For one person, living is cheaper in China: $789 a month against $1,437 in Oman, rent and utilities included – about $7,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in China and in Oman actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $789 in China versus $1,437 in Oman.
China $789
Oman $1,437
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,254 in China versus $2,092 in Oman.
China $1,254
Oman $2,092
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,720 in China versus $2,747 in Oman.
China $1,720
Oman $2,747
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Oman: monthly costs span $44 to $1,555, compared to $468–$1,246 in China. City choice carries more weight in Oman.
🌍
Living in China costs about 45% less than in Oman on average.
📊
China (42% below) and Oman (6% above) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
China
Oman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.04¥20.25
$5.57OMR 2.14
-45.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.12¥147
$25.64OMR 9.87
-13.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.37¥35.75
$9.72OMR 3.74
-44.75%
Cappuccino
$2.93¥19.54
$4.75OMR 1.83
-38.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48¥3.21
$0.87OMR 0.33
-44.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30¥2.01
$0.27OMR 0.10
11.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.07¥7.15
$12.79OMR 4.92
-91.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21¥14.69
$13.20OMR 5.08
-83.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Oman
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80¥12.01
$2.26OMR 0.87
-20.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62¥10.76
$1.20OMR 0.46
35.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99¥6.58
$2.11OMR 0.81
-53.08%
Eggs
$1.62¥10.80
$2.92OMR 1.12
-44.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.44¥89.5
$7.75OMR 2.98
73.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.46¥23.05
$7.04OMR 2.71
-50.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.15¥74.2
$10.67OMR 4.11
4.50%
Apples(1kg)
$1.89¥12.60
$3.24OMR 1.25
-41.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31¥8.72
$1.98OMR 0.76
-33.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50¥9.97
$2.24OMR 0.86
-33.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.34¥8.90
$1.24OMR 0.48
8.06%
Potato(1kg)
$0.72¥4.77
$1.16OMR 0.45
-37.93%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93¥6.21
$1.18OMR 0.45
-21.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65¥4.35
$1.63OMR 0.63
-60.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60¥3.98
$0.62OMR 0.24
-3.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82¥25.43
$6.41OMR 2.47
-40.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.18¥81.1
$15.51OMR 5.97
-21.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91¥6.04
$5.70OMR 2.19
-84.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65¥10.96
$9.89OMR 3.81
-83.32%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Oman
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29¥1.92
$1.31OMR 0.51
-77.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.07¥120
$77.6OMR 29.86
-76.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.53¥10.22
$3.28OMR 1.26
-53.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37¥2.46
$1.33OMR 0.51
-72.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.69¥44.58
$7.86OMR 3.02
-14.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28¥8.50
$0.59OMR 0.23
116.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K¥131.5K
$25.0KOMR 9,624
-21.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.5K¥116.3K
$21.1KOMR 8,119
-17.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Oman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$55.3¥368
$125OMR 48.24
-55.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.32¥55.4
$32.43OMR 12.48
-74.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.12¥74.1
$76.5OMR 29.43
-85.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Oman
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.65¥264
$59.0OMR 22.72
-32.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.17¥101
$26.67OMR 10.27
-43.12%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65¥44.27
$9.38OMR 3.61
-29.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Oman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$514¥3,426
$361OMR 139
42.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$34.9K¥232.5K
$14.7KOMR 5,658
137.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Oman
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.85¥305
$51.6OMR 19.87
-11.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.41¥236
$45.70OMR 17.59
-22.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.0¥506
$84.8OMR 32.63
-10.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.0¥533
$81.5OMR 31.38
-1.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Oman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$380¥2,528
$585OMR 225
-35.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$232¥1,543
$401OMR 154
-42.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$836¥5,565
$1,016OMR 391
-17.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462¥3,075
$664OMR 255
-30.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,743¥31.6K
$2,422OMR 932
95.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,383¥15.9K
$1,426OMR 549
67.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Oman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,117¥7,438
$2,602OMR 1,002
-57.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.45
5.09
-32.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for China: November 1, 2026
Last update for Oman: November 1, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
China
$232 29.4%
Oman
$401 27.9% ↑ 72.9%$169
🛒Groceries & Markets
China
$212 26.8%
Oman
$287 20% ↑ 35.8%$76
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
China
$107 13.5%
Oman
$119 8.3% ↑ 11.1%$12
🍽Eating Out
China
$89 11.2%
Oman
$226 15.7% ↑ 155%$137
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$75 9.5%
Oman
$234 16.3% ↑ 213%$159
🎉Sport & Entertainment
China
$53 6.7%
Oman
$78 5.4% ↑ 46.9%$25
🚌Getting Around
China
$23 2.9%
Oman
$93 6.5% ↑ 310%$70
🏠Accommodation & Living
China
$462 26.9%
Oman
$664 24.1% ↑ 43.7%$202
🛒Groceries & Markets
China
$486 28.3%
Oman
$629 22.9% ↑ 29.5%$143
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
China
$237 13.8%
Oman
$264 9.6% ↑ 11.1%$26
🍽Eating Out
China
$285 16.6%
Oman
$553 20.1% ↑ 94.3%$268
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$83 4.8%
Oman
$267 9.7% ↑ 221%$184
🎉Sport & Entertainment
China
$121 7%
Oman
$182 6.6% ↑ 50.5%$61
🚌Getting Around
China
$46 2.7%
Oman
$188 6.9% ↑ 311%$142
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $298 in China, $406 in Oman. Capital cities: $942 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $708 in Muscat.
💰National salary averages: $881 in China, $3,152 in Oman. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 36% higher in Oman.
⭐Dining out costs 50% more in Oman.
⭐Public transport is 194% more expensive in Oman.
⭐Salaries are about 3.6 times higher in Oman, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Oman.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
China vs Oman: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Oman?
At $789 per month in China and $1,437 in Oman, China comes out about 45% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: China or Oman?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in China: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
How do rents compare between China and Oman?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $406 in Oman and $298 in China. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How do I choose between living in China and in Oman?
It depends on what you’re after: China wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.