Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanaa and Al Mukalla Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanaa and Al Mukalla

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $900 in Sanaa versus $870 in Al Mukalla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,466 in Sanaa versus $1,554 in Al Mukalla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,032 in Sanaa versus $2,238 in Al Mukalla.

Living in Sanaa is roughly 4% more expensive than Al Mukalla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sanaa 33% lower, Al Mukalla 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.11 YER 1,455

$16.72 YER 3,985

-63.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.83 YER 5,440

$37.33 YER 8,895

-38.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.15 YER 2,418

$16.27 YER 3,877

-37.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 YER 432

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 YER 430

Cappuccino

$3.72 YER 888

$8.09 YER 1,929

-54.02%

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

$1.14 YER 273

$3.77 YER 899

-69.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 YER 110

$0.78 YER 186

-41.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 YER 455

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 YER 287

$0.86 YER 205

39.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.47 YER 589

$6.60 YER 1,572

-62.58%

Eggs

$4.03 YER 959

$7.29 YER 1,738

-44.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.86 YER 2,350

$14.27 YER 3,401

-30.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.82 YER 1,625

$23.34 YER 5,561

-70.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.15 YER 4,563

$58.5 YER 13.9K

-67.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.92 YER 933

$12.76 YER 3,042

-69.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 YER 344

$4.83 YER 1,151

-70.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 YER 574

$4.80 YER 1,144

-49.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 YER 391

$3.20 YER 764

-48.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.70 YER 405

$5.21 YER 1,243

-67.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 YER 374

$4.16 YER 990

-62.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 YER 151

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 YER 176

$2.48 YER 591

-70.16%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.28 YER 782

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 YER 394

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 YER 772

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.91 YER 932

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 YER 101

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$82.1 YER 19.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.21 YER 1,004

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.99 YER 952

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.32 YER 1,745

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.68 YER 640

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

$16.4K YER 3.9M

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

$33.5K YER 8.0M

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

$72.3 YER 17.2K

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

$13.70 YER 3,266

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.45 YER 9,163

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.6 YER 15.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.68 YER 3,975

Cinema Ticket

$5.90 YER 1,405

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

$116 YER 27.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,808 YER 430.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.29 YER 9,363

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$148 YER 35.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.65 YER 9,924

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.36 YER 10.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 YER 39.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.3 YER 22.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$410 YER 97.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 YER 63.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 YER 982.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$819 YER 195.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 YER 45.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.25

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

Last update for Sanaa: May 30, 2026

Last update for Al Mukalla: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $23.00 in Sanaa vs $37.00 in Al Mukalla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $581 per month, with Sanaa cheaper across the board.

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

Sanaa vs Al Mukalla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Mukalla is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,350 in Sanaa and $1,304 in Al Mukalla to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Sanaa pay roughly 138% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Al Mukalla – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $23.00 in Sanaa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $870 in Al Mukalla versus $900 in Sanaa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Mukalla but tight or insufficient in Sanaa. The gap between the two cities makes Al Mukalla 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.

Expats usually find Al Mukalla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Sanaa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.