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: $1,318 in Dakar versus $1,322 in Muscat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,218 in Dakar versus $1,928 in Muscat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,117 in Dakar versus $2,533 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
$5.43 F CFA 3,111
$5.29 OMR 2.04
2.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2 F CFA 29.9K
$25.50 OMR 9.82
104.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.20 F CFA 5,843
$7.99 OMR 3.08
27.66%
Cappuccino
$4.37 F CFA 2,506
$4.86 OMR 1.87
-10.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 F CFA 511
$1.01 OMR 0.39
-11.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 F CFA 619
$0.34 OMR 0.13
217.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 F CFA 1,549
$12.41 OMR 4.78
-78.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 F CFA 2,581
$11.66 OMR 4.49
-61.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dakar
Muscat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.57 F CFA 1,473
$1.98 OMR 0.76
29.80%
White Bread (500g)
$0.67 F CFA 384
$1.23 OMR 0.47
-45.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 F CFA 926
$1.70 OMR 0.66
-4.71%
Eggs
$2.76 F CFA 1,581
$2.42 OMR 0.93
14.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.68 F CFA 7,263
$3.71 OMR 1.43
241.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.44 F CFA 5,410
$4.89 OMR 1.88
93.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.61 F CFA 6,081
$8.27 OMR 3.18
28.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.80 F CFA 1,602
$2.51 OMR 0.97
11.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 F CFA 1,135
$1.72 OMR 0.66
15.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.58 F CFA 1,480
$1.78 OMR 0.69
44.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 F CFA 1,226
$1.14 OMR 0.44
87.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 F CFA 881
$1.02 OMR 0.39
50.98%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 F CFA 770
$0.98 OMR 0.38
36.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 F CFA 613
$1.09 OMR 0.42
-1.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 F CFA 468
$0.52 OMR 0.20
57.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.55 F CFA 891
$6.28 OMR 2.42
-75.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.02 F CFA 9,752
$15.71 OMR 6.05
8.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 F CFA 647
$4.38 OMR 1.68
-74.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 F CFA 1,280
$8.02 OMR 3.09
-72.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Dakar
Muscat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 F CFA 207
$1.27 OMR 0.49
-71.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.0 F CFA 45.2K
$63.0 OMR 24.26
25.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.58 F CFA 1,476
$3.16 OMR 1.22
-18.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.80 F CFA 1,605
$0.80 OMR 0.31
250.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.55 F CFA 10.1K
$10.20 OMR 3.92
72.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.78 F CFA 1,020
$0.64 OMR 0.25
178.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K F CFA 21.1M
$22.5K OMR 8,654
64.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$50.1K F CFA 28.7M
$21.5K OMR 8,279
132.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dakar
Muscat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$140 F CFA 80.0K
$109 OMR 41.78
28.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.57 F CFA 5,482
$40.41 OMR 15.55
-76.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.00 F CFA 28.1K
$68.5 OMR 26.38
-28.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dakar
Muscat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.5 F CFA 31.8K
$48.75 OMR 18.76
13.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.51 F CFA 12.3K
$23.23 OMR 8.94
-7.40%
Cinema Ticket
$8.75 F CFA 5,013
$10.28 OMR 3.96
-14.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dakar
Muscat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$268 F CFA 153.3K
$190 OMR 73.0
41.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,349 F CFA 4.2M
$10.0K OMR 3,861
-26.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dakar
Muscat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.1 F CFA 39.0K
$51.0 OMR 19.62
33.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.58 F CFA 25.0K
$39.14 OMR 15.07
11.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 F CFA 60.1K
$77.6 OMR 29.87
35.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 F CFA 73.6K
$87.6 OMR 33.72
46.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dakar
Muscat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$931 F CFA 533.3K
$616 OMR 237
51.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$369 F CFA 211.3K
$407 OMR 157
-9.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 F CFA 1.1M
$1,243 OMR 478
53.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$933 F CFA 534.2K
$714 OMR 275
30.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,047 F CFA 2.9M
$2,866 OMR 1,103
76.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,444 F CFA 827.4K
$1,593 OMR 613
-9.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dakar
Muscat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$420 F CFA 240.8K
$1,576 OMR 607
-73.34%
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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Muscat: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $931 in Dakar and $616 in Muscat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Muscat pays 275% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $52.0 in Dakar vs $26.00 in Muscat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $279 vs $230 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, salaries run 275% lower in Muscat. 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 in Muscat?
Rent for a central apartment: $931 in Dakar versus $616 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 $268 in Dakar versus $190 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 $52.0 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 $1,318 in Dakar versus $1,322 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.

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