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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $923 in Al-Buraimi versus $1,430 in Sohar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Al-Buraimi versus $2,090 in Sohar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,778 in Al-Buraimi versus $2,750 in Sohar.

Living in Al-Buraimi costs roughly 35% less than in Sohar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Al-Buraimi is 33% below, Sohar is 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.07 OMR 1.95

$6.56 OMR 2.53

-22.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.24 OMR 5.10

$20.53 OMR 7.90

-35.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 OMR 3.02

$8.86 OMR 3.41

-11.51%

Cappuccino

$4.87 OMR 1.87

$4.89 OMR 1.88

-0.41%

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

$0.84 OMR 0.32

$0.69 OMR 0.27

21.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

$0.28 OMR 0.11

-3.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.84 OMR 4.94

$13.04 OMR 5.02

-1.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.96 OMR 4.99

$14.15 OMR 5.45

-8.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 OMR 0.89

$2.20 OMR 0.85

5.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.07 OMR 0.41

15.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 OMR 0.59

$3.18 OMR 1.22

-51.89%

Eggs

$2.91 OMR 1.12

$2.83 OMR 1.09

2.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.62 OMR 2.55

$13.76 OMR 5.30

-51.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.56 OMR 2.14

$9.08 OMR 3.49

-38.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.90 OMR 3.42

$14.25 OMR 5.49

-37.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 OMR 0.82

$3.25 OMR 1.25

-34.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 OMR 0.70

$2.13 OMR 0.82

-15.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 OMR 0.79

$2.49 OMR 0.96

-17.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 OMR 0.48

$1.21 OMR 0.47

3.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 OMR 0.47

$1.80 OMR 0.69

-32.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$1.77 OMR 0.68

-44.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 OMR 0.33

$1.71 OMR 0.66

-50.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 OMR 0.25

$0.93 OMR 0.36

-29.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.06 OMR 1.95

$5.90 OMR 2.27

-14.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.70 OMR 6.04

$26.28 OMR 10.12

-40.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.68 OMR 2.19

$3.86 OMR 1.49

47.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.86 OMR 3.41

$8.61 OMR 3.31

2.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 OMR 0.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.22 OMR 15.10

$51.5 OMR 19.81

-23.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 OMR 1.26

$3.22 OMR 1.24

1.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.52 OMR 0.58

-16.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.86 OMR 3.03

$10.30 OMR 3.97

-23.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 OMR 0.25

$0.59 OMR 0.23

8.47%

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

$25.3K OMR 9,741

$18.1K OMR 6,959

39.97%

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

$22.4K OMR 8,610

$20.1K OMR 7,727

11.43%

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

$76.7 OMR 29.53

$104 OMR 40.01

-26.19%

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

$31.38 OMR 12.08

$29.51 OMR 11.36

6.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 OMR 26.59

$89.7 OMR 34.53

-22.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.0 OMR 24.63

$48.03 OMR 18.49

33.21%

Cinema Ticket

$7.86 OMR 3.03

$11.87 OMR 4.57

-33.78%

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

$264 OMR 102

$301 OMR 116

-12.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K OMR 4,121

$6,971 OMR 2,684

53.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.0 OMR 21.56

$50.5 OMR 19.43

11.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.79 OMR 16.47

$44.86 OMR 17.27

-4.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.5 OMR 35.63

$78.5 OMR 30.21

17.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.3 OMR 37.47

$45.98 OMR 17.70

111.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 OMR 187

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 OMR 146

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$806 OMR 310

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$682 OMR 263

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,188 OMR 457

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$784 OMR 302

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,575 OMR 1,376

$2,465 OMR 949

45.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

6.33

-17.06%

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

Last update for Al-Buraimi: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sohar: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al-Buraimi pays 45% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $13.00 in Al-Buraimi vs $21.00 in Sohar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $347 per month, with Al-Buraimi cheaper across the board.

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 Sohar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Buraimi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 45% 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.

A monthly transit pass in Al-Buraimi runs roughly 31% less than in Sohar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $264 in Al-Buraimi versus $301 in Sohar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $923 in Al-Buraimi versus $1,430 in Sohar, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Buraimi but tight or insufficient in Sohar. 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 Sohar 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 55% less than in Sohar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.