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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $806 per month in Al-hamra' vs $1,428 in Sohar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,207 per month in Al-hamra' vs $2,124 in Sohar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,608 per month in Al-hamra' vs $2,820 in Sohar, rent included.

Al-hamra' is about 44% cheaper than Sohar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Al-hamra' sits 40% below the global median, while Sohar is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.09 OMR 1.96

$6.65 OMR 2.56

-23.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.63 OMR 9.86

$21.08 OMR 8.11

21.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 OMR 3.03

$9.12 OMR 3.51

-13.71%

Cappuccino

$4.79 OMR 1.84

$7.01 OMR 2.70

-31.67%

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

$1.06 OMR 0.41

$0.64 OMR 0.25

65.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

$0.25 OMR 0.10

36.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.58 OMR 4.84

$13.09 OMR 5.04

-3.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.48 OMR 4.42

$14.16 OMR 5.45

-18.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 OMR 0.73

$2.27 OMR 0.87

-15.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 OMR 0.46

$1.06 OMR 0.41

11.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 OMR 0.67

$3.33 OMR 1.28

-48.05%

Eggs

$2.45 OMR 0.94

$2.73 OMR 1.05

-10.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.68 OMR 1.41

$13.68 OMR 5.26

-73.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 OMR 1.95

$8.89 OMR 3.42

-42.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.74 OMR 3.36

$14.06 OMR 5.41

-37.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 OMR 1.01

$3.30 OMR 1.27

-20.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 OMR 0.66

$2.10 OMR 0.81

-18.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 OMR 0.69

$2.58 OMR 0.99

-30.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 OMR 0.43

$1.17 OMR 0.45

-3.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$1.75 OMR 0.67

-42.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.83 OMR 0.71

-46.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 OMR 0.41

$1.74 OMR 0.67

-38.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 OMR 0.20

$0.98 OMR 0.38

-46.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.43 OMR 2.47

$5.85 OMR 2.25

9.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.62 OMR 6.01

$25.86 OMR 9.95

-39.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.26 OMR 1.64

$3.96 OMR 1.52

7.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.60 OMR 2.92

$8.79 OMR 3.38

-13.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.62 OMR 1.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.3 OMR 19.73

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 OMR 1.24

$3.34 OMR 1.28

-3.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 OMR 0.31

$1.60 OMR 0.62

-49.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.47 OMR 4.03

$10.37 OMR 3.99

0.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

$0.60 OMR 0.23

1.67%

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

$23.0K OMR 8,860

$18.2K OMR 7,014

26.31%

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

$21.7K OMR 8,351

$20.6K OMR 7,921

5.44%

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

$108 OMR 41.48

$102 OMR 39.10

6.08%

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

$40.97 OMR 15.77

$29.28 OMR 11.27

39.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 OMR 26.65

$87.1 OMR 33.52

-20.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 OMR 20.15

Cinema Ticket

$10.27 OMR 3.95

$11.69 OMR 4.50

-12.15%

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

$195 OMR 75.2

$267 OMR 103

-26.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,875 OMR 3,800

$7,155 OMR 2,753

38.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 OMR 19.74

$50.6 OMR 19.48

1.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.76 OMR 15.30

$43.88 OMR 16.89

-9.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 OMR 29.96

$80.2 OMR 30.88

-2.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.7 OMR 34.12

$46.41 OMR 17.86

91.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 OMR 191

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 OMR 148

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$780 OMR 300

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$683 OMR 263

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,184 OMR 455

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$775 OMR 298

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,241 OMR 1,632

$2,506 OMR 964

69.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.15

5.62

-8.36%

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

Last update for Al-hamra': July 12, 2026

Last update for Sohar: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 69% 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 $26.00 in Al-hamra' versus $21.00 in Sohar. Groceries tell a different story – $230 in Al-hamra' vs $347 in Sohar – so Al-hamra' 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 Sohar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sohar is pricier by about 77%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,142 in Sohar. 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 $1,428 in Sohar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $195 per month in Al-hamra' and $267 in Sohar. 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 $806, than in Sohar at $1,428. In Al-hamra' it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sohar 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, Sohar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.