Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Shinas Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Shinas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,086 per month in Salalah vs $817 in Shinas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,648 per month in Salalah vs $1,214 in Shinas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,209 per month in Salalah vs $1,610 in Shinas, rent included.

Salalah costs about 33% more than Shinas, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Salalah and Shinas are more affordable than the global median – Salalah 19% lower, Shinas 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.35 OMR 2.06

$5.16 OMR 1.99

3.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 OMR 10.12

$25.55 OMR 9.84

2.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.82 OMR 4.93

$7.58 OMR 2.92

69.13%

Cappuccino

$6.01 OMR 2.32

$4.76 OMR 1.83

26.26%

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

$0.64 OMR 0.25

$1.06 OMR 0.41

-39.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

$0.34 OMR 0.13

-26.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.21 OMR 3.55

$12.19 OMR 4.69

-24.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.59 OMR 4.08

$11.81 OMR 4.55

-10.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 OMR 0.65

$1.93 OMR 0.74

-12.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

$1.18 OMR 0.45

8.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 OMR 0.81

$1.73 OMR 0.67

21.97%

Eggs

$1.95 OMR 0.75

$2.38 OMR 0.92

-18.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.92 OMR 2.66

$3.73 OMR 1.43

85.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.57 OMR 1.76

$4.96 OMR 1.91

-7.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.90 OMR 3.43

$8.62 OMR 3.32

3.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.13 OMR 0.82

$2.62 OMR 1.01

-18.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 OMR 0.43

$1.73 OMR 0.67

-35.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 OMR 0.62

$1.77 OMR 0.68

-9.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 OMR 0.46

$1.17 OMR 0.45

2.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 OMR 0.44

$1.01 OMR 0.39

12.87%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 OMR 0.30

$0.99 OMR 0.38

-21.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

$1.04 OMR 0.40

-48.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 OMR 0.22

$0.52 OMR 0.20

11.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.75 OMR 2.21

$6.44 OMR 2.48

-10.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.58 OMR 7.54

$15.86 OMR 6.11

23.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.88 OMR 1.49

$4.37 OMR 1.68

-11.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 OMR 1.79

$7.75 OMR 2.98

-40.00%

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

$3.19 OMR 1.23

-29.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$0.79 OMR 0.30

60.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.58 OMR 4.46

$10.29 OMR 3.96

12.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

$0.59 OMR 0.23

1.69%

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

$20.9K OMR 8,064

$22.8K OMR 8,779

-8.15%

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

$18.0K OMR 6,917

$21.7K OMR 8,368

-17.35%

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

$65.8 OMR 25.32

$106 OMR 40.81

-37.95%

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

$49.61 OMR 19.10

$41.81 OMR 16.10

18.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.6 OMR 29.48

$70.7 OMR 27.21

8.35%

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

$10.28 OMR 3.96

-22.86%

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

$111 OMR 42.88

$196 OMR 75.3

-43.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,377 OMR 915

$9,761 OMR 3,758

-75.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.90 OMR 10.74

$50.2 OMR 19.32

-44.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.60 OMR 12.17

$39.84 OMR 15.34

-20.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.5 OMR 24.82

$77.9 OMR 30.00

-17.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.98 OMR 16.93

$88.8 OMR 34.17

-50.45%

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

$3,087 OMR 1,188

-43.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.58

5.15

-11.07%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Salalah: June 1, 2026

Last update for Shinas: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 76% higher in Shinas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Salalah versus $26.00 in Shinas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $228 vs $230 – making Salalah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Shinas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Salalah costs about 33% more than Shinas, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,629 per month in Salalah and $1,226 in Shinas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,086 in Salalah and $817 in Shinas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $111 per month in Salalah and $196 in Shinas. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shinas, where all-in costs run around $817, than in Salalah at $1,086. In Shinas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Salalah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Shinas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Shinas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Salalah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.