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 $806 per month in Al-hamra' vs $510 in Ruwi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,207 per month in Al-hamra' vs $774 in Ruwi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,608 per month in Al-hamra' vs $1,039 in Ruwi, rent included.

Al-hamra' costs about 58% more than Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Al-hamra' and Ruwi are more affordable than the global median – Al-hamra' 40% lower, Ruwi 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.09 OMR 1.96

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.63 OMR 9.86

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 OMR 3.03

Cappuccino

$4.79 OMR 1.84

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

$1.06 OMR 0.41

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.58 OMR 4.84

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.48 OMR 4.42

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 OMR 0.73

$2.02 OMR 0.78

-5.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 OMR 0.46

$1.95 OMR 0.75

-39.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 OMR 0.67

$0.98 OMR 0.38

76.53%

Eggs

$2.45 OMR 0.94

$1.18 OMR 0.45

107.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.68 OMR 1.41

$2.05 OMR 0.79

79.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 OMR 1.95

$2.05 OMR 0.79

147.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.74 OMR 3.36

$5.07 OMR 1.95

72.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 OMR 1.01

$0.99 OMR 0.38

163.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 OMR 0.66

$0.98 OMR 0.38

75.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 OMR 0.69

$1.02 OMR 0.39

76.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 OMR 0.43

$0.98 OMR 0.38

15.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 OMR 0.41

$1.02 OMR 0.39

4.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 OMR 0.20

$0.99 OMR 0.38

-47.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.43 OMR 2.47

Wine (Bottle)

$15.62 OMR 6.01

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.26 OMR 1.64

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.60 OMR 2.92

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 OMR 1.24

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 OMR 0.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.47 OMR 4.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

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

$23.0K OMR 8,860

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

$21.7K OMR 8,351

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

$108 OMR 41.48

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

$40.97 OMR 15.77

$25.58 OMR 9.84

60.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 OMR 26.65

$78.5 OMR 30.21

-11.81%

Cinema Ticket

$10.27 OMR 3.95

$9.03 OMR 3.48

13.73%

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

$195 OMR 75.2

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,875 OMR 3,800

$12.8K OMR 4,910

-22.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 OMR 19.74

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.76 OMR 15.30

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 OMR 29.96

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.7 OMR 34.12

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 OMR 149

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 OMR 98.1

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$900 OMR 346

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 OMR 224

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,241 OMR 1,632

$4,481 OMR 1,724

-5.35%

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': July 12, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 6% 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 58%, 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 $1,209 per month in Al-hamra' and $765 in Ruwi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $806 in Al-hamra' and $510 in Ruwi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 93% 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 $806 in Al-hamra' and $510 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.