Cost of Living Comparison Between Dakar and Muscat Cost of Living Comparison Between Dakar and Muscat

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,327 in Dakar versus $1,331 in Muscat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,194 in Dakar versus $1,982 in Muscat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,061 in Dakar versus $2,633 in Muscat.

Monthly costs are close between Dakar and Muscat; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dakar 1% lower, Muscat 1% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dakar
Muscat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.42 F CFA 3,058
$5.29 OMR 2.04
2.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.3 F CFA 30.1K
$26.39 OMR 10.16
102.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.21 F CFA 5,755
$7.84 OMR 3.02
30.23%
Cappuccino
$4.43 F CFA 2,498
$4.95 OMR 1.90
-10.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 F CFA 484
$1.02 OMR 0.39
-15.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 F CFA 615
$0.34 OMR 0.13
220.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.57 F CFA 1,450
$12.16 OMR 4.68
-78.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36 F CFA 2,457
$11.87 OMR 4.57
-63.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dakar
Muscat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.52 F CFA 1,423
$2.00 OMR 0.77
26.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.64 F CFA 360
$1.20 OMR 0.46
-46.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 F CFA 906
$1.70 OMR 0.65
-5.29%
Eggs
$2.88 F CFA 1,625
$2.45 OMR 0.94
17.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.78 F CFA 7,209
$3.84 OMR 1.48
232.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.50 F CFA 5,357
$5.16 OMR 1.98
84.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.76 F CFA 6,069
$8.46 OMR 3.26
27.19%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 F CFA 1,536
$2.54 OMR 0.98
7.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.99 F CFA 1,121
$1.72 OMR 0.66
15.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.61 F CFA 1,473
$1.77 OMR 0.68
47.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 F CFA 1,174
$1.13 OMR 0.44
84.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.50 F CFA 844
$1.00 OMR 0.38
50.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 F CFA 758
$1.02 OMR 0.39
31.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 F CFA 600
$1.03 OMR 0.40
2.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 F CFA 460
$0.56 OMR 0.22
46.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.61 F CFA 908
$6.22 OMR 2.39
-74.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.38 F CFA 8,674
$15.55 OMR 5.99
-1.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 F CFA 667
$4.25 OMR 1.64
-72.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 F CFA 1,254
$7.90 OMR 3.04
-71.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Dakar
Muscat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 F CFA 204
$1.27 OMR 0.49
-71.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 F CFA 45.4K
$62.3 OMR 23.99
29.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 F CFA 1,514
$3.16 OMR 1.22
-15.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.83 F CFA 1,598
$0.80 OMR 0.31
253.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.99 F CFA 10.1K
$10.34 OMR 3.98
73.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 F CFA 963
$0.60 OMR 0.23
185.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1K F CFA 20.4M
$22.8K OMR 8,778
58.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$49.2K F CFA 27.8M
$21.8K OMR 8,405
125.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dakar
Muscat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$138 F CFA 78.0K
$107 OMR 41.32
28.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.92 F CFA 5,597
$40.60 OMR 15.63
-75.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.4 F CFA 28.4K
$70.5 OMR 27.13
-28.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dakar
Muscat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 F CFA 31.8K
$47.24 OMR 18.19
19.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.41 F CFA 12.1K
$22.99 OMR 8.85
-6.87%
Cinema Ticket
$9.02 F CFA 5,086
$10.47 OMR 4.03
-13.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dakar
Muscat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$272 F CFA 153.4K
$192 OMR 74.1
41.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,169 F CFA 4.0M
$9,757 OMR 3,756
-26.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dakar
Muscat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.6 F CFA 38.7K
$50.7 OMR 19.53
35.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.93 F CFA 24.8K
$39.51 OMR 15.21
11.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 F CFA 58.2K
$79.4 OMR 30.56
29.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 F CFA 74.1K
$90.0 OMR 34.66
45.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dakar
Muscat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$914 F CFA 515.2K
$619 OMR 238
47.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$369 F CFA 208.2K
$410 OMR 158
-10.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,863 F CFA 1.1M
$1,222 OMR 470
52.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$938 F CFA 528.9K
$730 OMR 281
28.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,996 F CFA 2.8M
$2,666 OMR 1,026
87.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,491 F CFA 841.1K
$1,552 OMR 597
-3.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dakar
Muscat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$431 F CFA 243.2K
$1,654 OMR 637
-73.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.25
5.15
60.19%

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

Last update for Dakar: June 1, 2026

Last update for Muscat: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $914 in Dakar and $619 in Muscat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Muscat pays 283% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $53.0 in Dakar vs $26.00 in Muscat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 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
Dakar vs Muscat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Muscat earns 283% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Dakar and Muscat?
Rent for a central apartment: $914 in Dakar versus $619 in Muscat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Dakar and Muscat?
Childcare runs $272 in Dakar versus $192 in Muscat. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Dakar – a meal for two runs $53.0 versus $26.00 in Muscat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,327 in Dakar versus $1,331 in Muscat, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dakar but tight or insufficient in Muscat. The gap between the two cities makes Dakar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Dakar and Muscat?
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.
Is Dakar or Muscat safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Dakar 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.
How do I decide between Dakar and Muscat?
It comes down to priorities – Dakar wins on affordability, Muscat on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Dakar vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities