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: $1,106 in Salalah versus $510 in Ruwi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,665 in Salalah versus $774 in Ruwi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,225 in Salalah versus $1,039 in Ruwi.

Living in Salalah is roughly 117% more expensive than in Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Salalah 17% lower, Ruwi 62% 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

$2.02 OMR 0.78

-12.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.95 OMR 0.75

-34.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.02 OMR 0.78

$0.98 OMR 0.38

106.12%

Eggs

$1.90 OMR 0.73

$1.18 OMR 0.46

61.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.73 OMR 2.59

$2.05 OMR 0.79

228.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.65 OMR 1.79

$2.05 OMR 0.79

126.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.84 OMR 3.40

$5.07 OMR 1.95

74.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 OMR 0.79

$0.99 OMR 0.38

106.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$0.98 OMR 0.38

11.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 OMR 0.61

$1.02 OMR 0.39

55.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 OMR 0.44

$0.98 OMR 0.38

16.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 OMR 0.43

$1.01 OMR 0.39

10.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 OMR 0.30

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

$1.02 OMR 0.39

-47.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

$0.99 OMR 0.38

-45.45%

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 20.89

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

$25.58 OMR 9.85

93.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.0 OMR 29.62

$78.5 OMR 30.22

-1.99%

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

$9.03 OMR 3.48

-11.07%

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

$111 OMR 42.87

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,399 OMR 923

$12.8K OMR 4,911

-81.20%

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

$387 OMR 149

-33.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 OMR 80.2

$255 OMR 98.1

-18.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 OMR 193

$900 OMR 346

-44.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 OMR 141

$582 OMR 224

-36.85%

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

$4,481 OMR 1,725

-60.16%

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 Ruwi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $259 in Salalah and $387 in Ruwi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ruwi pays 151% 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 117% in total monthly costs ($1,106 vs $510 including rent). Ruwi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 151% 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: $259 in Salalah versus $387 in Ruwi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 91% 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 $510 in Ruwi – a 117% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $510 in Ruwi versus $1,106 in Salalah, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ruwi but tight or insufficient in Salalah. The gap between the two cities makes Ruwi 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 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 117% less than in Salalah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.