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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $792 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $1,433 in Sohar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,184 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $2,145 in Sohar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,576 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $2,858 in Sohar, rent included.

Al-masna'ah is about 45% cheaper than Sohar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Al-masna'ah sits 40% below the global median, while Sohar is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.32 OMR 2.05

$6.52 OMR 2.51

-18.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 OMR 10.12

$20.79 OMR 8.00

26.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 OMR 3.02

$8.98 OMR 3.46

-12.81%

Cappuccino

$4.83 OMR 1.86

$6.98 OMR 2.69

-30.80%

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

$1.00 OMR 0.39

$0.70 OMR 0.27

42.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

$0.27 OMR 0.10

25.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.19 OMR 4.69

$13.24 OMR 5.10

-7.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.91 OMR 4.58

$14.55 OMR 5.60

-18.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$2.19 OMR 0.84

-8.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

$1.05 OMR 0.40

17.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 OMR 0.66

$3.22 OMR 1.24

-46.27%

Eggs

$2.47 OMR 0.95

$2.68 OMR 1.03

-7.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.74 OMR 1.44

$13.79 OMR 5.31

-72.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 OMR 1.91

$9.00 OMR 3.47

-44.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 OMR 3.33

$14.39 OMR 5.54

-39.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 OMR 1.00

$3.27 OMR 1.26

-20.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 OMR 0.64

$2.19 OMR 0.84

-24.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 OMR 0.71

$2.53 OMR 0.97

-27.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.74 OMR 0.67

-41.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.79 OMR 0.69

-45.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 OMR 0.41

$1.68 OMR 0.65

-35.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 OMR 0.21

$0.97 OMR 0.37

-43.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.46 OMR 2.49

$5.83 OMR 2.24

10.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.75 OMR 6.06

$26.53 OMR 10.21

-40.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.31 OMR 1.66

$3.84 OMR 1.48

12.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.91 OMR 3.05

$8.41 OMR 3.24

-5.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 OMR 0.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.4 OMR 19.77

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 OMR 1.22

$3.26 OMR 1.26

-2.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 OMR 0.29

$1.58 OMR 0.61

-52.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.28 OMR 3.96

$10.51 OMR 4.05

-2.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

$0.61 OMR 0.23

-1.64%

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

$22.7K OMR 8,747

$18.1K OMR 6,969

25.52%

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

$21.7K OMR 8,347

$20.0K OMR 7,716

8.18%

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

$105 OMR 40.48

$101 OMR 38.86

4.17%

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

$40.58 OMR 15.62

$29.59 OMR 11.39

37.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.4 OMR 27.10

$86.7 OMR 33.36

-18.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 OMR 20.05

Cinema Ticket

$10.49 OMR 4.04

$11.56 OMR 4.45

-9.26%

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

$192 OMR 73.9

$265 OMR 102

-27.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,815 OMR 3,779

$6,989 OMR 2,691

40.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.42 OMR 19.03

$50.6 OMR 19.46

-2.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.67 OMR 14.89

$43.89 OMR 16.90

-11.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 OMR 30.62

$79.0 OMR 30.41

0.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.4 OMR 34.79

$46.09 OMR 17.75

96.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 OMR 187

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$380 OMR 146

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$758 OMR 292

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$684 OMR 263

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,168 OMR 450

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$792 OMR 305

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,952 OMR 1,522

$2,486 OMR 957

59.00%

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-masna'ah: July 26, 2026

Last update for Sohar: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 59% 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 $21.00 in Sohar. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Al-masna'ah vs $347 in Sohar – so Al-masna'ah 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 Sohar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $792 in Al-masna'ah, $1,433 in Sohar – roughly 81% apart. Sohar costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,188 per month in Al-masna'ah and $2,149 in Sohar. 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 $1,433 in Sohar. 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 $265 in Sohar. 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 Sohar at $1,433. In Al-masna'ah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sohar 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, Sohar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.