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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,011 in Al-Buraimi versus $493 in Ruwi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,298 in Al-Buraimi versus $753 in Ruwi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,586 in Al-Buraimi versus $1,013 in Ruwi.

Living in Al-Buraimi is roughly 105% more expensive than Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-Buraimi 25% lower, Ruwi 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.12 OMR 1.97

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.59 OMR 9.85

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 OMR 2.98

Cappuccino

$4.96 OMR 1.91

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

$1.06 OMR 0.41

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 OMR 0.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.15 OMR 4.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.65 OMR 4.49

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$1.97 OMR 0.76

1.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.48

$2.01 OMR 0.77

-38.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$1.02 OMR 0.39

70.59%

Eggs

$2.47 OMR 0.95

$1.22 OMR 0.47

102.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.87 OMR 1.49

$2.05 OMR 0.79

88.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.08 OMR 1.96

$1.96 OMR 0.76

159.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.79 OMR 3.38

$4.92 OMR 1.90

78.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 OMR 1.00

$1.01 OMR 0.39

158.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 OMR 0.67

$0.97 OMR 0.37

78.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 OMR 0.71

$0.98 OMR 0.38

87.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 OMR 0.45

$1.02 OMR 0.39

15.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$0.99 OMR 0.38

-2.02%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$0.98 OMR 0.38

11.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 OMR 0.21

$1.02 OMR 0.39

-45.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.54 OMR 2.52

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 OMR 6.07

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.32 OMR 1.66

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.74 OMR 2.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 OMR 1.00

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.14 OMR 1.98

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 OMR 0.25

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

$22.5K OMR 8,664

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

$21.6K OMR 8,300

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

$105 OMR 40.56

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

$41.88 OMR 16.12

$26.00 OMR 10.01

61.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.6 OMR 26.80

$77.2 OMR 29.71

-9.81%

Cinema Ticket

$10.36 OMR 3.99

$9.25 OMR 3.56

12.00%

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

$193 OMR 74.2

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,914 OMR 3,817

$13.2K OMR 5,080

-24.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.99 OMR 19.25

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.43 OMR 15.18

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.0 OMR 30.42

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.2 OMR 33.97

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 OMR 151

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 OMR 79.4

$255 OMR 98.2

-19.18%

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)

$3,613 OMR 1,391

$2,566 OMR 988

40.78%

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 Ruwi: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al-Buraimi pays 41% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Ruwi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ruwi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 105% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Al-Buraimi pays 41% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 97% higher in Al-Buraimi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,011 per month in Al-Buraimi versus $493 in Ruwi – a 105% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Ruwi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 Ruwi 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 Ruwi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 105% less than in Al-Buraimi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.