Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Matrah Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Matrah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,106 in Salalah versus $219 in Matrah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,665 in Salalah versus $366 in Matrah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,225 in Salalah versus $513 in Matrah.

Living in Salalah is roughly 405% more expensive than in Matrah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Salalah 17% lower, Matrah 84% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.13 OMR 1.98

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.64 OMR 9.87

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.10 OMR 5.04

Cappuccino

$6.19 OMR 2.38

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

$0.68 OMR 0.26

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.92 OMR 3.44

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.37 OMR 3.99

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 OMR 0.68

$2.58 OMR 0.99

-31.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.07 OMR 0.41

18.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.02 OMR 0.78

$2.64 OMR 1.02

-23.48%

Eggs

$1.90 OMR 0.73

$4.79 OMR 1.84

-60.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.73 OMR 2.59

$5.05 OMR 1.94

33.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.65 OMR 1.79

$5.26 OMR 2.02

-11.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.84 OMR 3.40

$7.86 OMR 3.03

12.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 OMR 0.79

$1.31 OMR 0.51

55.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$1.81 OMR 0.70

-39.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 OMR 0.61

$2.39 OMR 0.92

-33.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 OMR 0.44

$1.24 OMR 0.48

-8.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 OMR 0.43

$1.07 OMR 0.41

4.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 OMR 0.30

$1.07 OMR 0.41

-27.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.88 OMR 2.26

Wine (Bottle)

$20.01 OMR 7.70

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.84 OMR 1.48

$4.26 OMR 1.64

-9.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.82 OMR 1.85

$15.72 OMR 6.05

-69.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.3 OMR 20.89

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 OMR 0.90

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 OMR 0.51

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.83 OMR 4.55

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

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

$21.1K OMR 8,114

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

$18.5K OMR 7,127

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

$63.8 OMR 24.55

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

$49.44 OMR 19.03

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.0 OMR 29.62

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.1 OMR 35.81

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.71 OMR 9.90

Cinema Ticket

$8.03 OMR 3.09

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

$111 OMR 42.87

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,399 OMR 923

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.70 OMR 10.66

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.71 OMR 11.82

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.2 OMR 23.95

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.75 OMR 16.46

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$259 OMR 99.7

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 OMR 80.2

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 OMR 193

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 OMR 141

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,034 OMR 783

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,218 OMR 469

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,785 OMR 687

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Matrah: July 11, 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 Matrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Matrah wins on cost – living expenses run 405% lower than in Salalah. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Matrah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,658 in Salalah and $328 in Matrah 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 1% higher in Salalah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,106 per month in Salalah versus $219 in Matrah – a 405% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $219 in Matrah versus $1,106 in Salalah, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Matrah but tight or insufficient in Salalah. The gap between the two cities makes Matrah 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 Matrah 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 Matrah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 405% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.