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: $1,011 in Al-Buraimi versus $1,441 in Sohar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,298 in Al-Buraimi versus $2,151 in Sohar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,586 in Al-Buraimi versus $2,862 in Sohar.

Living in Al-Buraimi costs roughly 30% less than in Sohar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Al-Buraimi is 25% below, Sohar is 8% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.12 OMR 1.97

$6.53 OMR 2.51

-21.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.59 OMR 9.85

$21.05 OMR 8.10

21.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 OMR 2.98

$8.87 OMR 3.41

-12.63%

Cappuccino

$4.96 OMR 1.91

$6.62 OMR 2.55

-25.08%

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

$1.06 OMR 0.41

$0.65 OMR 0.25

63.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 OMR 0.12

$0.27 OMR 0.10

18.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.15 OMR 4.68

$12.74 OMR 4.91

-4.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.65 OMR 4.49

$14.10 OMR 5.43

-17.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$2.24 OMR 0.86

-10.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.48

$1.11 OMR 0.43

10.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$3.22 OMR 1.24

-45.96%

Eggs

$2.47 OMR 0.95

$2.82 OMR 1.09

-12.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.87 OMR 1.49

$13.59 OMR 5.23

-71.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.08 OMR 1.96

$9.31 OMR 3.58

-45.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.79 OMR 3.38

$14.40 OMR 5.54

-38.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 OMR 1.00

$3.21 OMR 1.24

-18.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 OMR 0.67

$2.11 OMR 0.81

-18.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 OMR 0.71

$2.55 OMR 0.98

-27.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 OMR 0.45

$1.18 OMR 0.46

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$1.74 OMR 0.67

-44.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.38

$1.86 OMR 0.72

-47.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$1.72 OMR 0.66

-36.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 OMR 0.21

$0.99 OMR 0.38

-43.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.54 OMR 2.52

$6.14 OMR 2.36

6.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 OMR 6.07

$26.43 OMR 10.18

-40.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.32 OMR 1.66

$4.00 OMR 1.54

8.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.74 OMR 2.98

$8.47 OMR 3.26

-8.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.66 OMR 1.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.9 OMR 20.00

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 OMR 1.00

$3.16 OMR 1.21

-18.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

$1.53 OMR 0.59

-64.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.14 OMR 1.98

$10.51 OMR 4.05

-51.09%

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

$18.1K OMR 6,963

24.43%

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

$21.6K OMR 8,300

$20.8K OMR 8,000

3.75%

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

$105 OMR 40.56

$101 OMR 38.93

4.19%

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

$41.88 OMR 16.12

$29.04 OMR 11.18

44.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.6 OMR 26.80

$87.4 OMR 33.63

-20.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 OMR 19.86

Cinema Ticket

$10.36 OMR 3.99

$11.78 OMR 4.54

-12.05%

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

$193 OMR 74.2

$269 OMR 104

-28.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,914 OMR 3,817

$7,119 OMR 2,741

39.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.99 OMR 19.25

$51.6 OMR 19.88

-3.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.43 OMR 15.18

$43.42 OMR 16.72

-9.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.0 OMR 30.42

$78.3 OMR 30.14

0.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.2 OMR 33.97

$46.95 OMR 18.08

87.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 OMR 187

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 OMR 79.4

$388 OMR 149

-46.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$753 OMR 290

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$669 OMR 257

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,154 OMR 444

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$774 OMR 298

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,613 OMR 1,391

$2,455 OMR 945

47.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.15

5.62

-8.36%

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

Last update for Al-Buraimi: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sohar: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al-Buraimi pays 47% 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 $21.00 in Sohar. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $351, with Al-Buraimi 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 Sohar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Buraimi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Al-Buraimi pays 47% 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 50% higher in Sohar. 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 $1,441 in Sohar – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,011 in Al-Buraimi versus $1,441 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 43% less than in Sohar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.