Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-Buraimi and Muscat Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-Buraimi and Muscat

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,009 in Al-Buraimi versus $1,322 in Muscat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,303 in Al-Buraimi versus $1,928 in Muscat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,596 in Al-Buraimi versus $2,533 in Muscat.

Living in Al-Buraimi costs roughly 24% less than in Muscat, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-Buraimi 24% lower, Muscat 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 OMR 2.03

$5.29 OMR 2.04

-0.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.64 OMR 9.87

$25.50 OMR 9.81

0.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.58 OMR 2.92

$7.99 OMR 3.07

-5.13%

Cappuccino

$4.76 OMR 1.83

$4.86 OMR 1.87

-2.06%

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

$1.01 OMR 0.39

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.37 OMR 4.76

$12.41 OMR 4.78

-0.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.87 OMR 4.57

$11.66 OMR 4.49

1.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 OMR 0.76

$1.98 OMR 0.76

0.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 OMR 0.63

$1.70 OMR 0.66

-2.94%

Eggs

$2.40 OMR 0.92

$2.42 OMR 0.93

-0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.81 OMR 1.46

$3.71 OMR 1.43

2.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.13 OMR 1.97

$4.89 OMR 1.88

4.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.77 OMR 3.38

$8.27 OMR 3.18

6.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.51 OMR 0.97

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$1.72 OMR 0.66

1.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

$1.78 OMR 0.69

3.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 OMR 0.44

$1.14 OMR 0.44

-0.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$0.98 OMR 0.38

-1.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 OMR 0.40

$1.09 OMR 0.42

-3.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 OMR 0.21

$0.52 OMR 0.20

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.44 OMR 2.48

$6.28 OMR 2.42

2.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.73 OMR 6.05

$15.71 OMR 6.05

0.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.42 OMR 1.70

$4.38 OMR 1.68

0.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.79 OMR 3.00

$8.02 OMR 3.09

-2.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.0 OMR 24.25

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 OMR 1.01

$3.16 OMR 1.22

-17.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 OMR 0.21

$0.80 OMR 0.31

-33.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.34 OMR 2.06

$10.20 OMR 3.92

-47.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 OMR 0.23

$0.64 OMR 0.25

-7.81%

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

$23.3K OMR 8,966

$22.5K OMR 8,652

3.63%

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

$21.5K OMR 8,288

$21.5K OMR 8,277

0.13%

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

$105 OMR 40.58

$109 OMR 41.77

-2.86%

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

$40.41 OMR 15.55

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.4 OMR 26.71

$68.5 OMR 26.37

1.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.75 OMR 18.76

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.23 OMR 8.94

Cinema Ticket

$10.24 OMR 3.94

$10.28 OMR 3.96

-0.39%

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

$196 OMR 75.3

$190 OMR 73.0

3.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,765 OMR 3,758

$10.0K OMR 3,860

-2.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.4 OMR 19.41

$51.0 OMR 19.62

-1.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.07 OMR 15.42

$39.14 OMR 15.06

2.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.8 OMR 30.70

$77.6 OMR 29.86

2.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.1 OMR 34.29

$87.6 OMR 33.71

1.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 OMR 237

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 OMR 79.9

$407 OMR 157

-48.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 OMR 478

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$714 OMR 275

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,866 OMR 1,103

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,593 OMR 613

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,590 OMR 1,382

$1,576 OMR 607

127.76%

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-Buraimi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Muscat: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al-Buraimi pays 128% 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 Al-Buraimi vs $26.00 in Muscat. Groceries flip the comparison at $233 vs $230, with Muscat cheaper for home cooking.

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-Buraimi vs Muscat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Buraimi is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 128% higher in Al-Buraimi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Muscat pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,009 per month in Al-Buraimi versus $1,322 in Muscat – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,009 in Al-Buraimi versus $1,322 in Muscat, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Buraimi but tight or insufficient in Muscat. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Buraimi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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, Al-Buraimi 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.

Expats usually find Al-Buraimi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.