Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Oman Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Oman

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $712 in China versus $710 in Oman.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,131 in China versus $1,050 in Oman.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,549 in China versus $1,389 in Oman.

Both countries sit below the global median: China 47% lower, Oman 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Oman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.77 ¥18.72
$5.35 OMR 2.06
-48.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.05 ¥162
$26.45 OMR 10.18
-9.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.73 ¥31.93
$7.65 OMR 2.94
-38.17%
Cappuccino
$3.08 ¥20.78
$4.80 OMR 1.85
-35.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.00
$0.86 OMR 0.33
-48.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥1.98
$0.30 OMR 0.12
-3.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.01 ¥6.80
$11.78 OMR 4.54
-91.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 ¥14.03
$12.76 OMR 4.91
-83.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Oman
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 ¥12.39
$1.89 OMR 0.73
-3.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ¥10.94
$1.24 OMR 0.48
30.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.97 ¥6.58
$1.88 OMR 0.72
-48.40%
Eggs
$1.61 ¥10.90
$2.42 OMR 0.93
-33.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.34 ¥90.1
$5.00 OMR 1.93
166.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.37 ¥22.75
$5.26 OMR 2.02
-35.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 ¥72.2
$9.15 OMR 3.52
16.72%
Apples (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.26
$2.44 OMR 0.94
-25.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.25 ¥8.44
$1.73 OMR 0.67
-27.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 ¥9.88
$1.86 OMR 0.71
-21.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 ¥7.73
$1.14 OMR 0.44
0.88%
Potato (1kg)
$0.73 ¥4.92
$1.06 OMR 0.41
-31.13%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 ¥5.99
$0.98 OMR 0.38
-9.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 ¥4.05
$1.04 OMR 0.40
-42.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ¥3.59
$0.54 OMR 0.21
-1.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.39 ¥22.93
$5.97 OMR 2.30
-43.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.73 ¥79.3
$15.35 OMR 5.91
-23.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ¥5.23
$4.27 OMR 1.64
-81.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 ¥10.98
$7.99 OMR 3.08
-79.60%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Oman
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.41 ¥2.77
$1.32 OMR 0.51
-68.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.24 ¥143
$60.1 OMR 23.13
-64.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ¥9.13
$2.91 OMR 1.12
-53.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 ¥2.40
$0.74 OMR 0.29
-51.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.70 ¥45.26
$10.30 OMR 3.97
-34.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ¥7.98
$0.59 OMR 0.23
100.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K ¥133.4K
$21.8K OMR 8,404
-9.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.5K ¥111.7K
$21.9K OMR 8,446
-24.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Oman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.7 ¥349
$98.0 OMR 37.75
-47.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.09 ¥68.2
$39.40 OMR 15.17
-74.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.38 ¥76.9
$72.2 OMR 27.80
-84.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Oman
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.24 ¥265
$49.38 OMR 19.01
-20.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.84 ¥100
$22.14 OMR 8.52
-32.97%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30 ¥42.56
$9.88 OMR 3.80
-36.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Oman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$414 ¥2,795
$188 OMR 72.4
119.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K ¥117.6K
$8,729 OMR 3,361
99.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Oman
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.77 ¥316
$45.76 OMR 17.62
2.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.08 ¥223
$38.99 OMR 15.01
-15.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.9 ¥479
$78.3 OMR 30.15
-9.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.5 ¥503
$74.9 OMR 28.84
-0.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Oman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$440 ¥2,972
$539 OMR 207
-18.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$253 ¥1,707
$368 OMR 142
-31.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$911 ¥6,153
$998 OMR 384
-8.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$531 ¥3,584
$635 OMR 244
-16.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,778 ¥32.3K
$2,290 OMR 882
108.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,403 ¥16.2K
$1,418 OMR 546
69.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Oman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,058 ¥7,144
$2,548 OMR 981
-58.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
5.06
-19.76%

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

Last update for China: July 28, 2026

Last update for Oman: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $287 in China, $110 in Oman. Capital cities: $909 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $618 in Muscat.

National salary averages: $857 in China, $3,051 in Oman. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 161% higher in China.

Dining out costs 11% more in China.

Public transport is 100% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 256% higher in Oman, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Oman.

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 $873 per month in China and $717 in Oman, there's a 22% gap. 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 simply cheaper in Oman: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. 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 in China is consistently higher than in Oman across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
How far does $1,500 go in China compared to Oman?
In Oman, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in China it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in China and in Oman?
It depends on what you're after: Oman wins on affordability; China may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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