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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,115 in Salalah versus $46.33 in Al-qabil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,669 in Salalah versus $70.0 in Al-qabil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,224 in Salalah versus $94.5 in Al-qabil.

Living in Salalah is roughly 2306% more expensive than Al-qabil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Salalah 17% lower, Al-qabil 97% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.12 OMR 1.97

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.37 OMR 10.15

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.06 OMR 5.03

Cappuccino

$5.97 OMR 2.30

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

$0.67 OMR 0.26

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.35 OMR 3.60

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.46 OMR 4.03

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 OMR 0.68

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 OMR 0.79

Eggs

$1.91 OMR 0.73

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.99 OMR 2.69

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.74 OMR 1.82

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.84 OMR 3.40

Apples (1kg)

$2.05 OMR 0.79

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 OMR 0.41

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 OMR 0.61

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 OMR 0.44

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 OMR 0.41

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 OMR 0.32

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 OMR 0.20

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 OMR 0.22

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.91 OMR 2.28

Wine (Bottle)

$19.71 OMR 7.59

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.85 OMR 1.48

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.58 OMR 1.76

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

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 OMR 0.51

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.48 OMR 4.42

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 OMR 0.23

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

$20.7K OMR 7,986

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

$18.0K OMR 6,941

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

$65.3 OMR 25.14

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

$48.94 OMR 18.84

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 OMR 29.19

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.7 OMR 36.43

$26.31 OMR 10.13

259.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.78 OMR 9.92

Cinema Ticket

$7.75 OMR 2.98

$10.51 OMR 4.05

-26.26%

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

$111 OMR 42.81

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,414 OMR 929

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.00 OMR 10.78

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.70 OMR 11.82

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.7 OMR 24.11

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.93 OMR 16.91

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,800 OMR 693

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Al-qabil: June 8, 2026

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-qabil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-qabil is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear. The 2306% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,672 in Salalah and $69.5 in Al-qabil to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

At $46.33 in Al-qabil versus $1,115 in Salalah, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-qabil but tight or insufficient in Salalah. The gap between the two cities makes Al-qabil 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-qabil 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-qabil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2306% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.