Cost of Living Comparison Between Duqm and Muscat Cost of Living Comparison Between Duqm and Muscat

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $96.4 in Duqm versus $1,338 in Muscat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $147 in Duqm versus $1,954 in Muscat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $197 in Duqm versus $2,569 in Muscat.

Living in Duqm costs roughly 93% less than in Muscat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Duqm is 93% below, Muscat is 1% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.90 OMR 0.73

$5.26 OMR 2.02

-63.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.76 OMR 9.92

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.85 OMR 3.02

Cappuccino

$4.83 OMR 1.86

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

$0.55 OMR 0.21

$1.01 OMR 0.39

-45.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

$0.32 OMR 0.12

68.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.40 OMR 4.77

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.90 OMR 4.58

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

Eggs

$2.37 OMR 0.91

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.76 OMR 1.45

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.95 OMR 1.91

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.57 OMR 3.30

Apples (1kg)

$2.51 OMR 0.96

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 OMR 0.64

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 OMR 0.68

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 OMR 0.40

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 OMR 0.22

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.23 OMR 2.40

Wine (Bottle)

$15.50 OMR 5.97

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 OMR 1.60

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.90 OMR 3.04

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.31 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.7 OMR 23.77

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 OMR 1.22

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 OMR 0.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.49 OMR 4.04

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

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

$22.9K OMR 8,823

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

$22.0K OMR 8,474

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

$106 OMR 40.65

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

$41.28 OMR 15.89

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 OMR 26.93

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.7 OMR 30.28

$48.51 OMR 18.68

62.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.39 OMR 9.00

Cinema Ticket

$10.54 OMR 4.06

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

$310 OMR 119

$193 OMR 74.3

60.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,748 OMR 3,753

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.70 OMR 19.13

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.31 OMR 15.13

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.2 OMR 30.50

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 OMR 34.77

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$618 OMR 238

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 OMR 156

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,241 OMR 478

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$734 OMR 283

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,884 OMR 1,110

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,603 OMR 617

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,588 OMR 611

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.15

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

Last update for Duqm: July 26, 2026

Last update for Muscat: July 28, 2026

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

Duqm vs Muscat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Duqm is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 1288% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $145 in Duqm and $2,007 in Muscat to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Childcare runs $310 in Duqm versus $193 in Muscat. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $96.4 per month in Duqm versus $1,338 in Muscat – a 1288% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $96.4 in Duqm versus $1,338 in Muscat, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Duqm but tight or insufficient in Muscat. The gap between the two cities makes Duqm 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, Duqm 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 Duqm gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1288% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.