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 $931 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $624 in Ruwi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,409 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $819 in Ruwi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,887 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $1,014 in Ruwi, rent included.

Al-masna'ah costs about 49% more than Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Al-masna'ah and Ruwi are more affordable than the global median – Al-masna'ah 33% lower, Ruwi 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.31 OMR 2.04

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.62 OMR 12.94

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.63 OMR 2.94

Cappuccino

$4.94 OMR 1.90

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

$0.90 OMR 0.35

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 OMR 0.11

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.78 OMR 4.92

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.87 OMR 4.95

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 OMR 0.88

$2.04 OMR 0.79

12.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 OMR 0.50

$1.95 OMR 0.75

-33.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 OMR 0.72

$1.03 OMR 0.40

81.55%

Eggs

$2.86 OMR 1.10

$1.18 OMR 0.45

142.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.57 OMR 2.91

$2.04 OMR 0.78

271.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.92 OMR 2.66

$2.04 OMR 0.78

239.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.49 OMR 4.04

$4.98 OMR 1.92

110.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 OMR 1.36

$0.98 OMR 0.38

261.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 OMR 0.77

$0.97 OMR 0.37

105.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.34 OMR 0.90

$0.99 OMR 0.38

136.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.03 OMR 0.39

20.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 OMR 0.47

$1.02 OMR 0.39

18.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.79 OMR 0.69

$1.02 OMR 0.39

75.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 OMR 0.24

$0.97 OMR 0.37

-35.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.52 OMR 2.51

Wine (Bottle)

$15.33 OMR 5.90

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 OMR 2.09

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.82 OMR 3.39

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 OMR 1.28

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.68 OMR 1.03

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.71 OMR 2.97

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

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

$25.7K OMR 9,908

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

$22.9K OMR 8,801

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

$174 OMR 66.8

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

$30.57 OMR 11.77

$26.38 OMR 10.15

15.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.0 OMR 27.32

$79.4 OMR 30.54

-10.55%

Cinema Ticket

$10.41 OMR 4.01

$9.04 OMR 3.48

15.15%

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

$282 OMR 108

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K OMR 4,089

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 OMR 21.87

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.98 OMR 16.93

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.6 OMR 35.26

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.2 OMR 37.02

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 OMR 149

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 OMR 151

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$926 OMR 357

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$579 OMR 223

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,968 OMR 1,527

$4,449 OMR 1,712

-10.82%

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-masna'ah: September 8, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: September 6, 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: $931 in Al-masna'ah, $624 in Ruwi – roughly 49% apart. Al-masna'ah costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,396 per month in Al-masna'ah and $937 in Ruwi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $931 in Al-masna'ah and $624 in Ruwi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 140% 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 $931 in Al-masna'ah 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-masna'ah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.