Cost of Living Comparison Between 'ibri and Muscat Cost of Living Comparison Between 'ibri and Muscat

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $839 in 'ibri versus $1,331 in Muscat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,311 in 'ibri versus $1,982 in Muscat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,783 in 'ibri versus $2,633 in Muscat.

Living in 'ibri costs roughly 37% less than in Muscat, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: 'ibri 37% lower, Muscat 1% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
'ibri
Muscat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.66 OMR 1.02
$5.29 OMR 2.04
-49.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.59 OMR 9.85
$26.39 OMR 10.16
-3.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.63 OMR 2.55
$7.84 OMR 3.02
-15.43%
Cappuccino
$3.11 OMR 1.20
$4.95 OMR 1.90
-37.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 OMR 0.26
$1.02 OMR 0.39
-34.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 OMR 0.10
$0.34 OMR 0.13
-26.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.32 OMR 2.05
$12.16 OMR 4.68
-56.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.50 OMR 4.43
$11.87 OMR 4.57
-3.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
'ibri
Muscat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 OMR 0.44
$2.00 OMR 0.77
-42.50%
White Bread (500g)
$0.80 OMR 0.31
$1.20 OMR 0.46
-33.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 OMR 0.66
$1.70 OMR 0.65
1.18%
Eggs
$2.40 OMR 0.93
$2.45 OMR 0.94
-2.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.83 OMR 1.48
$3.84 OMR 1.48
-0.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.73 OMR 1.44
$5.16 OMR 1.98
-27.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.58 OMR 3.30
$8.46 OMR 3.26
1.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.57 OMR 0.99
$2.54 OMR 0.98
1.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 OMR 0.54
$1.72 OMR 0.66
-18.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 OMR 0.69
$1.77 OMR 0.68
1.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.90 OMR 0.34
$1.13 OMR 0.44
-20.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.00 OMR 0.39
$1.00 OMR 0.38
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.57 OMR 0.22
$1.02 OMR 0.39
-44.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 OMR 0.29
$1.03 OMR 0.40
-25.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 OMR 0.19
$0.56 OMR 0.22
-10.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.62 OMR 2.16
$6.22 OMR 2.39
-9.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.53 OMR 5.98
$15.55 OMR 5.99
-0.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.26 OMR 1.64
$4.25 OMR 1.64
0.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 OMR 3.05
$7.90 OMR 3.04
0.25%
🚌 Getting Around
'ibri
Muscat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.27 OMR 0.49
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$62.3 OMR 23.99
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.55 OMR 0.98
$3.16 OMR 1.22
-19.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 OMR 0.31
$0.80 OMR 0.31
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.30 OMR 3.97
$10.34 OMR 3.98
-0.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.61 OMR 0.24
$0.60 OMR 0.23
1.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K OMR 8,879
$22.8K OMR 8,778
1.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K OMR 8,302
$21.8K OMR 8,405
-1.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
'ibri
Muscat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.2 OMR 30.50
$107 OMR 41.32
-26.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.52 OMR 14.83
$40.60 OMR 15.63
-5.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.6 OMR 26.80
$70.5 OMR 27.13
-1.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
'ibri
Muscat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.4 OMR 22.87
$47.24 OMR 18.19
25.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.99 OMR 8.85
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.01 OMR 3.47
$10.47 OMR 4.03
-13.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
'ibri
Muscat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$193 OMR 74.1
$192 OMR 74.1
0.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,783 OMR 3,766
$9,757 OMR 3,756
0.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
'ibri
Muscat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.2 OMR 19.71
$50.7 OMR 19.53
0.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.98 OMR 15.01
$39.51 OMR 15.21
-1.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.6 OMR 29.86
$79.4 OMR 30.56
-2.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.8 OMR 33.79
$90.0 OMR 34.66
-2.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
'ibri
Muscat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$207 OMR 79.7
$619 OMR 238
-66.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$129 OMR 49.52
$410 OMR 158
-68.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$491 OMR 189
$1,222 OMR 470
-59.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$343 OMR 132
$730 OMR 281
-53.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,666 OMR 1,026
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,552 OMR 597
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
'ibri
Muscat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,981 OMR 1,148
$1,654 OMR 637
80.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.15
5.15
-

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

Last update for 'ibri: May 31, 2026

Last update for Muscat: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $207 in 'ibri and $619 in Muscat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

'ibri pays 80% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $26.00 in 'ibri vs $26.00 in Muscat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $231 per month, with 'ibri cheaper across the board.

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
'ibri vs Muscat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in 'ibri and Muscat?
'ibri and Muscat differ by about 59% in total monthly costs ($839 vs $1,331 including rent). 'ibri is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: 'ibri or Muscat?
'ibri pays 80% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in 'ibri and Muscat?
Rent for a central apartment: $207 in 'ibri versus $619 in Muscat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Muscat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: 'ibri or Muscat?
All in, you'll spend $839 per month in 'ibri versus $1,331 in Muscat – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $839 in 'ibri versus $1,331 in Muscat, a $2,000 budget is realistic in 'ibri but tight or insufficient in Muscat. The gap between the two cities makes 'ibri the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between 'ibri and Muscat?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is 'ibri or Muscat safer for residents?
Safety-wise, 'ibri and Muscat are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: 'ibri or Muscat?
Expats usually find 'ibri gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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