Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Al-hamra' Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Al-hamra'

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,086 per month in Salalah vs $814 in Al-hamra', rent included.

A couple spends around $1,648 per month in Salalah vs $1,217 in Al-hamra', rent included.

A family of three spends $2,209 per month in Salalah vs $1,620 in Al-hamra', rent included.

Salalah costs about 33% more than Al-hamra', driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Salalah and Al-hamra' are more affordable than the global median – Salalah 19% lower, Al-hamra' 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.35 OMR 2.06

$5.23 OMR 2.01

2.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 OMR 10.12

$25.79 OMR 9.93

1.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.82 OMR 4.93

$7.86 OMR 3.02

63.10%

Cappuccino

$6.01 OMR 2.32

$4.96 OMR 1.91

21.17%

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

$0.64 OMR 0.25

$1.01 OMR 0.39

-36.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

$0.34 OMR 0.13

-26.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.21 OMR 3.55

$12.33 OMR 4.75

-25.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.59 OMR 4.08

$11.64 OMR 4.48

-9.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 OMR 0.65

$1.94 OMR 0.75

-12.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

$1.22 OMR 0.47

4.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 OMR 0.81

$1.72 OMR 0.66

22.67%

Eggs

$1.95 OMR 0.75

$2.36 OMR 0.91

-17.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.92 OMR 2.66

$3.82 OMR 1.47

81.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.57 OMR 1.76

$5.08 OMR 1.96

-10.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.90 OMR 3.43

$8.52 OMR 3.28

4.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.13 OMR 0.82

$2.62 OMR 1.01

-18.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 OMR 0.43

$1.67 OMR 0.64

-33.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 OMR 0.62

$1.86 OMR 0.72

-13.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 OMR 0.46

$1.17 OMR 0.45

2.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 OMR 0.44

$0.97 OMR 0.37

17.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 OMR 0.30

$1.03 OMR 0.40

-24.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

$1.08 OMR 0.42

-50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 OMR 0.22

$0.56 OMR 0.21

3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.75 OMR 2.21

$6.29 OMR 2.42

-8.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.58 OMR 7.54

$15.43 OMR 5.94

26.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.88 OMR 1.49

$4.35 OMR 1.67

-10.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 OMR 1.79

$7.99 OMR 3.08

-41.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.31 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.7 OMR 21.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 OMR 0.87

$3.09 OMR 1.19

-27.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$0.81 OMR 0.31

56.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.58 OMR 4.46

$10.22 OMR 3.94

13.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

$0.63 OMR 0.24

-4.76%

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

$20.9K OMR 8,064

$22.7K OMR 8,750

-7.84%

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

$18.0K OMR 6,917

$22.0K OMR 8,488

-18.52%

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

$65.8 OMR 25.32

$107 OMR 41.26

-38.64%

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

$49.61 OMR 19.10

$40.81 OMR 15.71

21.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.6 OMR 29.48

$69.0 OMR 26.56

10.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.7 OMR 36.09

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.21 OMR 10.09

Cinema Ticket

$7.93 OMR 3.05

$10.45 OMR 4.02

-24.11%

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

$111 OMR 42.88

$195 OMR 75.0

-42.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,377 OMR 915

$9,715 OMR 3,740

-75.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.90 OMR 10.74

$49.86 OMR 19.20

-44.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.60 OMR 12.17

$39.04 OMR 15.03

-19.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.5 OMR 24.82

$79.5 OMR 30.59

-18.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.98 OMR 16.93

$89.8 OMR 34.56

-51.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 OMR 98.1

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$215 OMR 82.8

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$492 OMR 189

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$370 OMR 142

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,991 OMR 766

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,225 OMR 472

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,753 OMR 675

$4,358 OMR 1,678

-59.78%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Al-hamra': June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 149% higher in Al-hamra', which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Salalah versus $26.00 in Al-hamra'. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $228 vs $231 – making Salalah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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-hamra': Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Salalah is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,629 per month in Salalah and $1,222 in Al-hamra'. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,086 in Salalah and $814 in Al-hamra'. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $111 per month in Salalah and $195 in Al-hamra'. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-hamra', where all-in costs run around $814, than in Salalah at $1,086. In Al-hamra' it covers expenses comfortably, while in Salalah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-hamra' – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Al-hamra'. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Salalah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.