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: $914 in Sanaa versus $869 in Al Mukalla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,460 in Sanaa versus $1,546 in Al Mukalla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,006 in Sanaa versus $2,222 in Al Mukalla.

Living in Sanaa is roughly 5% more expensive than in Al Mukalla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sanaa 32% lower, Al Mukalla 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.33 YER 1,499

$16.60 YER 3,930

-61.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.96 YER 5,433

$37.53 YER 8,883

-38.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.47 YER 2,479

$16.58 YER 3,924

-36.85%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 YER 417

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 YER 431

Cappuccino

$3.69 YER 873

$8.15 YER 1,929

-54.72%

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

$1.16 YER 274

$3.77 YER 891

-69.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 YER 111

$0.83 YER 197

-43.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 YER 446

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 YER 289

$0.78 YER 185

56.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.48 YER 588

$6.46 YER 1,528

-61.61%

Eggs

$4.03 YER 953

$7.18 YER 1,700

-43.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.87 YER 2,337

$14.54 YER 3,442

-32.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.69 YER 1,582

$22.96 YER 5,434

-70.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.58 YER 4,397

$56.6 YER 13.4K

-67.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.85 YER 912

$12.91 YER 3,056

-70.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 YER 329

$4.70 YER 1,112

-70.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 YER 566

$4.86 YER 1,151

-50.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 YER 389

$3.25 YER 770

-49.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 YER 424

$5.46 YER 1,292

-67.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 YER 384

$4.14 YER 980

-60.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 YER 149

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 YER 172

$2.52 YER 596

-71.03%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.38 YER 800

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 YER 395

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 YER 775

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.05 YER 958

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 YER 101

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.8 YER 19.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.15 YER 982

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.03 YER 953

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 YER 1,661

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.74 YER 648

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

$16.7K YER 3.9M

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

$33.9K YER 8.0M

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

$71.5 YER 16.9K

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

$13.56 YER 3,209

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.21 YER 9,042

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.4 YER 16.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.43 YER 3,889

Cinema Ticket

$5.89 YER 1,394

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

$112 YER 26.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,809 YER 428.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.44 YER 9,336

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$147 YER 34.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.85 YER 9,668

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.77 YER 9,885

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$166 YER 39.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.4 YER 22.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$403 YER 95.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 YER 61.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,070 YER 963.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$808 YER 191.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$190 YER 45.0K

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Al Mukalla: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $23.00 in Sanaa vs $38.00 in Al Mukalla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $574 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 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,371 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 $38.00 versus $23.00 in Sanaa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Al Mukalla gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 5% less than in Sanaa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.