Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ibra and Muscat

For one person, living is cheaper in Ibra: $978 a month against $1,556 in Muscat, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ibra
🇴🇲 Oman
$978
/mo nomad
Muscat
🇴🇲 Oman
$1,556
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ibra 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 Ibra and in Muscat actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $978 per month in Ibra vs $1,556 in Muscat, rent included.

  • Ibra $978
  • Muscat $1,556

A couple spends around $1,478 per month in Ibra vs $2,299 in Muscat, rent included.

  • Ibra $1,478
  • Muscat $2,299

A family of three spends $1,978 per month in Ibra vs $3,042 in Muscat, rent included.

  • Ibra $1,978
  • Muscat $3,042

Ibra is about 37% cheaper than Muscat, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Ibra sits 28% below the global median, while Muscat is 15% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ibra
Muscat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.10 OMR 1.96
$5.33 OMR 2.05
-4.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.13 OMR 15.07
$39.12 OMR 15.06
0.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.89 OMR 3.04
$7.76 OMR 2.99
1.68%
Cappuccino
$5.20 OMR 2.00
$4.93 OMR 1.90
5.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 OMR 0.35
$0.85 OMR 0.33
5.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 OMR 0.11
$0.27 OMR 0.10
7.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.76 OMR 4.91
$12.87 OMR 4.95
-0.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.74 OMR 4.90
$13.07 OMR 5.03
-2.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ibra
Muscat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.29 OMR 0.88
$2.31 OMR 0.89
-0.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 OMR 0.48
$1.24 OMR 0.48
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 OMR 0.71
$1.87 OMR 0.72
-1.60%
Eggs
$3.06 OMR 1.18
$3.02 OMR 1.16
1.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.13 OMR 2.74
$7.23 OMR 2.78
-1.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.10 OMR 2.73
$6.91 OMR 2.66
2.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.51 OMR 4.05
$10.57 OMR 4.07
-0.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.50 OMR 1.35
$3.51 OMR 1.35
-0.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.97 OMR 0.76
$2.01 OMR 0.77
-1.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.34 OMR 0.90
$2.33 OMR 0.90
0.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.28 OMR 0.49
$1.26 OMR 0.49
1.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 OMR 0.44
$1.16 OMR 0.44
-0.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.29 OMR 0.50
$1.28 OMR 0.49
0.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.88 OMR 0.72
$1.79 OMR 0.69
5.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 OMR 0.26
$0.68 OMR 0.26
-2.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.53 OMR 2.51
$6.62 OMR 2.55
-1.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.66 OMR 6.03
$15.83 OMR 6.09
-1.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.95 OMR 2.29
$6.03 OMR 2.32
-1.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.26 OMR 3.95
$10.33 OMR 3.98
-0.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Ibra
Muscat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.33 OMR 0.51
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$77.9 OMR 30.00
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.22 OMR 1.24
$3.18 OMR 1.23
1.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.53 OMR 0.97
$2.62 OMR 1.01
-3.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.61 OMR 2.93
$7.83 OMR 3.01
-2.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.59 OMR 0.23
$0.60 OMR 0.23
-1.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K OMR 9,914
$25.9K OMR 9,986
-0.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9K OMR 8,826
$22.4K OMR 8,624
2.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ibra
Muscat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 OMR 68.8
$176 OMR 67.9
1.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.97 OMR 11.92
$28.30 OMR 10.90
9.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.0 OMR 26.95
$70.9 OMR 27.28
-1.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ibra
Muscat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.32 OMR 12.06
$62.7 OMR 24.14
-50.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.31 OMR 7.05
$29.94 OMR 11.53
-38.84%
Cinema Ticket
$7.17 OMR 2.76
$10.52 OMR 4.05
-31.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ibra
Muscat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$289 OMR 111
$283 OMR 109
2.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K OMR 4,120
$10.6K OMR 4,070
1.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ibra
Muscat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 OMR 21.62
$56.6 OMR 21.79
-0.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.05 OMR 16.57
$43.33 OMR 16.68
-0.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.8 OMR 34.57
$91.1 OMR 35.08
-1.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.3 OMR 33.62
$86.4 OMR 33.28
1.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ibra
Muscat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$674 OMR 260
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$461 OMR 177
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,324 OMR 510
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$813 OMR 313
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,871 OMR 1,105
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,614 OMR 621
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ibra
Muscat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,091 OMR 1,575
$1,650 OMR 635
148.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.25
5.25
-

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

Last update for Ibra: October 11, 2026

Last update for Muscat: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Ibra
$292
Muscat
$292 0.2% $0.6
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ibra
$280
Muscat
$275 1.5% $4.2
Eating Out
Ibra
$221
Muscat
$220 0.4% $1
Clothing & Footwear
Ibra
$124
Muscat
$125 0.4% $0.5
Sport & Entertainment
Ibra
$46
Muscat
$84 83.4% $38
Getting Around
Ibra
$16 *
Muscat
$100 528% $84
Accommodation & Living
Ibra
- *
Muscat
$461

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 148% higher in Ibra, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ibra versus $39.00 in Muscat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $292 – making Ibra the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇴🇲 Ibra
🇴🇲 Muscat
🕒 Local time
08:26 8:26 AM
08:26 8:26 AM
Same time as Ibra
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
35,000
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 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.385 OMR (1 OMR = 2.6 USD). 1 EUR = 0.433 OMR (1 OMR = 2.31 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ibra Muscat 100 km
From you
  • Ibra
  • 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
Ibra vs Muscat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ibra or Muscat?
Muscat costs about 59% more than Ibra, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ibra and in Muscat?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,467 per month in Ibra and $2,334 in Muscat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Ibra compared to Muscat?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $978 in Ibra and $1,556 in Muscat. That's a gap of about 59%.
How do childcare costs compare in Ibra and in Muscat?
Kindergarten costs $289 per month in Ibra and $283 in Muscat. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ibra or in Muscat?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ibra, where all-in costs run around $978, than in Muscat at $1,556. In Ibra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Muscat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Ibra – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Ibra compared to Muscat?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Ibra or to Muscat?
If budget matters most, go with Ibra. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Muscat makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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