Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-hamra' and Muscat Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-hamra' and Muscat

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $954 per month in Al-hamra' vs $1,525 in Muscat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,425 per month in Al-hamra' vs $2,272 in Muscat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,896 per month in Al-hamra' vs $3,019 in Muscat, rent included.

Al-hamra' is about 37% cheaper than Muscat, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Al-hamra' sits 31% below the global median, while Muscat is 11% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.15 OMR 1.98

$5.34 OMR 2.06

-3.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.48 OMR 13.27

$34.00 OMR 13.09

1.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.66 OMR 2.95

$7.74 OMR 2.98

-1.03%

Cappuccino

$4.85 OMR 1.87

$4.73 OMR 1.82

2.54%

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

$0.84 OMR 0.32

$0.86 OMR 0.33

-2.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

$0.29 OMR 0.11

-6.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.09 OMR 5.04

$13.07 OMR 5.03

0.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.87 OMR 4.95

$12.79 OMR 4.92

0.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 OMR 0.89

$2.25 OMR 0.87

3.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 OMR 0.50

$1.25 OMR 0.48

3.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 OMR 0.73

$1.90 OMR 0.73

-0.53%

Eggs

$2.99 OMR 1.15

$2.94 OMR 1.13

1.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 OMR 2.90

$7.65 OMR 2.94

-1.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.60 OMR 2.54

$6.57 OMR 2.53

0.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.71 OMR 4.12

$10.54 OMR 4.06

1.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.45 OMR 1.33

$3.41 OMR 1.31

1.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$2.00 OMR 0.77

-1.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 OMR 0.92

$2.32 OMR 0.89

3.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 OMR 0.48

$1.20 OMR 0.46

5.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 OMR 0.46

$1.22 OMR 0.47

-1.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$1.29 OMR 0.50

-5.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

$1.80 OMR 0.69

2.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 OMR 0.24

$0.67 OMR 0.26

-8.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.57 OMR 2.53

$6.30 OMR 2.43

4.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 OMR 6.04

$15.43 OMR 5.94

1.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.44 OMR 2.09

$5.68 OMR 2.19

-4.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.99 OMR 3.46

$8.72 OMR 3.36

3.10%

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)

$3.22 OMR 1.24

$3.21 OMR 1.24

0.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.67 OMR 1.03

$2.59 OMR 1.00

3.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.67 OMR 2.95

$7.82 OMR 3.01

-1.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

$0.61 OMR 0.23

-1.64%

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

$25.0K OMR 9,632

$25.1K OMR 9,665

-0.34%

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

$23.0K OMR 8,842

$22.2K OMR 8,564

3.24%

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

$175 OMR 67.5

$170 OMR 65.5

3.11%

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

$30.71 OMR 11.82

$30.94 OMR 11.91

-0.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.3 OMR 27.06

$69.9 OMR 26.92

0.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.7 OMR 24.14

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.20 OMR 11.24

Cinema Ticket

$10.20 OMR 3.93

$10.34 OMR 3.98

-1.35%

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

$288 OMR 111

$289 OMR 111

-0.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K OMR 4,036

$10.7K OMR 4,110

-1.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 OMR 21.86

$55.7 OMR 21.42

2.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.75 OMR 16.84

$43.19 OMR 16.63

1.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.3 OMR 34.39

$92.0 OMR 35.43

-2.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.4 OMR 36.73

$96.0 OMR 36.95

-0.58%

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)

$4,302 OMR 1,656

$1,660 OMR 639

159.13%

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-hamra': August 31, 2026

Last update for Muscat: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 159% higher in Al-hamra', which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Al-hamra' versus $34.00 in Muscat. Groceries tell a different story – $286 in Al-hamra' vs $284 in Muscat – so Muscat wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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-hamra' vs Muscat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Muscat is pricier by about 60%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,431 per month in Al-hamra' and $2,288 in Muscat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $954 in Al-hamra' and $1,525 in Muscat. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $288 per month in Al-hamra' and $289 in Muscat. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-hamra', where all-in costs run around $954, than in Muscat at $1,525. In Al-hamra' it covers expenses comfortably, while in Muscat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-hamra' – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Al-hamra'. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Muscat makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.