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: $1,024 in Sanaa versus $829 in Al Mukalla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,597 in Sanaa versus $1,663 in Al Mukalla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,171 in Sanaa versus $2,498 in Al Mukalla.

Living in Sanaa is roughly 23% more expensive than in Al Mukalla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sanaa 26% lower, Al Mukalla 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.18 YER 1,462

$16.67 YER 3,946

-62.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.63 YER 6,068

$85.8 YER 20.3K

-70.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.77 YER 2,312

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 YER 480

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 YER 582

Cappuccino

$3.79 YER 897

$8.53 YER 2,020

-55.57%

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

$1.18 YER 280

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 YER 153

$0.82 YER 195

-20.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 YER 472

White Bread (500g)

$1.70 YER 403

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 YER 486

Eggs

$3.53 YER 836

$10.65 YER 2,521

-66.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.06 YER 4,038

$14.47 YER 3,426

17.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.45 YER 2,001

$26.13 YER 6,184

-67.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.55 YER 4,391

$60.1 YER 14.2K

-69.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.42 YER 809

$14.94 YER 3,538

-77.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 YER 241

$6.17 YER 1,461

-83.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 YER 523

$5.09 YER 1,205

-56.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 YER 369

$3.39 YER 802

-53.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 YER 347

$7.55 YER 1,787

-80.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 YER 312

$4.17 YER 987

-68.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 YER 283

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 YER 150

$2.49 YER 590

-74.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.32 YER 786

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 YER 422

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 YER 812

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.53 YER 1,309

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 YER 103

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.5 YER 19.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.26 YER 1,009

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 YER 505

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.47 YER 1,769

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.02 YER 479

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

$17.1K YER 4.0M

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

$35.4K YER 8.4M

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

$109 YER 25.9K

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

$23.95 YER 5,669

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 YER 23.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.9 YER 15.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.92 YER 3,768

Cinema Ticket

$5.85 YER 1,384

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

$114 YER 27.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,204 YER 521.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.00 YER 9,943

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$122 YER 28.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.26 YER 11.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.14 YER 9,501

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$218 YER 51.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$96.3 YER 22.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$408 YER 96.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 YER 63.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,221 YER 999.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$797 YER 188.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 YER 45.2K

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: August 29, 2026

Last update for Al Mukalla: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $26.00 in Sanaa vs $86.0 in Al Mukalla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $607 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 Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,535 in Sanaa and $1,243 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 127% 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 $86.0 versus $26.00 in Sanaa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $829 in Al Mukalla versus $1,024 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 23% less than in Sanaa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.