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: $1,678 in Athens, OH versus $1,525 in Muscat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,494 in Athens, OH versus $2,272 in Muscat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Athens, OH versus $3,019 in Muscat.

Living in Athens, OH is roughly 10% more expensive than in Muscat, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Athens, OH 22% above, Muscat 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.02 $15.02

$5.34 OMR 2.06

181.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.0 $50.0

$34.00 OMR 13.09

47.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.15 $10.15

$7.74 OMR 2.98

31.14%

Cappuccino

$5.02 $5.02

$4.73 OMR 1.82

6.13%

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

$2.33 $2.33

$0.86 OMR 0.33

170.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 $1.41

$0.29 OMR 0.11

386.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.97 $4.97

$13.07 OMR 5.03

-61.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.86 $6.86

$12.79 OMR 4.92

-46.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.69 $0.69

$2.25 OMR 0.87

-69.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.25 OMR 0.48

72.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.90 OMR 0.73

53.68%

Eggs

$4.19 $4.19

$2.94 OMR 1.13

42.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.97 $12.97

$7.65 OMR 2.94

69.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.67 $8.67

$6.57 OMR 2.53

31.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$10.54 OMR 4.06

53.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.65 $3.65

$3.41 OMR 1.31

7.04%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 $0.97

$2.00 OMR 0.77

-51.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.32 OMR 0.89

17.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.20 OMR 0.46

149.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.22 OMR 0.47

33.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.29 OMR 0.50

70.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.80 OMR 0.69

-6.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$0.67 OMR 0.26

188.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.16 $9.16

$6.30 OMR 2.43

45.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.84 $14.84

$15.43 OMR 5.94

-3.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$5.68 OMR 2.19

-63.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 $3.02

$8.72 OMR 3.36

-65.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.29 OMR 0.49

-23.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.7 OMR 29.52

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.21 OMR 1.24

19.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 $1.25

$2.59 OMR 1.00

-51.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.21 $25.21

$7.82 OMR 3.01

222.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.61 OMR 0.23

42.62%

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

$36.5K $36.5K

$25.1K OMR 9,665

45.40%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$22.2K OMR 8,564

16.29%

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

$150 $150

$170 OMR 65.5

-11.92%

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

$29.94 $29.94

$30.94 OMR 11.91

-3.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.78 $48.78

$69.9 OMR 26.92

-30.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.7 OMR 24.14

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.20 OMR 11.24

Cinema Ticket

$12.09 $12.09

$10.34 OMR 3.98

16.92%

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

$1,442 $1,442

$289 OMR 111

398.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.3K $19.3K

$10.7K OMR 4,110

81.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.48 $45.48

$55.7 OMR 21.42

-18.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.84 $44.84

$43.19 OMR 16.63

3.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.2 $66.2

$92.0 OMR 35.43

-28.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$96.0 OMR 36.95

14.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 $1,303

$673 OMR 259

93.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$699 $699

$455 OMR 175

53.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,468 $1,468

$1,366 OMR 526

7.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,252 $1,252

$857 OMR 330

46.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,649 $1,649

$2,835 OMR 1,092

-41.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,595 OMR 614

3.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,464 $3,464

$1,660 OMR 639

108.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

5.25

18.29%

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

Last update for Athens, OH: August 30, 2026

Last update for Muscat: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,303 in Athens, OH and $673 in Muscat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Athens, OH pays 109% 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: $50.0 in Athens, OH vs $34.00 in Muscat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $323 vs $284 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 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 109% higher in Athens, OH, 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: $1,303 in Athens, OH versus $673 in Muscat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Athens, OH. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,678 per month in Athens, OH versus $1,525 in Muscat – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,525 in Muscat versus $1,678 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 10% less than in Athens, OH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.