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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $795 per month in Shinas vs $1,106 in Salalah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,196 per month in Shinas vs $1,665 in Salalah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,596 per month in Shinas vs $2,225 in Salalah, rent included.

Shinas is about 28% cheaper than Salalah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Shinas and Salalah are more affordable than the global median – Shinas 41% lower, Salalah 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 OMR 2.02

$5.13 OMR 1.98

2.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.73 OMR 9.90

$25.64 OMR 9.87

0.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 OMR 3.07

$13.10 OMR 5.04

-39.24%

Cappuccino

$5.00 OMR 1.92

$6.19 OMR 2.38

-19.22%

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

$1.05 OMR 0.40

$0.68 OMR 0.26

54.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 OMR 0.12

$0.25 OMR 0.10

24.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.28 OMR 4.73

$8.92 OMR 3.44

37.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.76 OMR 4.53

$10.37 OMR 3.99

13.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 OMR 0.77

$1.76 OMR 0.68

13.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 OMR 0.45

$1.27 OMR 0.49

-7.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 OMR 0.64

$2.02 OMR 0.78

-18.32%

Eggs

$2.36 OMR 0.91

$1.90 OMR 0.73

24.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.84 OMR 1.48

$6.73 OMR 2.59

-42.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.09 OMR 1.96

$4.65 OMR 1.79

9.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.77 OMR 3.37

$8.84 OMR 3.40

-0.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 OMR 0.98

$2.04 OMR 0.79

24.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 OMR 0.67

$1.09 OMR 0.42

58.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 OMR 0.68

$1.59 OMR 0.61

11.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 OMR 0.44

$1.14 OMR 0.44

-0.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$1.12 OMR 0.43

-13.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$0.78 OMR 0.30

25.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 OMR 0.40

$0.54 OMR 0.21

94.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 OMR 0.20

$0.54 OMR 0.21

-3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.29 OMR 2.42

$5.88 OMR 2.26

6.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.38 OMR 5.92

$20.01 OMR 7.70

-23.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.22 OMR 1.62

$3.84 OMR 1.48

9.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.96 OMR 3.06

$4.82 OMR 1.85

65.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.3 OMR 20.89

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 OMR 1.19

$2.35 OMR 0.90

31.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

$1.33 OMR 0.51

-39.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.36 OMR 3.99

$11.83 OMR 4.55

-12.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 OMR 0.25

$0.60 OMR 0.23

6.67%

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

$23.0K OMR 8,838

$21.1K OMR 8,114

8.91%

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

$21.8K OMR 8,391

$18.5K OMR 7,127

17.73%

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

$107 OMR 41.02

$63.8 OMR 24.55

67.13%

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

$40.69 OMR 15.66

$49.44 OMR 19.03

-17.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.0 OMR 27.32

$77.0 OMR 29.62

-7.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.1 OMR 35.81

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.71 OMR 9.90

Cinema Ticket

$10.41 OMR 4.01

$8.03 OMR 3.09

29.64%

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

$194 OMR 74.7

$111 OMR 42.87

74.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,771 OMR 3,761

$2,399 OMR 923

307.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 OMR 19.63

$27.70 OMR 10.66

84.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.66 OMR 15.26

$30.71 OMR 11.82

29.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 OMR 30.81

$62.2 OMR 23.95

28.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.7 OMR 33.74

$42.75 OMR 16.46

105.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$259 OMR 99.7

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 OMR 80.2

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 OMR 193

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 OMR 141

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,034 OMR 783

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,218 OMR 469

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,106 OMR 1,195

$1,785 OMR 687

73.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.15

4.58

12.45%

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

Last update for Shinas: July 14, 2026

Last update for Salalah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 74% 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 $26.00 in Shinas versus $26.00 in Salalah. Groceries tell a different story – $230 in Shinas vs $227 in Salalah – so Salalah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 39% more than Shinas, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,192 per month in Shinas and $1,658 in Salalah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $795 in Shinas and $1,106 in Salalah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $194 per month in Shinas and $111 in Salalah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shinas, where all-in costs run around $795, than in Salalah at $1,106. In Shinas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Salalah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.