Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Nizwa Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Nizwa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,106 in Salalah versus $580 in Nizwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,665 in Salalah versus $793 in Nizwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,225 in Salalah versus $1,007 in Nizwa.

Living in Salalah is roughly 91% more expensive than in Nizwa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Salalah 17% lower, Nizwa 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.13 OMR 1.98

$2.66 OMR 1.02

92.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.64 OMR 9.87

$25.58 OMR 9.84

0.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.10 OMR 5.04

$3.99 OMR 1.54

228.32%

Cappuccino

$6.19 OMR 2.38

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

$0.68 OMR 0.26

$0.82 OMR 0.31

-17.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

$0.27 OMR 0.10

-7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.92 OMR 3.43

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.37 OMR 3.99

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 OMR 0.68

$1.34 OMR 0.51

31.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.33 OMR 0.51

-4.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.02 OMR 0.78

$1.79 OMR 0.69

12.85%

Eggs

$1.90 OMR 0.73

$2.23 OMR 0.86

-14.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.73 OMR 2.59

$3.89 OMR 1.50

73.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.65 OMR 1.79

$7.72 OMR 2.97

-39.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.84 OMR 3.40

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 OMR 0.79

$2.04 OMR 0.78

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$1.27 OMR 0.49

-14.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 OMR 0.61

$1.33 OMR 0.51

19.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 OMR 0.44

$1.32 OMR 0.51

-13.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 OMR 0.43

$1.07 OMR 0.41

4.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 OMR 0.30

$1.03 OMR 0.40

-24.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

$0.75 OMR 0.29

-28.00%

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

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.82 OMR 1.85

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.3 OMR 20.88

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

$0.63 OMR 0.24

-4.76%

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

$21.1K OMR 8,112

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

$18.5K OMR 7,125

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

$63.8 OMR 24.54

$132 OMR 50.8

-51.65%

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

$49.44 OMR 19.03

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.0 OMR 29.61

$65.5 OMR 25.21

17.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.1 OMR 35.80

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.71 OMR 9.89

Cinema Ticket

$8.03 OMR 3.09

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

$111 OMR 42.86

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 23.94

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.75 OMR 16.45

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$259 OMR 99.7

$264 OMR 102

-1.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 OMR 80.2

$209 OMR 80.5

-0.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 OMR 193

$393 OMR 151

27.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 OMR 141

$261 OMR 100

40.67%

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

$1,323 OMR 509

34.93%

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 Nizwa: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $259 in Salalah and $264 in Nizwa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Salalah pays 35% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $26.00 in Salalah vs $26.00 in Nizwa. Groceries flip the comparison at $227 vs $139, with Nizwa cheaper for home cooking.

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 Nizwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nizwa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear. The 91% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 35% higher in Salalah, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $259 in Salalah versus $264 in Nizwa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 63% higher in Salalah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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

At $580 in Nizwa versus $1,106 in Salalah, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nizwa but tight or insufficient in Salalah. The gap between the two cities makes Nizwa 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 Nizwa 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 Nizwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 91% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.