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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $792 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $492 in Ruwi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,184 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $751 in Ruwi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,576 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $1,010 in Ruwi, rent included.

Al-masna'ah costs about 61% more than Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Al-masna'ah and Ruwi are more affordable than the global median – Al-masna'ah 40% lower, Ruwi 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.32 OMR 2.05

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 OMR 10.12

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 OMR 3.02

Cappuccino

$4.83 OMR 1.86

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

$1.00 OMR 0.39

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.19 OMR 4.69

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.91 OMR 4.58

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$1.98 OMR 0.76

1.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

$2.05 OMR 0.79

-40.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 OMR 0.66

$0.99 OMR 0.38

74.75%

Eggs

$2.47 OMR 0.95

$1.18 OMR 0.46

109.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.74 OMR 1.44

$1.96 OMR 0.75

90.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 OMR 1.91

$1.98 OMR 0.76

150.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 OMR 3.33

$5.13 OMR 1.98

68.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 OMR 1.00

$0.98 OMR 0.38

165.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 OMR 0.64

$1.02 OMR 0.39

62.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 OMR 0.71

$1.03 OMR 0.40

78.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

$0.97 OMR 0.37

20.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$0.98 OMR 0.38

4.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 OMR 0.41

$0.98 OMR 0.38

10.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 OMR 0.21

$0.98 OMR 0.38

-43.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.46 OMR 2.49

Wine (Bottle)

$15.75 OMR 6.06

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.31 OMR 1.66

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.91 OMR 3.05

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 OMR 1.22

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 OMR 0.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.28 OMR 3.96

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

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

$22.7K OMR 8,747

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

$21.7K OMR 8,347

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

$105 OMR 40.48

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

$40.58 OMR 15.62

$26.34 OMR 10.14

54.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.4 OMR 27.10

$77.7 OMR 29.90

-9.37%

Cinema Ticket

$10.49 OMR 4.04

$9.25 OMR 3.56

13.41%

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

$192 OMR 73.9

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,815 OMR 3,779

$12.8K OMR 4,935

-23.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.42 OMR 19.03

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.67 OMR 14.89

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 OMR 30.62

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.4 OMR 34.79

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 OMR 149

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$259 OMR 99.8

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$905 OMR 348

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$569 OMR 219

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,952 OMR 1,522

$4,409 OMR 1,698

-10.37%

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 Ruwi: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 12% 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-masna'ah vs Ruwi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $792 in Al-masna'ah, $492 in Ruwi – roughly 61% apart. Al-masna'ah costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,188 per month in Al-masna'ah and $738 in Ruwi. 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 $492 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-masna'ah, 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 $792 in Al-masna'ah and $492 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-masna'ah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.