Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Ghubra and Sohar

For one person, living is cheaper in Al Ghubra: $90.0 a month against $1,432 in Sohar, rent and utilities included – about $16,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Al Ghubra
🇴🇲 Oman
$90.0
/mo nomad
Sohar
🇴🇲 Oman
$1,432
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Al Ghubra and in Sohar

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Al Ghubra and in Sohar actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $90.0 in Al Ghubra versus $1,432 in Sohar.

  • Al Ghubra $90.0
  • Sohar $1,432

Estimated couple costs with rent: $159 in Al Ghubra versus $2,101 in Sohar.

  • Al Ghubra $159
  • Sohar $2,101

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $229 in Al Ghubra versus $2,770 in Sohar.

  • Al Ghubra $229
  • Sohar $2,770

Living in Al Ghubra costs roughly 94% less than in Sohar, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Al Ghubra is 93% below, Sohar is 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Ghubra
Sohar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$6.52 OMR 2.51
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$21.06 OMR 8.11
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$9.24 OMR 3.56
-
Cappuccino
-
$4.95 OMR 1.91
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.70 OMR 0.27
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 OMR 0.10
$0.30 OMR 0.12
-16.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$12.81 OMR 4.93
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$14.03 OMR 5.40
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Ghubra
Sohar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.56 OMR 0.99
$2.13 OMR 0.82
20.19%
White Bread (500g)
-
$1.10 OMR 0.42
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$3.21 OMR 1.23
-
Eggs
-
$2.71 OMR 1.04
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$13.46 OMR 5.18
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$8.90 OMR 3.43
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$14.55 OMR 5.60
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$3.33 OMR 1.28
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$2.17 OMR 0.83
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$2.44 OMR 0.94
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$1.21 OMR 0.47
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.76 OMR 0.68
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.83 OMR 0.71
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.71 OMR 0.66
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.98 OMR 0.38
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$5.99 OMR 2.31
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$25.65 OMR 9.87
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$3.98 OMR 1.53
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$8.80 OMR 3.39
-
🚌 Getting Around
Al Ghubra
Sohar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.66 OMR 1.03
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$51.1 OMR 19.68
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.27 OMR 1.26
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.60 OMR 0.62
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$10.54 OMR 4.06
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$0.64 OMR 0.25
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$17.9K OMR 6,903
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$20.1K OMR 7,749
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Ghubra
Sohar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$104 OMR 40.17
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$29.83 OMR 11.48
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$87.8 OMR 33.81
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Ghubra
Sohar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.01 OMR 17.33
$48.19 OMR 18.55
-6.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.68 OMR 14.12
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.16 OMR 3.53
$11.76 OMR 4.53
-22.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Ghubra
Sohar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$180 OMR 69.5
$294 OMR 113
-38.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$7,075 OMR 2,724
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Ghubra
Sohar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$50.9 OMR 19.60
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$43.78 OMR 16.86
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$79.2 OMR 30.50
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$47.40 OMR 18.25
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Ghubra
Sohar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$492 OMR 189
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$384 OMR 148
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$821 OMR 316
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$689 OMR 265
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,173 OMR 452
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$784 OMR 302
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Ghubra
Sohar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,110 OMR 1,197
$2,443 OMR 941
27.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
6.33
-

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

Last update for Al Ghubra: October 11, 2026

Last update for Sohar: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Al Ghubra
–
Sohar
$384
Groceries & Markets
Al Ghubra
–
Sohar
$346
Eating Out
Al Ghubra
–
Sohar
$235
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Ghubra
–
Sohar
$222
Clothing & Footwear
Al Ghubra
–
Sohar
$100
Getting Around
Al Ghubra
–
Sohar
$73
Sport & Entertainment
Al Ghubra
–
Sohar
$72

Cost Breakdown

Al Ghubra pays 27% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Good to know
🇴🇲 Al Ghubra
🇴🇲 Sohar
🕒 Local time
09:30 9:30 AM
09:30 9:30 AM
Same time as Al Ghubra
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
797,000
221,605
💱 Currency
Omani Rial OMR ر.ع.
Omani Rial OMR ر.ع.
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to OMR – Omani Rial Converter

Omani Rial exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.385 OMR (1 OMR = 2.6 USD). 1 EUR = 0.433 OMR (1 OMR = 2.31 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Al Ghubra Sohar 190 km
From you
  • Al Ghubra
  • Sohar

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Sohar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Al Ghubra and in Sohar?
Al Ghubra and Sohar differ by about 1492% in total monthly costs ($90.0 vs $1,432 including rent). Al Ghubra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Al Ghubra or Sohar?
Average pay runs 27% 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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Al Ghubra and Sohar?
Childcare runs $180 in Al Ghubra versus $294 in Sohar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more expensive overall: Al Ghubra or Sohar?
All in, you'll spend $90.0 per month in Al Ghubra versus $1,432 in Sohar – a 1492% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $90.0 in Al Ghubra versus $1,432 in Sohar, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al Ghubra but tight or insufficient in Sohar. The gap between the two cities makes Al Ghubra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Al Ghubra and Sohar?
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.
Is Al Ghubra or Sohar safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Al Ghubra 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.
Where should expats move: Al Ghubra or Sohar?
Expats usually find Al Ghubra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1492% less than in Sohar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Al Ghubra vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?