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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $814 per month in Al-hamra' vs $493 in Ruwi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,217 per month in Al-hamra' vs $753 in Ruwi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,620 per month in Al-hamra' vs $1,013 in Ruwi, rent included.

Al-hamra' costs about 65% more than Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Al-hamra' and Ruwi are more affordable than the global median – Al-hamra' 39% lower, Ruwi 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.23 OMR 2.01

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.79 OMR 9.93

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 OMR 3.02

Cappuccino

$4.96 OMR 1.91

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

$1.01 OMR 0.39

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.33 OMR 4.75

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.64 OMR 4.48

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 OMR 0.75

$1.97 OMR 0.76

-1.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$2.01 OMR 0.77

-39.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 OMR 0.66

$1.02 OMR 0.39

68.63%

Eggs

$2.36 OMR 0.91

$1.22 OMR 0.47

93.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.82 OMR 1.47

$2.05 OMR 0.79

86.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.08 OMR 1.96

$1.96 OMR 0.76

159.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 OMR 3.28

$4.92 OMR 1.90

73.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 OMR 1.01

$1.01 OMR 0.39

159.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 OMR 0.64

$0.97 OMR 0.37

72.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 OMR 0.72

$0.98 OMR 0.38

89.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

$1.02 OMR 0.39

14.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$0.99 OMR 0.38

-2.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 OMR 0.42

$0.98 OMR 0.38

10.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 OMR 0.21

$1.02 OMR 0.39

-45.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.29 OMR 2.42

Wine (Bottle)

$15.43 OMR 5.94

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.35 OMR 1.67

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.99 OMR 3.08

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 OMR 1.19

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 OMR 0.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.22 OMR 3.94

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 OMR 0.24

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

$22.7K OMR 8,750

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

$22.0K OMR 8,488

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

$107 OMR 41.26

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

$40.81 OMR 15.71

$26.00 OMR 10.01

56.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.0 OMR 26.56

$77.2 OMR 29.71

-10.59%

Cinema Ticket

$10.45 OMR 4.02

$9.25 OMR 3.56

12.97%

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

$195 OMR 75.0

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,715 OMR 3,740

$13.2K OMR 5,080

-26.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.86 OMR 19.20

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.04 OMR 15.03

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 OMR 30.59

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.8 OMR 34.56

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 OMR 151

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 OMR 98.2

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$920 OMR 354

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$573 OMR 221

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,358 OMR 1,678

$2,566 OMR 988

69.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.15

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

Last update for Al-hamra': June 1, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 70% higher in Al-hamra', which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Ruwi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Al-hamra' is pricier by about 65%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,222 per month in Al-hamra' and $740 in Ruwi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $814 in Al-hamra' and $493 in Ruwi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 95% more in Al-hamra', though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $814 in Al-hamra' and $493 in Ruwi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Ruwi – 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 Ruwi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Al-hamra' makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.