Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Ruwi Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Ruwi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,022 in Salalah versus $624 in Ruwi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,542 in Salalah versus $824 in Ruwi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,061 in Salalah versus $1,023 in Ruwi.

Living in Salalah is roughly 64% more expensive than in Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Salalah 26% lower, Ruwi 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 OMR 2.03

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.36 OMR 10.15

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.14 OMR 5.06

Cappuccino

$6.29 OMR 2.42

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

$0.85 OMR 0.33

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.90 OMR 3.43

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.43 OMR 4.02

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$1.98 OMR 0.76

1.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 OMR 0.47

$1.97 OMR 0.76

-38.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.67 OMR 1.03

$1.01 OMR 0.39

164.36%

Eggs

$1.22 OMR 0.47

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.62 OMR 1.78

$2.02 OMR 0.78

128.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.63 OMR 1.78

$1.99 OMR 0.77

132.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.87 OMR 1.87

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 OMR 0.75

$0.97 OMR 0.37

100.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 OMR 0.69

$1.03 OMR 0.40

74.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 OMR 0.82

$1.03 OMR 0.40

105.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.87 OMR 0.72

$1.02 OMR 0.39

83.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 OMR 0.55

$0.98 OMR 0.38

46.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$0.99 OMR 0.38

10.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 OMR 0.19

$1.03 OMR 0.40

-52.43%

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

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

$25.65 OMR 9.88

90.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.1 OMR 28.14

$77.9 OMR 30.00

-6.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.76 OMR 15.31

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.79 OMR 9.93

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 OMR 2.99

$8.93 OMR 3.44

-13.10%

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

$396 OMR 153

-37.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 OMR 79.4

$385 OMR 148

-46.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 OMR 239

$912 OMR 351

-31.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 OMR 151

$582 OMR 224

-32.44%

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

$4,419 OMR 1,701

-58.98%

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 Ruwi: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $248 in Salalah and $396 in Ruwi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ruwi pays 144% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Ruwi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Salalah and Ruwi differ by about 64% in total monthly costs ($1,022 vs $624 including rent). Ruwi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 144% lower in Ruwi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $248 in Salalah versus $396 in Ruwi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 72% higher in Salalah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,022 per month in Salalah versus $624 in Ruwi – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Ruwi 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 Ruwi 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 Ruwi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.