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: $1,086 in Salalah versus $223 in Matrah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,648 in Salalah versus $364 in Matrah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,209 in Salalah versus $506 in Matrah.

Living in Salalah is roughly 387% more expensive than Matrah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Salalah 19% lower, Matrah 83% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.35 OMR 2.06

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 OMR 10.12

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.82 OMR 4.93

Cappuccino

$6.01 OMR 2.32

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

$0.64 OMR 0.25

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.21 OMR 3.55

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.59 OMR 4.08

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 OMR 0.65

$2.65 OMR 1.02

-36.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

$1.05 OMR 0.41

21.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 OMR 0.81

$2.56 OMR 0.99

-17.58%

Eggs

$1.95 OMR 0.75

$4.66 OMR 1.79

-58.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.92 OMR 2.66

$5.14 OMR 1.98

34.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.57 OMR 1.76

$5.26 OMR 2.02

-13.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.90 OMR 3.43

$8.02 OMR 3.09

10.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.13 OMR 0.82

$1.33 OMR 0.51

60.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 OMR 0.43

$1.83 OMR 0.70

-39.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 OMR 0.62

$2.31 OMR 0.89

-30.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 OMR 0.46

$1.28 OMR 0.49

-6.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 OMR 0.44

$1.06 OMR 0.41

7.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 OMR 0.30

$1.08 OMR 0.42

-27.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

$0.50 OMR 0.19

8.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 OMR 0.22

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.75 OMR 2.21

Wine (Bottle)

$19.58 OMR 7.54

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.88 OMR 1.49

$4.23 OMR 1.63

-8.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 OMR 1.79

$15.35 OMR 5.91

-69.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.31 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.7 OMR 21.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 OMR 0.87

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.58 OMR 4.46

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

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

$20.9K OMR 8,064

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

$18.0K OMR 6,917

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

$65.8 OMR 25.32

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

$49.61 OMR 19.10

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.6 OMR 29.48

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.7 OMR 36.09

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.21 OMR 10.09

Cinema Ticket

$7.93 OMR 3.05

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

$111 OMR 42.88

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,377 OMR 915

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.90 OMR 10.74

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.60 OMR 12.17

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.5 OMR 24.82

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.98 OMR 16.93

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 OMR 98.1

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$215 OMR 82.8

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$492 OMR 189

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$370 OMR 142

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

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 1, 2026

Last update for Matrah: June 2, 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 387% 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 $1,629 in Salalah and $334 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 2% higher in Salalah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,086 per month in Salalah versus $223 in Matrah – a 387% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $223 in Matrah versus $1,086 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 387% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.