Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Sur Cost of Living Comparison Between Salalah and Sur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,021 per month in Salalah vs $1,142 in Sur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,552 per month in Salalah vs $1,655 in Sur, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,082 per month in Salalah vs $2,168 in Sur, rent included.

Salalah is about 11% cheaper than Sur, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Salalah and Sur are more affordable than the global median – Salalah 26% lower, Sur 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.35 OMR 2.06

$3.81 OMR 1.47

40.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.78 OMR 9.92

$25.90 OMR 9.97

-0.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.89 OMR 4.96

$7.83 OMR 3.01

64.62%

Cappuccino

$6.11 OMR 2.35

$4.97 OMR 1.91

22.94%

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

$0.89 OMR 0.34

$0.75 OMR 0.29

18.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.85 OMR 3.41

$12.88 OMR 4.96

-31.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.60 OMR 4.08

$13.09 OMR 5.04

-19.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 OMR 0.73

$1.60 OMR 0.61

18.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.29 OMR 0.50

-3.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.66 OMR 1.02

$1.70 OMR 0.66

56.47%

Eggs

$2.00 OMR 0.77

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.55 OMR 1.75

$7.68 OMR 2.96

-40.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 OMR 1.82

$6.63 OMR 2.55

-28.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.19 OMR 3.54

Apples (1kg)

$1.91 OMR 0.74

$2.31 OMR 0.89

-17.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 OMR 0.69

$1.27 OMR 0.49

41.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 OMR 0.81

$1.06 OMR 0.41

98.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 OMR 0.69

$0.74 OMR 0.29

140.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 OMR 0.57

$0.80 OMR 0.31

86.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$0.51 OMR 0.19

98.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 OMR 0.42

$1.52 OMR 0.58

-27.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 OMR 0.20

$0.50 OMR 0.19

2.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.01 OMR 2.31

$6.30 OMR 2.43

-4.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.50 OMR 7.51

$15.73 OMR 6.06

23.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.84 OMR 1.48

$5.66 OMR 2.18

-32.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 OMR 1.78

$8.73 OMR 3.36

-46.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.5 OMR 21.35

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 OMR 0.88

$3.19 OMR 1.23

-28.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$2.66 OMR 1.02

-52.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.66 OMR 4.49

$8.01 OMR 3.08

45.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

$0.58 OMR 0.22

5.17%

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

$20.5K OMR 7,879

$25.3K OMR 9,753

-19.21%

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

$18.4K OMR 7,096

$22.6K OMR 8,693

-18.37%

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

$77.5 OMR 29.83

$78.9 OMR 30.39

-1.84%

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

$48.48 OMR 18.66

$23.85 OMR 9.18

103.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.3 OMR 28.21

$70.3 OMR 27.06

4.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.49 OMR 15.59

$86.5 OMR 33.30

-53.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.45 OMR 10.18

Cinema Ticket

$7.64 OMR 2.94

$10.25 OMR 3.94

-25.46%

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

$292 OMR 112

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,963 OMR 756

$6,501 OMR 2,503

-69.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.13 OMR 10.83

$55.5 OMR 21.38

-49.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.00 OMR 11.94

$42.74 OMR 16.46

-27.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.4 OMR 22.47

$91.0 OMR 35.05

-35.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.91 OMR 17.29

$94.9 OMR 36.54

-52.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 OMR 93.7

$262 OMR 101

-7.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 OMR 80.4

$268 OMR 103

-22.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$645 OMR 248

$475 OMR 183

35.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 OMR 150

$387 OMR 149

0.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,043 OMR 787

$568 OMR 219

259.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,218 OMR 469

$520 OMR 200

134.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,775 OMR 683

$2,671 OMR 1,028

-33.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.58

5.25

-12.76%

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

Last update for Salalah: September 5, 2026

Last update for Sur: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $243 in Salalah versus $262 in Sur. 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 50% higher in Sur, 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 $26.00 in Sur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $201 vs $247 – 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 Sur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sur costs about 12% more than Salalah, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,532 per month in Salalah and $1,713 in Sur. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,021 in Salalah and $1,142 in Sur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 23% more in Sur, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Salalah, where all-in costs run around $1,021, than in Sur at $1,142. In Salalah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sur 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, Sur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.