Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sur and Salalah

For one person, living is cheaper in Salalah: $1,062 a month against $1,149 in Sur, rent and utilities included – about $1,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Sur, Oman
Salalah, Oman
Sur
🇴🇲 Oman
$1,149
/mo nomad
Salalah
🇴🇲 Oman
$1,062
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sur and in Salalah

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sur and in Salalah actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,149 per month in Sur vs $1,062 in Salalah, rent included.

  • Sur $1,149
  • Salalah $1,062

A couple spends around $1,653 per month in Sur vs $1,598 in Salalah, rent included.

  • Sur $1,653
  • Salalah $1,598

A family of three spends $2,156 per month in Sur vs $2,134 in Salalah, rent included.

  • Sur $2,156
  • Salalah $2,134

Sur costs about 8% more than Salalah, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Sur and Salalah are more affordable than the global median – Sur 16% lower, Salalah 22% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sur
Salalah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.88 OMR 1.49
$5.17 OMR 1.99
-24.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.96 OMR 9.99
$25.56 OMR 9.84
1.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.63 OMR 2.94
$13.24 OMR 5.10
-42.37%
Cappuccino
$5.05 OMR 1.94
$6.42 OMR 2.47
-21.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 OMR 0.28
$0.85 OMR 0.33
-14.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 OMR 0.10
$0.27 OMR 0.10
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.80 OMR 4.93
$8.88 OMR 3.42
44.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.79 OMR 4.92
$10.34 OMR 3.98
23.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sur
Salalah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 OMR 0.61
$1.93 OMR 0.74
-17.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.23 OMR 0.48
$1.22 OMR 0.47
0.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.73 OMR 0.66
$2.63 OMR 1.01
-34.22%
Eggs
$1.95 OMR 0.75
$1.89 OMR 0.73
3.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.19 OMR 2.77
$4.78 OMR 1.84
50.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.81 OMR 2.62
$4.56 OMR 1.76
49.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.99 OMR 3.46
$6.35 OMR 2.45
41.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 OMR 0.91
$1.90 OMR 0.73
23.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 OMR 0.49
$1.79 OMR 0.69
-28.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.06 OMR 0.41
$2.07 OMR 0.80
-48.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.80 OMR 0.31
$1.87 OMR 0.72
-57.22%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 OMR 0.29
$1.44 OMR 0.55
-47.22%
Onion (1kg)
$0.54 OMR 0.21
$1.06 OMR 0.41
-49.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 OMR 0.60
$1.06 OMR 0.41
46.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 OMR 0.21
$0.48 OMR 0.19
10.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.38 OMR 2.45
$5.88 OMR 2.26
8.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.86 OMR 6.11
$19.95 OMR 7.68
-20.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$6.10 OMR 2.35
$3.84 OMR 1.48
58.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.30 OMR 3.96
$4.65 OMR 1.79
121.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Sur
Salalah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.32 OMR 0.51
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$54.9 OMR 21.13
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.32 OMR 1.28
$2.32 OMR 0.89
43.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.61 OMR 1.01
$1.28 OMR 0.49
103.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 OMR 2.98
$11.54 OMR 4.44
-32.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.53 OMR 0.20
$0.64 OMR 0.25
-17.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K OMR 9,491
$20.7K OMR 7,971
19.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K OMR 7,965
$17.9K OMR 6,900
15.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sur
Salalah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.7 OMR 29.90
$79.2 OMR 30.50
-1.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.09 OMR 8.89
$49.43 OMR 19.03
-53.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.7 OMR 26.85
$73.9 OMR 28.45
-5.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sur
Salalah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$86.3 OMR 33.21
$40.35 OMR 15.54
113.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.24 OMR 10.10
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.25 OMR 3.95
$7.84 OMR 3.02
30.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sur
Salalah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$502 OMR 193
$105 OMR 40.39
378.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,458 OMR 2,486
$1,970 OMR 758
227.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sur
Salalah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9 OMR 21.89
$28.71 OMR 11.05
98.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.07 OMR 16.97
$31.42 OMR 12.10
40.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.9 OMR 34.23
$57.6 OMR 22.16
54.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 OMR 34.01
$44.75 OMR 17.23
97.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sur
Salalah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$257 OMR 99.0
$247 OMR 95.1
4.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$271 OMR 104
$205 OMR 78.9
32.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$467 OMR 180
$634 OMR 244
-26.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$385 OMR 148
$391 OMR 151
-1.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$583 OMR 224
$1,980 OMR 762
-70.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$515 OMR 198
$1,228 OMR 473
-58.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sur
Salalah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,660 OMR 1,024
$1,778 OMR 684
49.62%
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 Sur: October 26, 2026

Last update for Salalah: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sur
$271
Salalah
$205 24.3% $66
Groceries & Markets
Sur
$252
Salalah
$229 9.3% $23
Eating Out
Sur
$208
Salalah
$228 9.4% $20
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sur
$170
Salalah
$203 18.8% $32
Clothing & Footwear
Sur
$125
Salalah
$73 41.6% $52
Sport & Entertainment
Sur
$107
Salalah
$56 47.5% $51
Getting Around
Sur
$16 *
Salalah
$69 321% $52

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $257 in Sur versus $247 in Salalah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 50% higher in Sur. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26 in Sur versus $26 in Salalah. Groceries tell a different story – $252 in Sur vs $229 in Salalah – so Salalah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇴🇲 Sur
🇴🇲 Salalah
🕒 Local time
16:00 4:00 PM
16:00 4:00 PM
Same time as Sur
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
120,000
178,469
💱 Currency
Omani Rial OMR ر.ع.
Omani Rial OMR ر.ع.
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to OMR – Omani Rial Converter

Omani Rial exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.385 OMR (1 OMR = 2.6 USD). 1 EUR = 0.428 OMR (1 OMR = 2.33 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sur Salalah 840 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Sur
  • Salalah

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Sur vs Salalah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sur or Salalah?
Sur costs about 8% more than Salalah, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Sur and in Salalah?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,724 per month in Sur and $1,593 in Salalah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Sur compared to Salalah?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $257 in Sur and $247 in Salalah. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How much does it cost to live in Sur compared to Salalah?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,149 in Sur and $1,062 in Salalah. That’s a gap of about 8%.
Are groceries more expensive in Sur or in Salalah?
Groceries cost about 10% more in Sur, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Sur or in Salalah?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,149 in Sur and $1,062 in Salalah. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Salalah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Sur compared to Salalah?
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.
Should I move to Sur or to Salalah?
If budget matters most, go with Salalah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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