Cost of Living Comparison Between Adam and Ruwi Cost of Living Comparison Between Adam and Ruwi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $812 in Adam versus $492 in Ruwi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,221 in Adam versus $751 in Ruwi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,630 in Adam versus $1,010 in Ruwi.

Living in Adam is roughly 65% more expensive than in Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Adam 39% lower, Ruwi 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.23 OMR 2.02

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.11 OMR 10.05

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 OMR 3.01

Cappuccino

$4.78 OMR 1.84

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

$1.05 OMR 0.40

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 OMR 0.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.32 OMR 4.74

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.81 OMR 4.55

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$1.98 OMR 0.76

1.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$2.05 OMR 0.79

-40.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 OMR 0.64

$0.99 OMR 0.38

68.69%

Eggs

$2.46 OMR 0.95

$1.18 OMR 0.46

108.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.71 OMR 1.43

$1.96 OMR 0.75

89.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 OMR 1.92

$1.98 OMR 0.76

151.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.48 OMR 3.27

$5.13 OMR 1.98

65.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 OMR 0.99

$0.98 OMR 0.38

162.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 OMR 0.67

$1.02 OMR 0.39

71.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 OMR 0.68

$1.03 OMR 0.40

71.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 OMR 0.44

$0.97 OMR 0.37

16.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$0.98 OMR 0.38

4.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 OMR 0.40

$0.98 OMR 0.38

6.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 OMR 0.22

$0.98 OMR 0.38

-42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.22 OMR 2.39

Wine (Bottle)

$15.91 OMR 6.13

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.19 OMR 1.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.57 OMR 2.91

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 OMR 1.21

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.46 OMR 4.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

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

$22.7K OMR 8,731

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

$21.5K OMR 8,289

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

$107 OMR 41.28

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

$41.88 OMR 16.12

$26.34 OMR 10.14

59.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.8 OMR 26.49

$77.7 OMR 29.90

-11.39%

Cinema Ticket

$10.30 OMR 3.97

$9.25 OMR 3.56

11.35%

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

$195 OMR 74.9

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,958 OMR 3,834

$12.8K OMR 4,935

-22.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 OMR 19.74

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.47 OMR 15.20

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 OMR 30.23

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.6 OMR 34.12

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 OMR 149

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$259 OMR 99.8

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$905 OMR 348

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$569 OMR 219

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,641 OMR 1,017

$4,409 OMR 1,698

-40.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.15

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

Last update for Adam: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ruwi pays 67% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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

Adam vs Ruwi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ruwi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 65% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 67% lower in Ruwi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 94% higher in Adam. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $812 per month in Adam versus $492 in Ruwi – a 65% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Ruwi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, Adam and Ruwi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ruwi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Adam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.