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: $1,011 in Al-Buraimi versus $1,331 in Muscat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,298 in Al-Buraimi versus $1,982 in Muscat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,586 in Al-Buraimi versus $2,633 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 25% lower, Muscat 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.12 OMR 1.97

$5.29 OMR 2.04

-3.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.59 OMR 9.85

$26.39 OMR 10.16

-3.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 OMR 2.98

$7.84 OMR 3.02

-1.15%

Cappuccino

$4.96 OMR 1.91

$4.95 OMR 1.90

0.20%

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

$1.06 OMR 0.41

$1.02 OMR 0.39

3.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 OMR 0.12

$0.34 OMR 0.13

-5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.15 OMR 4.68

$12.16 OMR 4.68

-0.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.65 OMR 4.49

$11.87 OMR 4.57

-1.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.48

$1.20 OMR 0.46

2.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$1.70 OMR 0.65

2.35%

Eggs

$2.47 OMR 0.95

$2.45 OMR 0.94

0.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.87 OMR 1.49

$3.84 OMR 1.48

0.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.08 OMR 1.96

$5.16 OMR 1.98

-1.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.79 OMR 3.38

$8.46 OMR 3.26

3.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 OMR 1.00

$2.54 OMR 0.98

2.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 OMR 0.67

$1.72 OMR 0.66

0.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 OMR 0.71

$1.77 OMR 0.68

3.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 OMR 0.45

$1.13 OMR 0.44

4.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$1.00 OMR 0.38

-3.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.38

$1.02 OMR 0.39

-4.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$1.03 OMR 0.40

5.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 OMR 0.21

$0.56 OMR 0.22

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.54 OMR 2.52

$6.22 OMR 2.39

5.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 OMR 6.07

$15.55 OMR 5.99

1.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.32 OMR 1.66

$4.25 OMR 1.64

1.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.74 OMR 2.98

$7.90 OMR 3.04

-2.03%

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)

$2.59 OMR 1.00

$3.16 OMR 1.22

-18.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

$0.80 OMR 0.31

-32.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.14 OMR 1.98

$10.34 OMR 3.98

-50.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 OMR 0.25

$0.60 OMR 0.23

8.33%

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

$22.5K OMR 8,664

$22.8K OMR 8,778

-1.29%

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

$21.6K OMR 8,300

$21.8K OMR 8,405

-1.26%

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

$105 OMR 40.56

$107 OMR 41.32

-1.84%

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

$41.88 OMR 16.12

$40.60 OMR 15.63

3.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.6 OMR 26.80

$70.5 OMR 27.13

-1.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.24 OMR 18.19

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.99 OMR 8.85

Cinema Ticket

$10.36 OMR 3.99

$10.47 OMR 4.03

-1.05%

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

$193 OMR 74.2

$192 OMR 74.1

0.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,914 OMR 3,817

$9,757 OMR 3,756

1.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.99 OMR 19.25

$50.7 OMR 19.53

-1.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.43 OMR 15.18

$39.51 OMR 15.21

-0.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.0 OMR 30.42

$79.4 OMR 30.56

-0.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.2 OMR 33.97

$90.0 OMR 34.66

-2.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 OMR 238

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 OMR 79.4

$410 OMR 158

-49.76%

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)

$3,613 OMR 1,391

$1,654 OMR 637

118.47%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Muscat: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al-Buraimi pays 118% 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 $234 vs $231, 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, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Al-Buraimi pays 118% more on average, 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 $1,011 per month in Al-Buraimi versus $1,331 in Muscat – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,011 in Al-Buraimi versus $1,331 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 32% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.