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 $818 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $494 in Ruwi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,200 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $746 in Ruwi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,582 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $999 in Ruwi, rent included.

Al-masna'ah costs about 66% more than Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Al-masna'ah and Ruwi are more affordable than the global median – Al-masna'ah 39% lower, Ruwi 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.11 OMR 1.97

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.40 OMR 10.16

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.95 OMR 3.06

Cappuccino

$4.97 OMR 1.91

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

$1.06 OMR 0.41

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 OMR 0.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.21 OMR 4.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.51 OMR 4.43

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 OMR 0.74

$2.02 OMR 0.78

-4.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

$2.04 OMR 0.78

-39.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 OMR 0.66

$1.03 OMR 0.40

66.02%

Eggs

$2.36 OMR 0.91

$1.18 OMR 0.45

100.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.75 OMR 1.44

$1.99 OMR 0.77

88.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.11 OMR 1.97

$1.96 OMR 0.75

160.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.40 OMR 3.23

$4.89 OMR 1.88

71.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.52 OMR 0.97

$1.03 OMR 0.40

144.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$1.02 OMR 0.39

70.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 OMR 0.69

$1.01 OMR 0.39

77.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 OMR 0.43

$1.03 OMR 0.40

9.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 OMR 0.37

$1.02 OMR 0.39

-5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 OMR 0.42

$0.98 OMR 0.38

10.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 OMR 0.20

$1.01 OMR 0.39

-47.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.44 OMR 2.48

Wine (Bottle)

$15.82 OMR 6.09

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.23 OMR 1.63

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 OMR 3.09

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 OMR 1.17

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 OMR 0.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.30 OMR 3.96

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 OMR 0.24

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

$23.3K OMR 8,949

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

$21.8K OMR 8,374

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

$107 OMR 41.25

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

$41.71 OMR 16.06

$25.61 OMR 9.86

62.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.4 OMR 26.73

$79.3 OMR 30.53

-12.47%

Cinema Ticket

$10.21 OMR 3.93

$8.98 OMR 3.45

13.70%

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

$192 OMR 74.0

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,766 OMR 3,759

$12.9K OMR 4,983

-24.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.8 OMR 19.57

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.61 OMR 14.86

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 OMR 30.54

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.1 OMR 34.28

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$390 OMR 150

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 OMR 101

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$926 OMR 356

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$566 OMR 218

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,061 OMR 1,563

$2,602 OMR 1,002

56.06%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 56% higher in Al-masna'ah, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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: $818 in Al-masna'ah, $494 in Ruwi – roughly 66% apart. Al-masna'ah costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,227 per month in Al-masna'ah and $740 in Ruwi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $818 in Al-masna'ah and $494 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-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 $818 in Al-masna'ah and $494 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.