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 $954 per month in Al-hamra' vs $624 in Ruwi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,425 per month in Al-hamra' vs $824 in Ruwi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,896 per month in Al-hamra' vs $1,023 in Ruwi, rent included.

Al-hamra' costs about 53% more than Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Al-hamra' and Ruwi are more affordable than the global median – Al-hamra' 31% lower, Ruwi 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.15 OMR 1.98

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.48 OMR 13.27

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.66 OMR 2.95

Cappuccino

$4.85 OMR 1.87

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

$0.84 OMR 0.32

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.09 OMR 5.04

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.87 OMR 4.95

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 OMR 0.89

$1.98 OMR 0.76

17.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 OMR 0.50

$1.97 OMR 0.76

-34.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 OMR 0.73

$1.01 OMR 0.39

87.13%

Eggs

$2.99 OMR 1.15

$1.22 OMR 0.47

145.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 OMR 2.90

$2.02 OMR 0.78

272.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.60 OMR 2.54

$1.99 OMR 0.77

231.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.71 OMR 4.12

$4.87 OMR 1.87

119.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.45 OMR 1.33

$0.97 OMR 0.37

255.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$1.03 OMR 0.40

92.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 OMR 0.92

$1.03 OMR 0.40

132.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 OMR 0.48

$1.02 OMR 0.39

23.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 OMR 0.46

$0.98 OMR 0.38

22.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 OMR 0.47

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

$0.99 OMR 0.38

86.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 OMR 0.24

$1.03 OMR 0.40

-40.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.57 OMR 2.53

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 OMR 6.04

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.44 OMR 2.09

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.99 OMR 3.46

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.22 OMR 1.24

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.67 OMR 1.03

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.67 OMR 2.95

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

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

$25.0K OMR 9,632

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

$23.0K OMR 8,842

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

$175 OMR 67.5

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

$30.71 OMR 11.82

$25.65 OMR 9.88

19.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.3 OMR 27.06

$77.9 OMR 30.00

-9.80%

Cinema Ticket

$10.20 OMR 3.93

$8.93 OMR 3.44

14.22%

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

$288 OMR 111

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K OMR 4,036

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 OMR 21.86

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.75 OMR 16.84

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.3 OMR 34.39

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.4 OMR 36.73

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$396 OMR 153

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$385 OMR 148

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$912 OMR 351

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 OMR 224

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,302 OMR 1,656

$4,419 OMR 1,701

-2.65%

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 Ruwi: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 3% higher in Ruwi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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 53%, 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 $1,431 per month in Al-hamra' and $936 in Ruwi. 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 $624 in Ruwi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 141% 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 $954 in Al-hamra' and $624 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.