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: $1,034 in Salalah versus $89.5 in Al Ghubra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,538 in Salalah versus $159 in Al Ghubra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,042 in Salalah versus $229 in Al Ghubra.

Living in Salalah is roughly 1055% more expensive than in Al Ghubra, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Salalah 24% lower, Al Ghubra 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.18 OMR 2.00

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.51 OMR 10.21

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.81 OMR 4.93

Cappuccino

$6.37 OMR 2.45

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

$0.87 OMR 0.33

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.91 OMR 3.43

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.47 OMR 4.03

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$2.68 OMR 1.03

-26.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.56 OMR 0.99

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.74 OMR 1.82

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.76 OMR 1.83

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

Oranges (1kg)

$2.02 OMR 0.78

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.71

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 OMR 0.58

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 OMR 0.42

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 OMR 0.19

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.83 OMR 2.24

Wine (Bottle)

$19.98 OMR 7.69

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.86 OMR 1.49

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 OMR 1.83

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

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 OMR 0.49

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.53 OMR 4.44

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 OMR 0.23

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

$20.9K OMR 8,053

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

$18.5K OMR 7,136

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

$78.8 OMR 30.33

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

$49.07 OMR 18.89

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 OMR 28.59

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.68 OMR 15.28

$44.21 OMR 17.02

-10.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.54 OMR 10.22

$36.32 OMR 13.98

-26.93%

Cinema Ticket

$7.99 OMR 3.07

$8.88 OMR 3.42

-10.02%

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

$179 OMR 68.8

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,944 OMR 749

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.98 OMR 11.16

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.69 OMR 11.81

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.6 OMR 22.94

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.98 OMR 17.32

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

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

$3,168 OMR 1,220

-44.46%

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: September 15, 2026

Last update for Al Ghubra: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al Ghubra pays 80% 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 1055% in total monthly costs ($1,034 vs $89.5 including rent). Al Ghubra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 80% 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 665% higher in Salalah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,034 per month in Salalah versus $89.5 in Al Ghubra – a 1055% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $89.5 in Al Ghubra versus $1,034 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 1055% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.