Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-`awabi and Ruwi

For one person, living is cheaper in Ruwi: $639 a month against $953 in Al-`awabi, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. The total is higher in Al-`awabi despite lower rent and utilities.

Al-`awabi
🇴🇲 Oman
$953
/mo nomad
Ruwi
🇴🇲 Oman
$639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Al-`awabi and in Ruwi

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

A single person spends $953 per month in Al-`awabi vs $639 in Ruwi, rent included.

  • Al-`awabi $953
  • Ruwi $639

A couple spends around $1,431 per month in Al-`awabi vs $833 in Ruwi, rent included.

  • Al-`awabi $1,431
  • Ruwi $833

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Al-`awabi vs $1,028 in Ruwi, rent included.

  • Al-`awabi $1,909
  • Ruwi $1,028

Al-`awabi costs about 49% more than Ruwi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Al-`awabi and Ruwi are more affordable than the global median – Al-`awabi 29% lower, Ruwi 53% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-`awabi
Ruwi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.06 OMR 1.95
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.93 OMR 14.99
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.61 OMR 2.93
-
-
Cappuccino
$5.06 OMR 1.95
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 OMR 0.34
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 OMR 0.10
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.94 OMR 4.98
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$13.19 OMR 5.08
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-`awabi
Ruwi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.27 OMR 0.87
$1.99 OMR 0.77
14.07%
White Bread (500g)
$1.23 OMR 0.47
$1.98 OMR 0.76
-37.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 OMR 0.72
$0.99 OMR 0.38
89.90%
Eggs
$2.96 OMR 1.14
$1.17 OMR 0.45
152.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.29 OMR 2.81
$2.03 OMR 0.78
259.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.17 OMR 2.76
$2.05 OMR 0.79
249.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.59 OMR 4.08
$4.93 OMR 1.90
114.81%
Apples (1kg)
$3.56 OMR 1.37
$0.98 OMR 0.38
263.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.92 OMR 0.74
$1.02 OMR 0.39
88.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 OMR 0.90
$1.02 OMR 0.39
128.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.28 OMR 0.49
$1.03 OMR 0.40
24.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.22 OMR 0.47
$0.99 OMR 0.38
23.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.25 OMR 0.48
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.87 OMR 0.72
$0.98 OMR 0.38
90.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 OMR 0.25
$1.02 OMR 0.39
-35.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.41 OMR 2.47
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$15.72 OMR 6.05
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$6.06 OMR 2.33
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.33 OMR 3.98
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Al-`awabi
Ruwi
Difference
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.29 OMR 1.27
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.55 OMR 0.98
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.72 OMR 2.97
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.65 OMR 0.25
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K OMR 9,791
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K OMR 8,858
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-`awabi
Ruwi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 OMR 68.2
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.35 OMR 12.07
$25.53 OMR 9.83
22.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.0 OMR 27.33
$79.3 OMR 30.55
-10.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-`awabi
Ruwi
Difference
Cinema Ticket
$10.34 OMR 3.98
$8.97 OMR 3.45
15.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-`awabi
Ruwi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$286 OMR 110
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K OMR 4,032
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-`awabi
Ruwi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.6 OMR 21.42
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.72 OMR 16.83
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.5 OMR 34.83
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8 OMR 33.41
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-`awabi
Ruwi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$396 OMR 152
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$397 OMR 153
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$901 OMR 347
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$581 OMR 224
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-`awabi
Ruwi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,398 OMR 1,693
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.25
0
-

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

Last update for Al-`awabi: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Al-`awabi
$293
Ruwi
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-`awabi
$279
Ruwi
–
Eating Out
Al-`awabi
$220
Ruwi
–
Clothing & Footwear
Al-`awabi
$124
Ruwi
–
Sport & Entertainment
Al-`awabi
$21 *
Ruwi
–
Getting Around
Al-`awabi
$16 *
Ruwi
–
Accommodation & Living
Al-`awabi
- *
Ruwi
–

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

Good to know
🇴🇲 Al-`awabi
🇴🇲 Ruwi
🕒 Local time
12:42 12:42 PM
12:42 12:42 PM
Same time as Al-`awabi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
10,711
💱 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 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.385 OMR (1 OMR = 2.6 USD). 1 EUR = 0.433 OMR (1 OMR = 2.31 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Al-`awabi Ruwi 110 km
From you
  • Al-`awabi
  • Ruwi

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
Al-`awabi vs Ruwi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ruwi cheaper than Al-`awabi?
Yes – Al-`awabi is pricier by about 49%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,430 per month in Al-`awabi and $958 in Ruwi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Al-`awabi and in Ruwi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $953 in Al-`awabi and $639 in Ruwi. That's a gap of about 49%.
How do food prices compare in Al-`awabi and in Ruwi?
Groceries cost about 147% more in Al-`awabi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,200 enough for either Al-`awabi or Ruwi?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $953 in Al-`awabi and $639 in Ruwi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Al-`awabi or Ruwi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ruwi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Al-`awabi or Ruwi?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ruwi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Al-`awabi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Al-`awabi vs other spots: cost of living compared

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