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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $970 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $1,441 in Sohar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,309 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $2,151 in Sohar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,647 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $2,862 in Sohar, rent included.

Ar-rustaq is about 33% cheaper than Sohar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ar-rustaq sits 28% below the global median, while Sohar is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 OMR 2.03

$6.53 OMR 2.51

-19.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.10 OMR 10.05

$21.05 OMR 8.10

23.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.00 OMR 3.08

$8.87 OMR 3.41

-9.81%

Cappuccino

$5.01 OMR 1.93

$6.62 OMR 2.55

-24.32%

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

$0.50 OMR 0.19

$0.65 OMR 0.25

-23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.54 OMR 4.83

$12.74 OMR 4.91

-1.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 OMR 4.55

$14.10 OMR 5.43

-16.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 OMR 0.76

$2.24 OMR 0.86

-12.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.11 OMR 0.43

11.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 OMR 0.64

$3.22 OMR 1.24

-48.14%

Eggs

$1.88 OMR 0.72

$2.82 OMR 1.09

-33.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.86 OMR 1.48

$13.59 OMR 5.23

-71.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.20 OMR 1.62

$9.31 OMR 3.58

-54.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.87 OMR 3.03

$14.40 OMR 5.54

-45.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 OMR 0.89

$3.21 OMR 1.24

-28.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 OMR 0.64

$2.11 OMR 0.81

-21.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.71

$2.55 OMR 0.98

-28.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 OMR 0.43

$1.18 OMR 0.46

-5.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$1.74 OMR 0.67

-40.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$1.86 OMR 0.72

-44.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$1.72 OMR 0.66

-36.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 OMR 0.20

$0.99 OMR 0.38

-48.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.47 OMR 2.49

$6.14 OMR 2.36

5.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.89 OMR 6.12

$26.43 OMR 10.18

-39.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.20 OMR 1.62

$4.00 OMR 1.54

5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.71 OMR 2.97

$8.47 OMR 3.26

-8.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 OMR 0.51

$2.66 OMR 1.02

-50.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.9 OMR 20.00

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 OMR 0.61

$3.16 OMR 1.21

-50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 OMR 0.29

$1.53 OMR 0.59

-50.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.25 OMR 3.94

$10.51 OMR 4.05

-2.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

$0.60 OMR 0.23

1.67%

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

$22.5K OMR 8,645

$18.1K OMR 6,963

24.16%

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

$21.9K OMR 8,417

$20.8K OMR 8,000

5.21%

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

$106 OMR 40.86

$101 OMR 38.93

4.95%

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

$40.96 OMR 15.77

$29.04 OMR 11.18

41.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.0 OMR 26.96

$87.4 OMR 33.63

-19.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 OMR 19.86

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.58 OMR 0.99

Cinema Ticket

$10.32 OMR 3.97

$11.78 OMR 4.54

-12.39%

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

$132 OMR 51.0

$269 OMR 104

-50.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,748 OMR 1,443

$7,119 OMR 2,741

-47.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.63 OMR 7.94

$51.6 OMR 19.88

-60.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.54 OMR 9.83

$43.42 OMR 16.72

-41.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.59 OMR 15.24

$78.3 OMR 30.14

-49.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.5 OMR 19.82

$46.95 OMR 18.08

9.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$159 OMR 61.2

$485 OMR 187

-67.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$211 OMR 81.1

$388 OMR 149

-45.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 OMR 148

$753 OMR 290

-48.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$211 OMR 81.1

$669 OMR 257

-68.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,154 OMR 444

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$774 OMR 298

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,394 OMR 1,692

$2,455 OMR 945

78.97%

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 Ar-rustaq: June 2, 2026

Last update for Sohar: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $159 in Ar-rustaq versus $485 in Sohar. 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 79% higher in Ar-rustaq, 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 Ar-rustaq versus $21.00 in Sohar. Groceries tell a different story – $221 in Ar-rustaq vs $351 in Sohar – so Ar-rustaq 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

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

Yes – Sohar is pricier by about 49%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,161 in Sohar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ar-rustaq, 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 $1,441 in Sohar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $132 per month in Ar-rustaq and $269 in Sohar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ar-rustaq, where all-in costs run around $970, than in Sohar at $1,441. In Ar-rustaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sohar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ar-rustaq – 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 Ar-rustaq. 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.