Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Ghubra and Muscat Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Ghubra and Muscat

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $90.2 in Al Ghubra versus $1,525 in Muscat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $158 in Al Ghubra versus $2,272 in Muscat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $227 in Al Ghubra versus $3,019 in Muscat.

Living in Al Ghubra costs roughly 94% less than in Muscat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Al Ghubra is 93% below, Muscat is 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.34 OMR 2.06

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.00 OMR 13.09

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.74 OMR 2.98

Cappuccino

$4.73 OMR 1.82

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

$0.86 OMR 0.33

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

$0.29 OMR 0.11

-6.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.07 OMR 5.03

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.79 OMR 4.92

Milk (1 liter)

$2.56 OMR 0.99

$2.25 OMR 0.87

13.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 OMR 0.48

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 OMR 0.73

Eggs

$2.94 OMR 1.13

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.65 OMR 2.94

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.57 OMR 2.53

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.54 OMR 4.06

Apples (1kg)

$3.41 OMR 1.31

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 OMR 0.89

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 OMR 0.46

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 OMR 0.47

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 OMR 0.50

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.80 OMR 0.69

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 OMR 0.26

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.30 OMR 2.43

Wine (Bottle)

$15.43 OMR 5.94

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.68 OMR 2.19

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.72 OMR 3.36

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.7 OMR 29.52

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 OMR 1.24

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.59 OMR 1.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.82 OMR 3.01

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

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

$25.1K OMR 9,665

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

$22.2K OMR 8,564

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

$170 OMR 65.5

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

$30.94 OMR 11.91

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 OMR 26.92

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.27 OMR 17.04

$62.7 OMR 24.14

-29.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.71 OMR 13.75

$29.20 OMR 11.24

22.29%

Cinema Ticket

$9.01 OMR 3.47

$10.34 OMR 3.98

-12.86%

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

$178 OMR 68.7

$289 OMR 111

-38.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K OMR 4,110

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 OMR 21.42

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.19 OMR 16.63

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.0 OMR 35.43

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.0 OMR 36.95

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$673 OMR 259

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 OMR 175

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,366 OMR 526

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$857 OMR 330

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,835 OMR 1,092

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,595 OMR 614

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,127 OMR 1,204

$1,660 OMR 639

88.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

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

Last update for Al Ghubra: August 29, 2026

Last update for Muscat: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al Ghubra pays 88% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Ghubra vs Muscat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Ghubra and Muscat differ by about 1591% in total monthly costs ($90.2 vs $1,525 including rent). Al Ghubra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 88% higher in Al Ghubra, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $178 in Al Ghubra versus $289 in Muscat. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $90.2 per month in Al Ghubra versus $1,525 in Muscat – a 1591% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $90.2 in Al Ghubra versus $1,525 in Muscat, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al Ghubra but tight or insufficient in Muscat. The gap between the two cities makes Al Ghubra 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 Ghubra 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 Ghubra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1591% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.