ghubra

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,106 in Salalah versus $355 in Al Ghubra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,665 in Salalah versus $473 in Al Ghubra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,225 in Salalah versus $591 in Al Ghubra.

Living in Salalah is roughly 212% more expensive than in Al Ghubra, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Salalah 17% lower, Al Ghubra 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.13 OMR 1.98

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.64 OMR 9.87

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.10 OMR 5.04

Cappuccino

$6.19 OMR 2.38

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

$0.68 OMR 0.26

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.92 OMR 3.44

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.37 OMR 3.99

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 OMR 0.68

$1.84 OMR 0.71

-4.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.02 OMR 0.78

$2.13 OMR 0.82

-5.16%

Eggs

$1.90 OMR 0.73

$5.10 OMR 1.96

-62.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.73 OMR 2.59

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.65 OMR 1.79

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.84 OMR 3.40

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 OMR 0.79

$2.11 OMR 0.81

-3.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$1.86 OMR 0.72

-41.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 OMR 0.61

$1.83 OMR 0.71

-13.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 OMR 0.44

$1.27 OMR 0.49

-10.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 OMR 0.43

$0.62 OMR 0.24

80.65%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 OMR 0.30

$0.68 OMR 0.26

14.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

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 20.89

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)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

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

$21.1K OMR 8,114

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

$18.5K OMR 7,127

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

$63.8 OMR 24.55

$113 OMR 43.34

-43.37%

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

$49.44 OMR 19.03

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.0 OMR 29.62

$85.8 OMR 33.01

-10.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.1 OMR 35.81

$43.51 OMR 16.75

113.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.71 OMR 9.90

$37.04 OMR 14.26

-30.59%

Cinema Ticket

$8.03 OMR 3.09

$8.88 OMR 3.42

-9.57%

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

$111 OMR 42.87

$182 OMR 69.9

-38.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,399 OMR 923

$10.5K OMR 4,038

-77.13%

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 23.95

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.75 OMR 16.46

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$259 OMR 99.7

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 OMR 80.2

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 OMR 193

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 OMR 141

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)

$1,785 OMR 687

$3,096 OMR 1,191

-42.33%

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 Salalah: July 12, 2026

Last update for Al Ghubra: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al Ghubra pays 73% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Ghubra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Salalah and Al Ghubra differ by about 212% in total monthly costs ($1,106 vs $355 including rent). Al Ghubra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 73% lower in Al Ghubra. 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 $182 in Al Ghubra. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $1,106 per month in Salalah versus $355 in Al Ghubra – a 212% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $355 in Al Ghubra versus $1,106 in Salalah, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al Ghubra but tight or insufficient in Salalah. The gap between the two cities makes Al Ghubra 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 Al Ghubra 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 Ghubra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 212% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.