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 $934 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $624 in Ruwi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,412 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $819 in Ruwi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,890 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $1,014 in Ruwi, rent included.

Ar-rustaq costs about 50% more than Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ar-rustaq and Ruwi are more affordable than the global median – Ar-rustaq 32% lower, Ruwi 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 OMR 2.03

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.12 OMR 13.13

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.61 OMR 2.93

Cappuccino

$4.88 OMR 1.88

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

$0.85 OMR 0.33

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 OMR 0.11

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.01 OMR 5.01

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$13.14 OMR 5.06

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 OMR 0.87

$2.04 OMR 0.79

11.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

$1.95 OMR 0.75

-34.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.70

$1.03 OMR 0.40

77.67%

Eggs

$2.86 OMR 1.10

$1.18 OMR 0.45

142.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.47 OMR 2.88

$2.04 OMR 0.78

266.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.70 OMR 2.58

$2.04 OMR 0.78

228.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.59 OMR 4.08

$4.98 OMR 1.92

112.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.51 OMR 1.35

$0.98 OMR 0.38

258.16%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$0.97 OMR 0.37

106.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.42 OMR 0.93

$0.99 OMR 0.38

144.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 OMR 0.46

$1.03 OMR 0.40

15.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 OMR 0.47

$1.02 OMR 0.39

18.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

$1.02 OMR 0.39

81.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 OMR 0.24

$0.97 OMR 0.37

-36.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.32 OMR 2.43

Wine (Bottle)

$15.53 OMR 5.98

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 OMR 2.09

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 OMR 3.47

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 OMR 1.23

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.68 OMR 1.03

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 OMR 3.09

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

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

$25.2K OMR 9,695

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

$22.4K OMR 8,606

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

$174 OMR 66.9

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

$30.45 OMR 11.72

$26.38 OMR 10.16

15.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 OMR 26.60

$79.4 OMR 30.55

-12.93%

Cinema Ticket

$10.37 OMR 3.99

$9.04 OMR 3.48

14.71%

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

$288 OMR 111

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K OMR 4,064

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 OMR 21.44

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.38 OMR 16.70

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 OMR 34.47

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.3 OMR 37.44

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)

$4,389 OMR 1,690

$4,449 OMR 1,713

-1.33%

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 Ar-rustaq: September 8, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 1% 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

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

Yes – Ar-rustaq is pricier by about 50%, 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 $1,401 per month in Ar-rustaq 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 $934 in Ar-rustaq 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 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 $934 in Ar-rustaq 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, Ar-rustaq makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.