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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,106 per month in Salalah vs $1,428 in Sohar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,665 per month in Salalah vs $2,124 in Sohar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,225 per month in Salalah vs $2,820 in Sohar, rent included.

Salalah is about 23% cheaper than Sohar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Salalah sits 17% below the global median, while Sohar is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.13 OMR 1.98

$6.65 OMR 2.56

-22.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.64 OMR 9.87

$21.08 OMR 8.11

21.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.10 OMR 5.04

$9.12 OMR 3.51

43.64%

Cappuccino

$6.19 OMR 2.38

$7.01 OMR 2.70

-11.70%

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

$0.68 OMR 0.26

$0.64 OMR 0.25

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.92 OMR 3.44

$13.09 OMR 5.04

-31.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.37 OMR 3.99

$14.16 OMR 5.45

-26.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 OMR 0.68

$2.27 OMR 0.87

-22.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.06 OMR 0.41

19.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.02 OMR 0.78

$3.33 OMR 1.28

-39.34%

Eggs

$1.90 OMR 0.73

$2.73 OMR 1.05

-30.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.73 OMR 2.59

$13.68 OMR 5.26

-50.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.65 OMR 1.79

$8.89 OMR 3.42

-47.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.84 OMR 3.40

$14.06 OMR 5.41

-37.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 OMR 0.79

$3.30 OMR 1.27

-38.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$2.10 OMR 0.81

-48.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 OMR 0.61

$2.58 OMR 0.99

-38.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 OMR 0.44

$1.17 OMR 0.45

-2.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 OMR 0.43

$1.75 OMR 0.67

-36.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 OMR 0.30

$1.83 OMR 0.71

-57.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

$1.74 OMR 0.67

-68.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

$0.98 OMR 0.38

-44.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.88 OMR 2.26

$5.85 OMR 2.25

0.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.01 OMR 7.70

$25.86 OMR 9.95

-22.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.84 OMR 1.48

$3.96 OMR 1.52

-3.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.82 OMR 1.85

$8.79 OMR 3.38

-45.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

$2.62 OMR 1.01

-51.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.3 OMR 20.89

$51.3 OMR 19.74

5.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 OMR 0.90

$3.34 OMR 1.28

-29.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 OMR 0.51

$1.60 OMR 0.62

-16.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.83 OMR 4.55

$10.37 OMR 3.99

14.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

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

$21.1K OMR 8,114

$18.2K OMR 7,016

15.65%

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

$18.5K OMR 7,127

$20.6K OMR 7,923

-10.04%

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

$63.8 OMR 24.55

$102 OMR 39.11

-37.24%

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

$49.44 OMR 19.03

$29.28 OMR 11.27

68.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.0 OMR 29.62

$87.1 OMR 33.53

-11.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.1 OMR 35.81

$52.4 OMR 20.15

77.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.71 OMR 9.90

Cinema Ticket

$8.03 OMR 3.09

$11.69 OMR 4.50

-31.31%

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

$111 OMR 42.87

$267 OMR 103

-58.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,399 OMR 923

$7,155 OMR 2,754

-66.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.70 OMR 10.66

$50.6 OMR 19.48

-45.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.71 OMR 11.82

$43.88 OMR 16.89

-30.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.2 OMR 23.95

$80.2 OMR 30.88

-22.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.75 OMR 16.46

$46.41 OMR 17.86

-7.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$259 OMR 99.7

$497 OMR 191

-47.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 OMR 80.2

$383 OMR 148

-45.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 OMR 193

$780 OMR 300

-35.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 OMR 141

$683 OMR 263

-46.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,034 OMR 783

$1,184 OMR 456

71.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,218 OMR 469

$775 OMR 298

57.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,785 OMR 687

$2,506 OMR 965

-28.75%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sohar: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $259 in Salalah versus $497 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 – $227 in Salalah vs $347 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 29% 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 $1,658 per month in Salalah and $2,142 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 6% less in Salalah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $111 per month in Salalah and $267 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 $1,106, than in Sohar at $1,428. 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.