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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $793 per month in Al-`awabi vs $493 in Ruwi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,166 per month in Al-`awabi vs $753 in Ruwi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,539 per month in Al-`awabi vs $1,013 in Ruwi, rent included.

Al-`awabi costs about 61% more than Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Al-`awabi and Ruwi are more affordable than the global median – Al-`awabi 41% lower, Ruwi 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 OMR 1.99

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.81 OMR 9.94

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.80 OMR 2.23

Cappuccino

$4.51 OMR 1.74

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

$0.82 OMR 0.32

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.56 OMR 4.07

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.20 OMR 3.93

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 OMR 0.76

$1.97 OMR 0.76

-0.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

$2.01 OMR 0.77

-38.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 OMR 0.67

$1.02 OMR 0.39

69.61%

Eggs

$2.45 OMR 0.94

$1.22 OMR 0.47

100.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.89 OMR 1.50

$2.05 OMR 0.79

89.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.13 OMR 1.97

$1.96 OMR 0.76

161.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.75 OMR 3.37

$4.92 OMR 1.90

77.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.51 OMR 0.97

$1.01 OMR 0.39

148.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 OMR 0.64

$0.97 OMR 0.37

70.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.70

$0.98 OMR 0.38

86.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 OMR 0.45

$1.02 OMR 0.39

15.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 OMR 0.36

$0.99 OMR 0.38

-5.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$0.98 OMR 0.38

11.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 OMR 0.22

$1.02 OMR 0.39

-44.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.46 OMR 2.49

Wine (Bottle)

$15.89 OMR 6.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.21 OMR 1.62

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.81 OMR 3.01

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 OMR 1.19

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 OMR 0.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.22 OMR 3.94

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 OMR 0.23

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

$23.3K OMR 8,983

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

$21.9K OMR 8,429

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

$109 OMR 41.99

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

$41.34 OMR 15.91

$26.00 OMR 10.01

59.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 OMR 26.92

$77.2 OMR 29.71

-9.38%

Cinema Ticket

$10.37 OMR 3.99

$9.25 OMR 3.56

12.11%

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

$190 OMR 73.2

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,996 OMR 3,849

$13.2K OMR 5,080

-24.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.36 OMR 19.00

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.09 OMR 15.05

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 OMR 30.67

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.2 OMR 34.74

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 OMR 151

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 OMR 98.2

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$920 OMR 354

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$573 OMR 221

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,566 OMR 988

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 Ruwi: June 2, 2026

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

Yes – Al-`awabi is pricier by about 61%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $740 in Ruwi. 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 $493 in Ruwi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 96% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $793 in Al-`awabi and $493 in Ruwi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.

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 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.