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 $1,021 per month in Salalah vs $934 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,552 per month in Salalah vs $1,412 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,082 per month in Salalah vs $1,890 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

Salalah costs about 9% more than Ar-rustaq, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Salalah and Ar-rustaq are more affordable than the global median – Salalah 26% lower, Ar-rustaq 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.35 OMR 2.06

$5.27 OMR 2.03

1.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.78 OMR 9.92

$34.12 OMR 13.13

-24.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.89 OMR 4.96

$7.61 OMR 2.93

69.38%

Cappuccino

$6.11 OMR 2.35

$4.88 OMR 1.88

25.20%

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

$0.89 OMR 0.34

$0.85 OMR 0.33

4.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

$0.29 OMR 0.11

-6.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.85 OMR 3.41

$13.01 OMR 5.01

-31.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.60 OMR 4.08

$13.14 OMR 5.06

-19.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 OMR 0.73

$2.27 OMR 0.87

-16.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.28 OMR 0.49

-3.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.66 OMR 1.02

$1.83 OMR 0.70

45.36%

Eggs

$2.86 OMR 1.10

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.55 OMR 1.75

$7.47 OMR 2.88

-39.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 OMR 1.82

$6.70 OMR 2.58

-29.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.59 OMR 4.08

Apples (1kg)

$1.91 OMR 0.74

$3.51 OMR 1.35

-45.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 OMR 0.69

$2.00 OMR 0.77

-10.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 OMR 0.81

$2.42 OMR 0.93

-13.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 OMR 0.69

$1.19 OMR 0.46

49.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 OMR 0.57

$1.21 OMR 0.47

23.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$1.24 OMR 0.48

-18.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 OMR 0.42

$1.85 OMR 0.71

-40.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 OMR 0.20

$0.62 OMR 0.24

-17.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.01 OMR 2.31

$6.32 OMR 2.43

-4.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.50 OMR 7.51

$15.53 OMR 5.98

25.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.84 OMR 1.48

$5.43 OMR 2.09

-29.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 OMR 1.78

$9.01 OMR 3.47

-48.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.5 OMR 21.35

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 OMR 0.88

$3.19 OMR 1.23

-28.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$2.68 OMR 1.03

-52.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.66 OMR 4.49

$8.02 OMR 3.09

45.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

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

$20.5K OMR 7,879

$25.2K OMR 9,695

-18.73%

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

$18.4K OMR 7,096

$22.4K OMR 8,606

-17.55%

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

$77.5 OMR 29.83

$174 OMR 66.9

-55.39%

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

$48.48 OMR 18.66

$30.45 OMR 11.72

59.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.3 OMR 28.21

$69.1 OMR 26.60

6.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.49 OMR 15.59

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.45 OMR 10.18

Cinema Ticket

$7.64 OMR 2.94

$10.37 OMR 3.99

-26.33%

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

$288 OMR 111

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,963 OMR 756

$10.6K OMR 4,064

-81.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.13 OMR 10.83

$55.7 OMR 21.44

-49.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.00 OMR 11.94

$43.38 OMR 16.70

-28.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.4 OMR 22.47

$89.5 OMR 34.47

-34.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.91 OMR 17.29

$97.3 OMR 37.44

-53.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 OMR 93.7

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 OMR 80.4

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$645 OMR 248

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 OMR 150

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,043 OMR 787

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,218 OMR 469

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,775 OMR 683

$4,389 OMR 1,690

-59.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.58

5.25

-12.76%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Salalah: September 5, 2026

Last update for Ar-rustaq: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 147% 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 $34.00 in Ar-rustaq. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $201 vs $284 – 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 Ar-rustaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Salalah is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,532 per month in Salalah and $1,401 in Ar-rustaq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Interestingly, groceries are about 41% cheaper in Salalah – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Salalah and $34.00 in Ar-rustaq. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,021 in Salalah and $934 in Ar-rustaq, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.