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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $90.2 in Al Ghubra versus $1,430 in Sohar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $158 in Al Ghubra versus $2,090 in Sohar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $227 in Al Ghubra versus $2,750 in Sohar.

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

The two cities straddle the global median: Al Ghubra is 93% below, Sohar is 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.56 OMR 2.53

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.53 OMR 7.90

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.86 OMR 3.41

Cappuccino

$4.89 OMR 1.88

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

$0.69 OMR 0.27

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

$0.28 OMR 0.11

-3.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.04 OMR 5.02

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.15 OMR 5.45

Milk (1 liter)

$2.56 OMR 0.99

$2.20 OMR 0.85

16.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 OMR 0.41

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.18 OMR 1.22

Eggs

$2.83 OMR 1.09

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.76 OMR 5.30

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.08 OMR 3.49

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.25 OMR 5.49

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 OMR 1.25

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 OMR 0.82

Oranges (1kg)

$2.49 OMR 0.96

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 OMR 0.47

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 OMR 0.69

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 OMR 0.68

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 OMR 0.66

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 OMR 0.36

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.90 OMR 2.27

Wine (Bottle)

$26.28 OMR 10.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.86 OMR 1.49

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.61 OMR 3.31

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 OMR 0.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.5 OMR 19.81

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.22 OMR 1.24

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 OMR 0.58

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.30 OMR 3.97

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 OMR 0.23

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

$18.1K OMR 6,959

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

$20.1K OMR 7,727

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

$104 OMR 40.01

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

$29.51 OMR 11.36

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$89.7 OMR 34.53

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.27 OMR 17.04

$48.03 OMR 18.49

-7.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.71 OMR 13.75

Cinema Ticket

$9.01 OMR 3.47

$11.87 OMR 4.57

-24.09%

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

$178 OMR 68.7

$301 OMR 116

-40.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,971 OMR 2,684

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 OMR 19.43

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.86 OMR 17.27

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 OMR 30.21

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 OMR 17.70

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)

$3,127 OMR 1,204

$2,465 OMR 949

26.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.33

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

Last update for Al Ghubra: August 29, 2026

Last update for Sohar: August 30, 2026

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.

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

Al Ghubra and Sohar differ by about 1485% in total monthly costs ($90.2 vs $1,430 including rent). Al Ghubra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

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.

Childcare runs $178 in Al Ghubra versus $301 in Sohar. 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 $1,430 in Sohar – a 1485% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $90.2 in Al Ghubra versus $1,430 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.

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 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 Ghubra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1485% less than in Sohar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.