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 $934 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $1,437 in Sohar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,412 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $2,112 in Sohar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,890 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $2,788 in Sohar, rent included.

Ar-rustaq is about 35% cheaper than Sohar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ar-rustaq sits 32% below the global median, while Sohar is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 OMR 2.03

$6.31 OMR 2.43

-16.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.12 OMR 13.13

$20.77 OMR 8.00

64.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.61 OMR 2.93

$8.98 OMR 3.46

-15.26%

Cappuccino

$4.88 OMR 1.88

$4.98 OMR 1.92

-2.01%

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

$0.85 OMR 0.33

$0.65 OMR 0.25

30.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 OMR 0.11

$0.30 OMR 0.12

-3.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.01 OMR 5.01

$13.23 OMR 5.09

-1.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$13.14 OMR 5.06

$14.05 OMR 5.41

-6.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 OMR 0.87

$2.19 OMR 0.84

3.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

$1.10 OMR 0.42

16.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.70

$3.31 OMR 1.28

-44.71%

Eggs

$2.86 OMR 1.10

$2.74 OMR 1.06

4.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.47 OMR 2.88

$13.58 OMR 5.23

-44.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.70 OMR 2.58

$9.30 OMR 3.58

-27.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.59 OMR 4.08

$14.17 OMR 5.45

-25.26%

Apples (1kg)

$3.51 OMR 1.35

$3.32 OMR 1.28

5.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$2.12 OMR 0.82

-5.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.42 OMR 0.93

$2.53 OMR 0.97

-4.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 OMR 0.46

$1.17 OMR 0.45

1.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 OMR 0.47

$1.74 OMR 0.67

-30.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.83 OMR 0.71

-32.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

$1.71 OMR 0.66

8.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 OMR 0.24

$0.91 OMR 0.35

-31.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.32 OMR 2.43

$5.83 OMR 2.24

8.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.53 OMR 5.98

$26.03 OMR 10.02

-40.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 OMR 2.09

$3.92 OMR 1.51

38.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 OMR 3.47

$8.36 OMR 3.22

7.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.67 OMR 1.03

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.6 OMR 20.25

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 OMR 1.23

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.68 OMR 1.03

$1.54 OMR 0.59

74.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 OMR 3.09

$10.34 OMR 3.98

-22.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

$0.65 OMR 0.25

-6.15%

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

$25.2K OMR 9,695

$18.2K OMR 7,024

38.02%

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

$22.4K OMR 8,606

$20.4K OMR 7,855

9.56%

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

$174 OMR 66.9

$102 OMR 39.32

70.09%

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

$30.45 OMR 11.72

$28.74 OMR 11.06

5.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 OMR 26.60

$87.8 OMR 33.79

-21.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.22 OMR 18.95

Cinema Ticket

$10.37 OMR 3.99

$11.67 OMR 4.49

-11.14%

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

$288 OMR 111

$303 OMR 117

-5.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K OMR 4,064

$7,016 OMR 2,701

50.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 OMR 21.44

$51.7 OMR 19.90

7.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.38 OMR 16.70

$43.92 OMR 16.91

-1.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 OMR 34.47

$79.8 OMR 30.72

12.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.3 OMR 37.44

$47.18 OMR 18.16

106.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 OMR 189

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 OMR 147

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$824 OMR 317

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$684 OMR 263

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,164 OMR 448

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$765 OMR 295

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,389 OMR 1,690

$2,513 OMR 968

74.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

6.33

-17.06%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ar-rustaq: September 8, 2026

Last update for Sohar: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 75% 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 $34.00 in Ar-rustaq versus $21.00 in Sohar. Groceries tell a different story – $284 in Ar-rustaq vs $347 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 54%, 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 $1,401 per month in Ar-rustaq and $2,156 in Sohar. 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 $1,437 in Sohar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $288 per month in Ar-rustaq and $303 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 $934, than in Sohar at $1,437. 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.