Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Duqm Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Duqm

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,022 in Salalah versus $305 in Duqm.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,542 in Salalah versus $510 in Duqm.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,061 in Salalah versus $716 in Duqm.

Living in Salalah is roughly 236% more expensive than in Duqm, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Salalah 26% lower, Duqm 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 OMR 2.03

$5.00 OMR 1.93

5.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.36 OMR 10.15

$12.74 OMR 4.91

106.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.14 OMR 5.06

Cappuccino

$6.29 OMR 2.42

$2.39 OMR 0.92

163.18%

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

$0.85 OMR 0.33

$0.50 OMR 0.19

70.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

$0.37 OMR 0.14

-27.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.90 OMR 3.43

$7.79 OMR 3.00

14.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.43 OMR 4.02

$12.90 OMR 4.97

-19.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 OMR 0.47

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.67 OMR 1.03

$2.54 OMR 0.98

5.12%

Eggs

$2.83 OMR 1.09

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.62 OMR 1.78

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.63 OMR 1.78

$5.08 OMR 1.96

-8.86%

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 OMR 0.75

$3.28 OMR 1.26

-40.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 OMR 0.69

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 OMR 0.82

Tomato (1kg)

$1.87 OMR 0.72

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 OMR 0.55

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$0.80 OMR 0.31

27.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 OMR 0.19

$0.17 OMR 0.07

188.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.94 OMR 2.29

Wine (Bottle)

$20.10 OMR 7.74

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.88 OMR 1.50

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.82 OMR 1.85

$12.95 OMR 4.99

-62.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.0 OMR 21.17

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 OMR 0.86

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.51 OMR 4.43

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 OMR 0.24

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

$21.1K OMR 8,121

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

$18.2K OMR 6,998

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

$79.6 OMR 30.63

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

$48.86 OMR 18.81

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.1 OMR 28.14

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.76 OMR 15.31

$77.4 OMR 29.80

-48.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.79 OMR 9.93

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 OMR 2.99

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,912 OMR 736

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.56 OMR 11.00

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.61 OMR 11.78

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.4 OMR 22.10

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.61 OMR 17.56

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$248 OMR 95.6

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 OMR 79.4

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 OMR 239

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 OMR 151

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,001 OMR 770

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,246 OMR 480

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,813 OMR 698

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Duqm: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $26.00 in Salalah vs $13.00 in Duqm for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $93.0 per month, with Duqm cheaper across the board.

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 Duqm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Duqm is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 236% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,532 in Salalah and $457 in Duqm 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 119% higher in Salalah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Duqm – a meal for two runs $13.00 versus $26.00 in Salalah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Duqm gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 Duqm 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 Duqm gentler on the wallet – expenses run 236% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.