Cost of Living Comparison Between Ibra and Ruwi Cost of Living Comparison Between Ibra and Ruwi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $814 per month in Ibra vs $493 in Ruwi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,244 per month in Ibra vs $753 in Ruwi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,673 per month in Ibra vs $1,013 in Ruwi, rent included.

Ibra costs about 65% more than Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ibra and Ruwi are more affordable than the global median – Ibra 39% lower, Ruwi 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.17 OMR 1.99

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.53 OMR 10.21

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.99 OMR 3.08

Cappuccino

$5.01 OMR 1.93

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

$1.05 OMR 0.40

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.37 OMR 4.76

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.57 OMR 4.45

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 OMR 0.74

$1.97 OMR 0.76

-3.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

$2.01 OMR 0.77

-38.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 OMR 0.66

$1.02 OMR 0.39

67.65%

Eggs

$2.46 OMR 0.95

$1.22 OMR 0.47

101.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.82 OMR 1.47

$2.05 OMR 0.79

86.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.11 OMR 1.97

$1.96 OMR 0.76

160.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.49 OMR 3.27

$4.92 OMR 1.90

72.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.48 OMR 0.95

$1.01 OMR 0.39

145.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 OMR 0.66

$0.97 OMR 0.37

78.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 OMR 0.69

$0.98 OMR 0.38

82.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 OMR 0.44

$1.02 OMR 0.39

11.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$0.99 OMR 0.38

-2.02%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 OMR 0.42

$0.98 OMR 0.38

10.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 OMR 0.20

$1.02 OMR 0.39

-49.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.51 OMR 2.51

Wine (Bottle)

$15.83 OMR 6.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.38 OMR 1.69

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.61 OMR 2.93

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 OMR 1.23

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 OMR 0.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.42 OMR 4.01

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

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

$22.7K OMR 8,731

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

$21.4K OMR 8,234

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

$109 OMR 41.87

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

$40.78 OMR 15.70

$26.00 OMR 10.01

56.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.4 OMR 27.12

$77.2 OMR 29.71

-8.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.05 OMR 11.95

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.36 OMR 7.07

Cinema Ticket

$6.97 OMR 2.69

$9.25 OMR 3.56

-24.65%

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

$192 OMR 74.0

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,837 OMR 3,787

$13.2K OMR 5,080

-25.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.31 OMR 18.98

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.60 OMR 15.25

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.5 OMR 30.99

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 OMR 34.18

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 OMR 151

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 OMR 98.2

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$920 OMR 354

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$573 OMR 221

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,190 OMR 1,613

$2,566 OMR 988

63.26%

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 Ibra: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 63% higher in Ibra, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Ruwi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ibra costs about 65% more than Ruwi, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,222 per month in Ibra and $740 in Ruwi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $814 in Ibra and $493 in Ruwi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 94% more in Ibra, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $814 in Ibra and $493 in Ruwi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Ruwi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Ruwi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ibra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.