Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Duqm and Muscat

For one person, living is cheaper in Duqm: $306 a month against $1,544 in Muscat, rent and utilities included – about $14,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Duqm, Oman
Muscat, Oman
Duqm
🇴🇲 Oman
$306
/mo nomad
Muscat
🇴🇲 Oman
$1,544
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Duqm and in Muscat

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Duqm and in Muscat actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $306 in Duqm versus $1,544 in Muscat.

  • Duqm $306
  • Muscat $1,544

Estimated couple costs with rent: $503 in Duqm versus $2,271 in Muscat.

  • Duqm $503
  • Muscat $2,271

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $701 in Duqm versus $2,998 in Muscat.

  • Duqm $701
  • Muscat $2,998

Living in Duqm costs roughly 80% less than in Muscat, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Duqm is 78% below, Muscat is 13% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Duqm
Muscat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.78 OMR 1.84
$5.26 OMR 2.02
-9.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.92 OMR 4.98
$39.02 OMR 15.02
-66.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.99 OMR 3.07
-
Cappuccino
$2.29 OMR 0.88
$5.17 OMR 1.99
-55.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 OMR 0.21
$0.92 OMR 0.35
-42.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 OMR 0.14
$0.27 OMR 0.10
37.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.62 OMR 2.93
$12.92 OMR 4.97
-41.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.82 OMR 4.94
$13.10 OMR 5.04
-2.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Duqm
Muscat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$2.36 OMR 0.91
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$1.24 OMR 0.48
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.62 OMR 1.01
$1.92 OMR 0.74
36.46%
Eggs
$2.78 OMR 1.07
$3.12 OMR 1.20
-10.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$7.16 OMR 2.76
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.25 OMR 2.02
$6.88 OMR 2.65
-23.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$10.22 OMR 3.94
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.47 OMR 1.34
$3.65 OMR 1.41
-4.93%
Banana (1kg)
-
$2.01 OMR 0.78
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$2.41 OMR 0.93
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$1.25 OMR 0.48
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.21 OMR 0.47
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.76 OMR 0.29
$1.24 OMR 0.48
-38.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.86 OMR 0.72
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.21 OMR 0.08
$0.68 OMR 0.26
-69.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$6.39 OMR 2.46
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$15.38 OMR 5.92
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$6.06 OMR 2.33
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$13.10 OMR 5.04
$10.29 OMR 3.96
27.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Duqm
Muscat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.31 OMR 0.51
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$79.1 OMR 30.44
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.24 OMR 1.25
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.62 OMR 1.01
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$7.89 OMR 3.04
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$0.60 OMR 0.23
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$25.5K OMR 9,819
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$20.9K OMR 8,061
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duqm
Muscat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$177 OMR 68.2
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$30.23 OMR 11.64
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$69.6 OMR 26.79
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Duqm
Muscat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.6 OMR 29.88
$68.3 OMR 26.29
13.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.66 OMR 11.42
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$10.56 OMR 4.06
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Duqm
Muscat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$508 OMR 196
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$10.3K OMR 3,978
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Duqm
Muscat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$57.2 OMR 22.03
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$43.63 OMR 16.80
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$90.9 OMR 35.01
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$86.3 OMR 33.23
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Duqm
Muscat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$720 OMR 277
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$436 OMR 168
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,188 OMR 457
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$745 OMR 287
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,815 OMR 1,084
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,619 OMR 623
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Duqm
Muscat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,682 OMR 647
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5.25
-

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

Last update for Duqm: October 25, 2026

Last update for Muscat: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Duqm
–
Muscat
$436
Groceries & Markets
Duqm
–
Muscat
$292
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duqm
–
Muscat
$277
Eating Out
Duqm
–
Muscat
$224
Clothing & Footwear
Duqm
–
Muscat
$125
Getting Around
Duqm
–
Muscat
$101
Sport & Entertainment
Duqm
–
Muscat
$89

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $13 in Duqm vs $39 in Muscat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95 vs $292 per month, with Duqm cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇴🇲 Duqm
🇴🇲 Muscat
🕒 Local time
18:24 6:24 PM
18:24 6:24 PM
Same time as Duqm
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
12,000
1,090,797 Capital
💱 Currency
Omani Rial OMR ر.ع.
Omani Rial OMR ر.ع.
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to OMR – Omani Rial Converter

Omani Rial exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.385 OMR (1 OMR = 2.6 USD). 1 EUR = 0.428 OMR (1 OMR = 2.33 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Duqm Muscat 450 km
From you
  • Duqm
  • Muscat

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
Duqm vs Muscat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Duqm cheaper than Muscat?
Duqm is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 404% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $459 in Duqm and $2,316 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.
How do food prices compare in Duqm and in Muscat?
Supermarket bills run roughly 206% higher in Muscat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Duqm or in Muscat?
Dining out is cheaper in Duqm – a meal for two runs $13 versus $39 in Muscat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Duqm or in Muscat?
At $306 in Duqm versus $1,544 in Muscat, a $1,000 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.
Is it better to live in Duqm or in 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.
Which city is safer, Duqm or Muscat?
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.

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