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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $817 per month in Shinas vs $1,086 in Salalah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,214 per month in Shinas vs $1,648 in Salalah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,610 per month in Shinas vs $2,209 in Salalah, rent included.

Shinas is about 25% cheaper than Salalah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Shinas and Salalah are more affordable than the global median – Shinas 39% lower, Salalah 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 OMR 1.99

$5.35 OMR 2.06

-3.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.55 OMR 9.84

$26.28 OMR 10.12

-2.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.58 OMR 2.92

$12.82 OMR 4.93

-40.87%

Cappuccino

$4.76 OMR 1.83

$6.01 OMR 2.32

-20.80%

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

$1.06 OMR 0.41

$0.64 OMR 0.25

65.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

$0.25 OMR 0.10

36.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.19 OMR 4.69

$9.21 OMR 3.55

32.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.81 OMR 4.55

$10.59 OMR 4.08

11.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 OMR 0.74

$1.69 OMR 0.65

14.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 OMR 0.45

$1.28 OMR 0.49

-7.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 OMR 0.67

$2.11 OMR 0.81

-18.01%

Eggs

$2.38 OMR 0.92

$1.95 OMR 0.75

22.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.73 OMR 1.43

$6.92 OMR 2.66

-46.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 OMR 1.91

$4.57 OMR 1.76

8.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.62 OMR 3.32

$8.90 OMR 3.43

-3.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 OMR 1.01

$2.13 OMR 0.82

23.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 OMR 0.67

$1.11 OMR 0.43

55.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 OMR 0.68

$1.61 OMR 0.62

9.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

$1.20 OMR 0.46

-2.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$1.14 OMR 0.44

-11.40%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$0.78 OMR 0.30

26.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 OMR 0.40

$0.54 OMR 0.21

92.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 OMR 0.20

$0.58 OMR 0.22

-10.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.44 OMR 2.48

$5.75 OMR 2.21

12.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.86 OMR 6.11

$19.58 OMR 7.54

-19.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.37 OMR 1.68

$3.88 OMR 1.49

12.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.75 OMR 2.98

$4.65 OMR 1.79

66.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.31 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.7 OMR 21.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 OMR 1.23

$2.25 OMR 0.87

41.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 OMR 0.30

$1.27 OMR 0.49

-37.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.29 OMR 3.96

$11.58 OMR 4.46

-11.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 OMR 0.23

$0.60 OMR 0.23

-1.67%

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

$22.8K OMR 8,779

$20.9K OMR 8,064

8.87%

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

$21.7K OMR 8,368

$18.0K OMR 6,917

20.99%

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

$106 OMR 40.81

$65.8 OMR 25.32

61.15%

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

$41.81 OMR 16.10

$49.61 OMR 19.10

-15.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.7 OMR 27.21

$76.6 OMR 29.48

-7.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.7 OMR 36.09

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.21 OMR 10.09

Cinema Ticket

$10.28 OMR 3.96

$7.93 OMR 3.05

29.63%

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

$196 OMR 75.3

$111 OMR 42.88

75.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,761 OMR 3,758

$2,377 OMR 915

310.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.2 OMR 19.32

$27.90 OMR 10.74

79.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.84 OMR 15.34

$31.60 OMR 12.17

26.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 OMR 30.00

$64.5 OMR 24.82

20.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 OMR 34.17

$43.98 OMR 16.93

101.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 OMR 98.1

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$215 OMR 82.8

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$492 OMR 189

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$370 OMR 142

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,991 OMR 766

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,225 OMR 472

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,087 OMR 1,188

$1,753 OMR 675

76.08%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Salalah: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 76% 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 $228 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 33% 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 $1,226 per month in Shinas and $1,629 in Salalah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $817 in Shinas and $1,086 in Salalah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $196 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 $817, than in Salalah at $1,086. 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.