Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Sohar Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Sohar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,086 per month in Salalah vs $1,441 in Sohar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,648 per month in Salalah vs $2,151 in Sohar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,209 per month in Salalah vs $2,862 in Sohar, rent included.

Salalah is about 25% cheaper than Sohar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Salalah sits 19% below the global median, while Sohar is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.35 OMR 2.06

$6.53 OMR 2.51

-18.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 OMR 10.12

$21.05 OMR 8.10

24.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.82 OMR 4.93

$8.87 OMR 3.41

44.53%

Cappuccino

$6.01 OMR 2.32

$6.62 OMR 2.55

-9.21%

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

$0.64 OMR 0.25

$0.65 OMR 0.25

-1.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

$0.27 OMR 0.10

-7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.21 OMR 3.55

$12.74 OMR 4.91

-27.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.59 OMR 4.08

$14.10 OMR 5.43

-24.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 OMR 0.65

$2.24 OMR 0.86

-24.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

$1.11 OMR 0.43

15.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 OMR 0.81

$3.22 OMR 1.24

-34.47%

Eggs

$1.95 OMR 0.75

$2.82 OMR 1.09

-30.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.92 OMR 2.66

$13.59 OMR 5.23

-49.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.57 OMR 1.76

$9.31 OMR 3.58

-50.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.90 OMR 3.43

$14.40 OMR 5.54

-38.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.13 OMR 0.82

$3.21 OMR 1.24

-33.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 OMR 0.43

$2.11 OMR 0.81

-47.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 OMR 0.62

$2.55 OMR 0.98

-36.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 OMR 0.46

$1.18 OMR 0.46

1.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 OMR 0.44

$1.74 OMR 0.67

-34.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 OMR 0.30

$1.86 OMR 0.72

-58.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

$1.72 OMR 0.66

-68.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 OMR 0.22

$0.99 OMR 0.38

-41.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.75 OMR 2.21

$6.14 OMR 2.36

-6.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.58 OMR 7.54

$26.43 OMR 10.18

-25.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.88 OMR 1.49

$4.00 OMR 1.54

-3.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 OMR 1.79

$8.47 OMR 3.26

-45.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.31 OMR 0.51

$2.66 OMR 1.02

-50.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.7 OMR 21.44

$51.9 OMR 20.00

7.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 OMR 0.87

$3.16 OMR 1.21

-28.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.53 OMR 0.59

-16.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.58 OMR 4.46

$10.51 OMR 4.05

10.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

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

$20.9K OMR 8,064

$18.1K OMR 6,963

15.81%

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

$18.0K OMR 6,917

$20.8K OMR 8,000

-13.54%

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

$65.8 OMR 25.32

$101 OMR 38.93

-34.96%

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

$49.61 OMR 19.10

$29.04 OMR 11.18

70.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.6 OMR 29.48

$87.4 OMR 33.63

-12.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.7 OMR 36.09

$51.6 OMR 19.86

81.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.21 OMR 10.09

Cinema Ticket

$7.93 OMR 3.05

$11.78 OMR 4.54

-32.68%

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

$111 OMR 42.88

$269 OMR 104

-58.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,377 OMR 915

$7,119 OMR 2,741

-66.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.90 OMR 10.74

$51.6 OMR 19.88

-45.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.60 OMR 12.17

$43.42 OMR 16.72

-27.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.5 OMR 24.82

$78.3 OMR 30.14

-17.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.98 OMR 16.93

$46.95 OMR 18.08

-6.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 OMR 98.1

$485 OMR 187

-47.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$215 OMR 82.8

$388 OMR 149

-44.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$492 OMR 189

$753 OMR 290

-34.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$370 OMR 142

$669 OMR 257

-44.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,991 OMR 766

$1,154 OMR 444

72.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,225 OMR 472

$774 OMR 298

58.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,753 OMR 675

$2,455 OMR 945

-28.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.58

5.62

-18.51%

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

Last update for Salalah: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sohar: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $255 in Salalah versus $485 in Sohar. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 40% higher in Sohar, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Salalah versus $21.00 in Sohar. Groceries tell a different story – $228 in Salalah vs $351 in Sohar – so Salalah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Sohar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sohar costs about 33% more than Salalah, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,161 in Sohar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Salalah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 7% less in Salalah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $111 per month in Salalah and $269 in Sohar. 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 Salalah, where all-in costs run around $1,086, than in Sohar at $1,441. In Salalah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sohar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Salalah – 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 Salalah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sohar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.