Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-masna'ah and Muscat Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-masna'ah and Muscat

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $792 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $1,338 in Muscat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,184 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $1,954 in Muscat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,576 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $2,569 in Muscat, rent included.

Al-masna'ah is about 41% cheaper than Muscat, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Al-masna'ah sits 40% below the global median, while Muscat is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.32 OMR 2.05

$5.26 OMR 2.02

1.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 OMR 10.12

$25.76 OMR 9.92

2.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 OMR 3.02

$7.85 OMR 3.02

-0.25%

Cappuccino

$4.83 OMR 1.86

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

$1.00 OMR 0.39

$1.01 OMR 0.39

-0.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

$0.32 OMR 0.12

6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.19 OMR 4.69

$12.40 OMR 4.77

-1.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.91 OMR 4.58

$11.90 OMR 4.58

0.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$1.98 OMR 0.76

1.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

$1.24 OMR 0.48

-0.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 OMR 0.66

$1.74 OMR 0.67

-0.57%

Eggs

$2.47 OMR 0.95

$2.37 OMR 0.91

4.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.74 OMR 1.44

$3.76 OMR 1.45

-0.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 OMR 1.91

$4.95 OMR 1.91

0.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 OMR 3.33

$8.57 OMR 3.30

0.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 OMR 1.00

$2.51 OMR 0.96

3.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 OMR 0.64

$1.65 OMR 0.64

0.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 OMR 0.71

$1.76 OMR 0.68

4.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.02 OMR 0.39

-3.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 OMR 0.41

$1.04 OMR 0.40

3.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 OMR 0.21

$0.57 OMR 0.22

-3.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.46 OMR 2.49

$6.23 OMR 2.40

3.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.75 OMR 6.06

$15.50 OMR 5.97

1.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.31 OMR 1.66

$4.17 OMR 1.60

3.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.91 OMR 3.05

$7.90 OMR 3.04

0.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.31 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.7 OMR 23.77

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 OMR 1.22

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 OMR 0.29

$0.82 OMR 0.31

-8.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.28 OMR 3.96

$10.49 OMR 4.04

-2.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

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

$22.7K OMR 8,747

$22.9K OMR 8,823

-0.85%

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

$21.7K OMR 8,347

$22.0K OMR 8,474

-1.50%

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

$105 OMR 40.48

$106 OMR 40.65

-0.44%

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

$40.58 OMR 15.62

$41.28 OMR 15.89

-1.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.4 OMR 27.10

$69.9 OMR 26.93

0.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.51 OMR 18.68

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.39 OMR 9.00

Cinema Ticket

$10.49 OMR 4.04

$10.54 OMR 4.06

-0.47%

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

$192 OMR 73.9

$193 OMR 74.3

-0.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,815 OMR 3,779

$9,748 OMR 3,753

0.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.42 OMR 19.03

$49.70 OMR 19.13

-0.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.67 OMR 14.89

$39.31 OMR 15.13

-1.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 OMR 30.62

$79.2 OMR 30.50

0.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.4 OMR 34.79

$90.3 OMR 34.77

0.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$618 OMR 238

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 OMR 156

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,241 OMR 478

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$734 OMR 283

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,884 OMR 1,110

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,603 OMR 617

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,952 OMR 1,522

$1,588 OMR 611

148.93%

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-masna'ah: July 26, 2026

Last update for Muscat: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 149% higher in Al-masna'ah, 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-masna'ah versus $26.00 in Muscat. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Al-masna'ah vs $229 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-masna'ah vs Muscat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $792 in Al-masna'ah, $1,338 in Muscat – roughly 69% apart. Muscat costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,188 per month in Al-masna'ah and $2,007 in Muscat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $792 in Al-masna'ah and $1,338 in Muscat. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $192 per month in Al-masna'ah and $193 in Muscat. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Al-masna'ah, where all-in costs run around $792, than in Muscat at $1,338. In Al-masna'ah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Muscat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-masna'ah – 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-masna'ah. 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.