Cost of Living Comparison Between Ar-rustaq and Ruwi Cost of Living Comparison Between Ar-rustaq and Ruwi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $970 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $493 in Ruwi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,309 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $753 in Ruwi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,647 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $1,013 in Ruwi, rent included.

Ar-rustaq costs about 97% more than Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ar-rustaq and Ruwi are more affordable than the global median – Ar-rustaq 28% lower, Ruwi 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 OMR 2.03

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.10 OMR 10.05

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.00 OMR 3.08

Cappuccino

$5.01 OMR 1.93

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

$0.50 OMR 0.19

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.54 OMR 4.83

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 OMR 4.55

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 OMR 0.76

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$2.01 OMR 0.77

-38.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 OMR 0.64

$1.02 OMR 0.39

63.73%

Eggs

$1.88 OMR 0.72

$1.22 OMR 0.47

54.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.86 OMR 1.48

$2.05 OMR 0.79

88.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.20 OMR 1.62

$1.96 OMR 0.76

114.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.87 OMR 3.03

$4.92 OMR 1.90

59.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 OMR 0.89

$1.01 OMR 0.39

127.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 OMR 0.64

$0.97 OMR 0.37

71.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.71

$0.98 OMR 0.38

86.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 OMR 0.43

$1.02 OMR 0.39

9.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$0.99 OMR 0.38

4.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$0.98 OMR 0.38

11.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 OMR 0.20

$1.02 OMR 0.39

-50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.47 OMR 2.49

Wine (Bottle)

$15.89 OMR 6.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.20 OMR 1.62

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.71 OMR 2.97

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 OMR 0.51

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 OMR 0.61

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 OMR 0.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.25 OMR 3.94

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

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

$22.5K OMR 8,645

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

$21.9K OMR 8,417

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

$106 OMR 40.86

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

$40.96 OMR 15.77

$26.00 OMR 10.01

57.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.0 OMR 26.96

$77.2 OMR 29.71

-9.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.58 OMR 0.99

Cinema Ticket

$10.32 OMR 3.97

$9.25 OMR 3.56

11.57%

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

$132 OMR 51.0

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,748 OMR 1,443

$13.2K OMR 5,080

-71.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.63 OMR 7.94

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.54 OMR 9.83

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.59 OMR 15.24

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.5 OMR 19.82

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$159 OMR 61.2

$391 OMR 151

-59.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$211 OMR 81.1

$255 OMR 98.2

-17.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 OMR 148

$920 OMR 354

-58.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$211 OMR 81.1

$573 OMR 221

-63.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,394 OMR 1,692

$2,566 OMR 988

71.21%

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 Ar-rustaq: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $159 in Ar-rustaq versus $391 in Ruwi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 71% higher in Ar-rustaq, 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

Ar-rustaq vs Ruwi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ar-rustaq is pricier by about 97%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,455 per month in Ar-rustaq and $740 in Ruwi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ruwi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $970 in Ar-rustaq and $493 in Ruwi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 86% more in Ar-rustaq, 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 $970 in Ar-rustaq and $493 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, Ar-rustaq makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.