Cost of Living Comparison Between Sur and Salalah Cost of Living Comparison Between Sur and Salalah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,142 per month in Sur vs $1,021 in Salalah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,655 per month in Sur vs $1,552 in Salalah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,168 per month in Sur vs $2,082 in Salalah, rent included.

Sur costs about 12% more than Salalah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sur and Salalah are more affordable than the global median – Sur 17% lower, Salalah 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.81 OMR 1.47

$5.35 OMR 2.06

-28.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.90 OMR 9.97

$25.78 OMR 9.92

0.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 OMR 3.01

$12.89 OMR 4.96

-39.26%

Cappuccino

$4.97 OMR 1.91

$6.11 OMR 2.35

-18.66%

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

$0.75 OMR 0.29

$0.89 OMR 0.34

-15.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.88 OMR 4.96

$8.85 OMR 3.41

45.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$13.09 OMR 5.04

$10.60 OMR 4.08

23.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 OMR 0.61

$1.89 OMR 0.73

-15.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 OMR 0.50

$1.24 OMR 0.48

4.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 OMR 0.66

$2.66 OMR 1.02

-36.09%

Eggs

$2.00 OMR 0.77

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.68 OMR 2.96

$4.55 OMR 1.75

68.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.63 OMR 2.55

$4.73 OMR 1.82

40.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.19 OMR 3.54

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 OMR 0.89

$1.91 OMR 0.74

20.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.80 OMR 0.69

-29.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 OMR 0.41

$2.10 OMR 0.81

-49.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 OMR 0.29

$1.78 OMR 0.69

-58.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

$1.49 OMR 0.57

-46.31%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 OMR 0.19

$1.01 OMR 0.39

-49.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 OMR 0.58

$1.10 OMR 0.42

38.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 OMR 0.19

$0.51 OMR 0.20

-1.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.30 OMR 2.43

$6.01 OMR 2.31

4.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.73 OMR 6.06

$19.50 OMR 7.51

-19.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.66 OMR 2.18

$3.84 OMR 1.48

47.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 OMR 3.36

$4.63 OMR 1.78

88.55%

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)

$3.19 OMR 1.23

$2.29 OMR 0.88

39.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 OMR 1.02

$1.27 OMR 0.49

109.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.01 OMR 3.08

$11.66 OMR 4.49

-31.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 OMR 0.22

$0.61 OMR 0.23

-4.92%

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

$25.3K OMR 9,753

$20.5K OMR 7,879

23.78%

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

$22.6K OMR 8,693

$18.4K OMR 7,096

22.50%

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

$78.9 OMR 30.39

$77.5 OMR 29.83

1.87%

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

$23.85 OMR 9.18

$48.48 OMR 18.66

-50.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.3 OMR 27.06

$73.3 OMR 28.21

-4.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.5 OMR 33.30

$40.49 OMR 15.59

113.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.45 OMR 10.18

Cinema Ticket

$10.25 OMR 3.94

$7.64 OMR 2.94

34.16%

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

$292 OMR 112

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,501 OMR 2,503

$1,963 OMR 756

231.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 OMR 21.38

$28.13 OMR 10.83

97.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.74 OMR 16.46

$31.00 OMR 11.94

37.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.0 OMR 35.05

$58.4 OMR 22.47

55.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.9 OMR 36.54

$44.91 OMR 17.29

111.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 OMR 101

$243 OMR 93.7

7.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 OMR 103

$209 OMR 80.4

28.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 OMR 183

$645 OMR 248

-26.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 OMR 149

$389 OMR 150

-0.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$568 OMR 219

$2,043 OMR 787

-72.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$520 OMR 200

$1,218 OMR 469

-57.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,671 OMR 1,028

$1,775 OMR 683

50.47%

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: September 8, 2026

Last update for Salalah: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $262 in Sur versus $243 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, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Sur versus $26.00 in Salalah. Groceries tell a different story – $247 in Sur vs $201 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

Sur vs Salalah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sur costs about 12% more than Salalah, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,713 per month in Sur and $1,532 in Salalah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Salalah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,142 in Sur and $1,021 in Salalah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 23% more in Sur, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Salalah, where all-in costs run around $1,021, than in Sur at $1,142. In Salalah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 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.