Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-`awabi and Muscat Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-`awabi and Muscat

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $793 per month in Al-`awabi vs $1,331 in Muscat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,166 per month in Al-`awabi vs $1,982 in Muscat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,539 per month in Al-`awabi vs $2,633 in Muscat, rent included.

Al-`awabi is about 40% cheaper than Muscat, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Al-`awabi and Muscat are more affordable than the global median – Al-`awabi 41% lower, Muscat 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 OMR 1.99

$5.29 OMR 2.04

-2.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.81 OMR 9.94

$26.39 OMR 10.16

-2.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.80 OMR 2.23

$7.84 OMR 3.02

-26.02%

Cappuccino

$4.51 OMR 1.74

$4.95 OMR 1.90

-8.89%

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

$0.82 OMR 0.32

$1.02 OMR 0.39

-19.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

$0.34 OMR 0.13

-20.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.56 OMR 4.07

$12.16 OMR 4.68

-13.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.20 OMR 3.93

$11.87 OMR 4.57

-14.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 OMR 0.76

$2.00 OMR 0.77

-2.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

$1.20 OMR 0.46

2.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 OMR 0.67

$1.70 OMR 0.65

1.76%

Eggs

$2.45 OMR 0.94

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.89 OMR 1.50

$3.84 OMR 1.48

1.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.13 OMR 1.97

$5.16 OMR 1.98

-0.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.75 OMR 3.37

$8.46 OMR 3.26

3.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.51 OMR 0.97

$2.54 OMR 0.98

-1.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 OMR 0.64

$1.72 OMR 0.66

-4.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.70

$1.77 OMR 0.68

3.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 OMR 0.45

$1.13 OMR 0.44

4.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 OMR 0.36

$1.00 OMR 0.38

-6.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$1.02 OMR 0.39

-2.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$1.03 OMR 0.40

5.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 OMR 0.22

$0.56 OMR 0.22

1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.46 OMR 2.49

$6.22 OMR 2.39

3.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.89 OMR 6.12

$15.55 OMR 5.99

2.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.21 OMR 1.62

$4.25 OMR 1.64

-0.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.81 OMR 3.01

$7.90 OMR 3.04

-1.14%

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)

$3.08 OMR 1.19

$3.16 OMR 1.22

-2.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 OMR 0.31

$0.80 OMR 0.31

1.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.22 OMR 3.94

$10.34 OMR 3.98

-1.16%

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)

$23.3K OMR 8,983

$22.8K OMR 8,778

2.34%

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

$21.9K OMR 8,429

$21.8K OMR 8,405

0.28%

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

$109 OMR 41.99

$107 OMR 41.32

1.61%

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

$41.34 OMR 15.91

$40.60 OMR 15.63

1.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 OMR 26.92

$70.5 OMR 27.13

-0.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.24 OMR 18.19

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.99 OMR 8.85

Cinema Ticket

$10.37 OMR 3.99

$10.47 OMR 4.03

-0.96%

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

$190 OMR 73.2

$192 OMR 74.1

-1.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,996 OMR 3,849

$9,757 OMR 3,756

2.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.36 OMR 19.00

$50.7 OMR 19.53

-2.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.09 OMR 15.05

$39.51 OMR 15.21

-1.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 OMR 30.67

$79.4 OMR 30.56

0.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.2 OMR 34.74

$90.0 OMR 34.66

0.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 OMR 238

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 OMR 158

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,222 OMR 470

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 OMR 281

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,666 OMR 1,026

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,552 OMR 597

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,654 OMR 637

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 Al-`awabi: June 1, 2026

Last update for Muscat: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Al-`awabi versus $26.00 in Muscat. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Al-`awabi vs $231 in Muscat – so Muscat 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

Al-`awabi vs Muscat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Muscat is pricier by about 68%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,190 per month in Al-`awabi and $1,997 in Muscat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $793 in Al-`awabi and $1,331 in Muscat. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $190 per month in Al-`awabi and $192 in Muscat. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-`awabi, where all-in costs run around $793, than in Muscat at $1,331. In Al-`awabi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Muscat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-`awabi – 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 Al-`awabi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Muscat makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.