Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens, OH and Muscat Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens, OH and Muscat

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,570 in Athens, OH versus $1,331 in Muscat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,979 in Athens, OH versus $1,982 in Muscat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,388 in Athens, OH versus $2,633 in Muscat.

Living in Athens, OH is roughly 18% more expensive than Muscat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Athens, OH is 17% above, Muscat is 1% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.28 $15.28

$5.29 OMR 2.04

188.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.1 $60.1

$26.39 OMR 10.16

127.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.01 $8.01

$7.84 OMR 3.02

2.17%

Cappuccino

$4.23 $4.23

$4.95 OMR 1.90

-14.55%

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

$2.24 $2.24

$1.02 OMR 0.39

119.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.34 OMR 0.13

308.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.07 $5.07

$12.16 OMR 4.68

-58.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.89 $6.89

$11.87 OMR 4.57

-41.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 $0.70

$2.00 OMR 0.77

-65.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.20 OMR 0.46

73.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.70 OMR 0.65

81.18%

Eggs

$3.28 $3.28

$2.45 OMR 0.94

33.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.33 $10.33

$3.84 OMR 1.48

169.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.90 $8.90

$5.16 OMR 1.98

72.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 $15.24

$8.46 OMR 3.26

80.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.54 OMR 0.98

47.64%

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.72 OMR 0.66

-47.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.77 OMR 0.68

60.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$1.13 OMR 0.44

173.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.00 OMR 0.38

69.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.02 OMR 0.39

109.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.03 OMR 0.40

60.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.56 OMR 0.22

160.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.03 $9.03

$6.22 OMR 2.39

45.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.25 $13.25

$15.55 OMR 5.99

-14.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$4.25 OMR 1.64

-52.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$7.90 OMR 3.04

-76.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.27 OMR 0.49

-18.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.3 OMR 23.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.83 $3.83

$3.16 OMR 1.22

21.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 $1.23

$0.80 OMR 0.31

53.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.18 $25.18

$10.34 OMR 3.98

143.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.60 OMR 0.23

36.67%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

$22.8K OMR 8,778

55.93%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$21.8K OMR 8,405

13.14%

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

$120 $120

$107 OMR 41.32

11.76%

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

$30.53 $30.53

$40.60 OMR 15.63

-24.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.45 $47.45

$70.5 OMR 27.13

-32.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.57 $43.57

$47.24 OMR 18.19

-7.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.99 OMR 8.85

Cinema Ticket

$9.54 $9.54

$10.47 OMR 4.03

-8.88%

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

$1,574 $1,574

$192 OMR 74.1

717.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.6K $17.6K

$9,757 OMR 3,756

80.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.28 $40.28

$50.7 OMR 19.53

-20.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.26 $40.26

$39.51 OMR 15.21

1.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.3 $65.3

$79.4 OMR 30.56

-17.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$90.0 OMR 34.66

13.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,713 $1,713

$619 OMR 238

176.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$655 $655

$410 OMR 158

59.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,619 $2,619

$1,222 OMR 470

114.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,198 $2,198

$730 OMR 281

201.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,698 $1,698

$2,666 OMR 1,026

-36.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,638 $1,638

$1,552 OMR 597

5.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,478 $3,478

$1,654 OMR 637

110.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

5.15

26.99%

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

Last update for Athens, OH: May 31, 2026

Last update for Muscat: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,713 in Athens, OH and $619 in Muscat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Athens, OH pays 110% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $60.0 in Athens, OH vs $26.00 in Muscat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $231 per month, with Muscat cheaper across the board.

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

Athens, OH vs Muscat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Muscat is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Athens, OH pays 110% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,713 in Athens, OH versus $619 in Muscat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Athens, OH. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,570 per month in Athens, OH versus $1,331 in Muscat – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,331 in Muscat versus $1,570 in Athens, OH, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Muscat but tight or insufficient in Athens, OH. The gap between the two cities makes Muscat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Athens, OH and Muscat are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Muscat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Athens, OH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.