Cost of Living Comparison Between Shinas and Salalah Cost of Living Comparison Between Shinas and Salalah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $945 per month in Shinas vs $1,021 in Salalah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Shinas vs $1,552 in Salalah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,872 per month in Shinas vs $2,082 in Salalah, rent included.

Shinas is about 7% cheaper than Salalah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shinas and Salalah are more affordable than the global median – Shinas 31% lower, Salalah 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.18 OMR 2.00

$5.35 OMR 2.06

-3.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.11 OMR 13.13

$25.78 OMR 9.92

32.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.88 OMR 3.03

$12.89 OMR 4.96

-38.87%

Cappuccino

$4.81 OMR 1.85

$6.11 OMR 2.35

-21.28%

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

$0.91 OMR 0.35

$0.89 OMR 0.34

2.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.22 OMR 5.09

$8.85 OMR 3.41

49.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.93 OMR 4.98

$10.60 OMR 4.08

21.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 OMR 0.86

$1.89 OMR 0.73

18.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 OMR 0.48

$1.24 OMR 0.48

0.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

$2.66 OMR 1.02

-30.45%

Eggs

$2.89 OMR 1.11

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.57 OMR 2.91

$4.55 OMR 1.75

66.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.56 OMR 2.53

$4.73 OMR 1.82

38.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.60 OMR 4.08

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 OMR 1.31

$1.91 OMR 0.74

78.01%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$1.80 OMR 0.69

11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.34 OMR 0.90

$2.10 OMR 0.81

11.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.78 OMR 0.69

-28.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 OMR 0.46

$1.49 OMR 0.57

-20.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.01 OMR 0.39

22.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 OMR 0.71

$1.10 OMR 0.42

69.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 OMR 0.24

$0.51 OMR 0.20

23.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.54 OMR 2.52

$6.01 OMR 2.31

8.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.36 OMR 5.92

$19.50 OMR 7.51

-21.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.69 OMR 2.19

$3.84 OMR 1.48

48.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.81 OMR 3.39

$4.63 OMR 1.78

90.28%

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)

$3.33 OMR 1.28

$2.29 OMR 0.88

45.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 OMR 1.02

$1.27 OMR 0.49

109.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.88 OMR 3.03

$11.66 OMR 4.49

-32.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

$0.61 OMR 0.23

-1.64%

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

$25.2K OMR 9,699

$20.5K OMR 7,879

23.10%

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

$22.3K OMR 8,594

$18.4K OMR 7,096

21.11%

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

$169 OMR 65.1

$77.5 OMR 29.83

118.18%

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

$31.37 OMR 12.08

$48.48 OMR 18.66

-35.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.5 OMR 27.14

$73.3 OMR 28.21

-3.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.49 OMR 15.59

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.45 OMR 10.18

Cinema Ticket

$10.22 OMR 3.93

$7.64 OMR 2.94

33.77%

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

$286 OMR 110

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K OMR 4,050

$1,963 OMR 756

435.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.0 OMR 21.95

$28.13 OMR 10.83

102.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.68 OMR 16.82

$31.00 OMR 11.94

40.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.1 OMR 35.44

$58.4 OMR 22.47

57.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.0 OMR 37.34

$44.91 OMR 17.29

115.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 OMR 93.7

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$209 OMR 80.4

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$645 OMR 248

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 OMR 150

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,043 OMR 787

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,218 OMR 469

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,067 OMR 1,181

$1,775 OMR 683

72.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

4.58

14.63%

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

Last update for Shinas: September 8, 2026

Last update for Salalah: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 73% higher in Shinas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Shinas versus $26.00 in Salalah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 vs $201 – 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

Shinas vs Salalah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Salalah costs about 8% more than Shinas, 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 $1,417 per month in Shinas and $1,532 in Salalah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $945 in Shinas and $1,021 in Salalah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 41% cheaper in Salalah – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $945 in Shinas and $1,021 in Salalah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Shinas – 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 Shinas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Salalah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.