Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Ar-rustaq Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Ar-rustaq

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,086 per month in Salalah vs $970 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,648 per month in Salalah vs $1,309 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,209 per month in Salalah vs $1,647 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

Salalah costs about 12% more than Ar-rustaq, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Salalah and Ar-rustaq are more affordable than the global median – Salalah 19% lower, Ar-rustaq 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.35 OMR 2.06

$5.28 OMR 2.03

1.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 OMR 10.12

$26.10 OMR 10.05

0.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.82 OMR 4.93

$8.00 OMR 3.08

60.25%

Cappuccino

$6.01 OMR 2.32

$5.01 OMR 1.93

19.96%

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

$0.64 OMR 0.25

$0.50 OMR 0.19

28.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

$0.27 OMR 0.10

-7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.21 OMR 3.55

$12.54 OMR 4.83

-26.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.59 OMR 4.08

$11.82 OMR 4.55

-10.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 OMR 0.65

$1.97 OMR 0.76

-14.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

$1.24 OMR 0.48

3.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 OMR 0.81

$1.67 OMR 0.64

26.35%

Eggs

$1.95 OMR 0.75

$1.88 OMR 0.72

3.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.92 OMR 2.66

$3.86 OMR 1.48

79.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.57 OMR 1.76

$4.20 OMR 1.62

8.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.90 OMR 3.43

$7.87 OMR 3.03

13.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.13 OMR 0.82

$2.30 OMR 0.89

-7.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 OMR 0.43

$1.66 OMR 0.64

-33.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 OMR 0.62

$1.83 OMR 0.71

-12.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 OMR 0.46

$1.12 OMR 0.43

7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 OMR 0.44

$1.03 OMR 0.40

10.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 OMR 0.30

$1.03 OMR 0.40

-24.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

$1.09 OMR 0.42

-50.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 OMR 0.22

$0.51 OMR 0.20

13.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.75 OMR 2.21

$6.47 OMR 2.49

-11.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.58 OMR 7.54

$15.89 OMR 6.12

23.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.88 OMR 1.49

$4.20 OMR 1.62

-7.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 OMR 1.79

$7.71 OMR 2.97

-39.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.31 OMR 0.51

$1.32 OMR 0.51

-0.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.7 OMR 21.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 OMR 0.87

$1.58 OMR 0.61

42.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$0.75 OMR 0.29

69.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.58 OMR 4.46

$10.25 OMR 3.94

12.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

$0.61 OMR 0.23

-1.64%

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

$20.9K OMR 8,064

$22.5K OMR 8,645

-6.72%

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

$18.0K OMR 6,917

$21.9K OMR 8,417

-17.82%

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

$65.8 OMR 25.32

$106 OMR 40.86

-38.03%

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

$49.61 OMR 19.10

$40.96 OMR 15.77

21.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.6 OMR 29.48

$70.0 OMR 26.96

9.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.7 OMR 36.09

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.21 OMR 10.09

$2.58 OMR 0.99

915.89%

Cinema Ticket

$7.93 OMR 3.05

$10.32 OMR 3.97

-23.16%

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

$111 OMR 42.88

$132 OMR 51.0

-15.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,377 OMR 915

$3,748 OMR 1,443

-36.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.90 OMR 10.74

$20.63 OMR 7.94

35.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.60 OMR 12.17

$25.54 OMR 9.83

23.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.5 OMR 24.82

$39.59 OMR 15.24

62.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.98 OMR 16.93

$51.5 OMR 19.82

-14.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 OMR 98.1

$159 OMR 61.2

60.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$215 OMR 82.8

$211 OMR 81.1

2.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$492 OMR 189

$385 OMR 148

27.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$370 OMR 142

$211 OMR 81.1

75.66%

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

$4,394 OMR 1,692

-60.10%

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 Ar-rustaq: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $255 in Salalah versus $159 in Ar-rustaq. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 151% higher in Ar-rustaq, 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 Ar-rustaq. Groceries tell a different story – $228 in Salalah vs $221 in Ar-rustaq – so Ar-rustaq wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Ar-rustaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Salalah is pricier by about 12%, 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 $1,455 in Ar-rustaq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ar-rustaq, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,086 in Salalah and $970 in Ar-rustaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $111 per month in Salalah and $132 in Ar-rustaq. 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 Ar-rustaq, where all-in costs run around $970, than in Salalah at $1,086. In Ar-rustaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Salalah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ar-rustaq – 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 Ar-rustaq. 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.