Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Al-masna'ah Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Al-masna'ah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,115 per month in Salalah vs $818 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,669 per month in Salalah vs $1,200 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,224 per month in Salalah vs $1,582 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

Salalah costs about 36% more than Al-masna'ah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Salalah and Al-masna'ah are more affordable than the global median – Salalah 17% lower, Al-masna'ah 39% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Salalah
Al-masna'ah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.12 OMR 1.97
$5.11 OMR 1.97
0.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.37 OMR 10.15
$26.40 OMR 10.16
-0.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.06 OMR 5.03
$7.95 OMR 3.06
64.28%
Cappuccino
$5.97 OMR 2.30
$4.97 OMR 1.91
20.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 OMR 0.26
$1.06 OMR 0.41
-36.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 OMR 0.10
$0.32 OMR 0.12
-15.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.35 OMR 3.60
$12.21 OMR 4.70
-23.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.46 OMR 4.03
$11.51 OMR 4.43
-9.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Salalah
Al-masna'ah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 OMR 0.68
$1.93 OMR 0.74
-8.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 OMR 0.49
$1.23 OMR 0.47
3.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.05 OMR 0.79
$1.71 OMR 0.66
19.88%
Eggs
$1.91 OMR 0.73
$2.36 OMR 0.91
-19.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.99 OMR 2.69
$3.75 OMR 1.44
86.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.74 OMR 1.82
$5.11 OMR 1.97
-7.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.84 OMR 3.40
$8.40 OMR 3.23
5.24%
Apples (1kg)
$2.05 OMR 0.79
$2.52 OMR 0.97
-18.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 OMR 0.41
$1.74 OMR 0.67
-39.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 OMR 0.61
$1.79 OMR 0.69
-10.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 OMR 0.44
$1.13 OMR 0.43
1.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 OMR 0.41
$0.96 OMR 0.37
12.50%
Onion (1kg)
$0.84 OMR 0.32
$0.97 OMR 0.37
-13.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.51 OMR 0.20
$1.08 OMR 0.42
-52.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 OMR 0.22
$0.53 OMR 0.20
7.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.91 OMR 2.28
$6.44 OMR 2.48
-8.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.71 OMR 7.59
$15.82 OMR 6.09
24.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.85 OMR 1.48
$4.23 OMR 1.63
-8.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 OMR 1.76
$8.02 OMR 3.09
-42.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Salalah
Al-masna'ah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.28 OMR 0.49
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.2 OMR 21.26
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.33 OMR 0.90
$3.04 OMR 1.17
-23.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.33 OMR 0.51
$0.76 OMR 0.29
75.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.48 OMR 4.42
$10.30 OMR 3.96
11.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.59 OMR 0.23
$0.63 OMR 0.24
-6.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K OMR 7,986
$23.3K OMR 8,949
-10.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.0K OMR 6,941
$21.8K OMR 8,374
-17.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salalah
Al-masna'ah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.3 OMR 25.14
$107 OMR 41.25
-39.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.94 OMR 18.84
$41.71 OMR 16.06
17.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.8 OMR 29.19
$69.4 OMR 26.73
9.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Salalah
Al-masna'ah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$94.7 OMR 36.43
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.78 OMR 9.92
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.75 OMR 2.98
$10.21 OMR 3.93
-24.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salalah
Al-masna'ah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$111 OMR 42.81
$192 OMR 74.0
-42.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,414 OMR 929
$9,766 OMR 3,759
-75.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Salalah
Al-masna'ah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.00 OMR 10.78
$50.8 OMR 19.57
-44.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.70 OMR 11.82
$38.61 OMR 14.86
-20.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.7 OMR 24.11
$79.4 OMR 30.54
-21.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.93 OMR 16.91
$89.1 OMR 34.28
-50.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salalah
Al-masna'ah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$255 OMR 98.3
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$211 OMR 81.3
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$501 OMR 193
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$380 OMR 146
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,052 OMR 790
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,219 OMR 469
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Salalah
Al-masna'ah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,800 OMR 693
$4,061 OMR 1,563
-55.68%
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 6, 2026

Last update for Al-masna'ah: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 126% higher in Al-masna'ah, 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-masna'ah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $228 vs $230 – 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-masna'ah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Salalah and Al-masna'ah compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,115 in Salalah, $818 in Al-masna'ah – roughly 36% apart. Salalah costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Salalah compared to Al-masna'ah?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,672 per month in Salalah and $1,227 in Al-masna'ah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Salalah or Al-masna'ah?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,115 in Salalah and $818 in Al-masna'ah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Salalah and Al-masna'ah?
Kindergarten costs $111 per month in Salalah and $192 in Al-masna'ah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Al-masna'ah, where all-in costs run around $818, than in Salalah at $1,115. In Al-masna'ah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Salalah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Salalah or Al-masna'ah?
Families tend to lean toward Al-masna'ah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Salalah or Al-masna'ah safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Salalah and Al-masna'ah?
If budget matters most, go with Al-masna'ah. 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.

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