Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalmar and Sohar Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalmar and Sohar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,981 per month in Kalmar vs $1,430 in Sohar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,973 per month in Kalmar vs $2,090 in Sohar, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,966 per month in Kalmar vs $2,750 in Sohar, rent included.

Kalmar costs about 39% more than Sohar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kalmar and Sohar sit above the global median – Kalmar by 44%, Sohar by 4%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalmar
Sohar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.61 SEK 150
$6.56 OMR 2.53
137.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.1 SEK 703
$20.53 OMR 7.90
256.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.08 SEK 107
$8.86 OMR 3.41
25.06%
Cappuccino
$4.86 SEK 46.80
$4.89 OMR 1.88
-0.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 SEK 28.08
$0.69 OMR 0.27
323.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 SEK 25.47
$0.28 OMR 0.11
846.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.82 SEK 94.5
$13.04 OMR 5.02
-24.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.25 SEK 69.8
$14.15 OMR 5.45
-48.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalmar
Sohar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 SEK 14.60
$2.20 OMR 0.85
-30.91%
White Bread (500g)
$2.98 SEK 28.62
$1.07 OMR 0.41
178.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.20 SEK 30.75
$3.18 OMR 1.22
0.63%
Eggs
$4.95 SEK 47.65
$2.83 OMR 1.09
74.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.66 SEK 112
$13.76 OMR 5.30
-15.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.64 SEK 112
$9.08 OMR 3.49
28.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.58 SEK 227
$14.25 OMR 5.49
65.47%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 SEK 25.51
$3.25 OMR 1.25
-18.46%
Banana (1kg)
$2.83 SEK 27.22
$2.13 OMR 0.82
32.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.42 SEK 32.88
$2.49 OMR 0.96
37.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.11 SEK 39.57
$1.21 OMR 0.47
239.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 SEK 14.77
$1.80 OMR 0.69
-14.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.57 SEK 15.12
$1.77 OMR 0.68
-11.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.02 SEK 19.47
$1.71 OMR 0.66
18.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 SEK 17.57
$0.93 OMR 0.36
96.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.12 SEK 78.1
$5.90 OMR 2.27
37.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.32 SEK 89.7
$26.28 OMR 10.12
-64.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 SEK 19.46
$3.86 OMR 1.49
-47.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 SEK 24.71
$8.61 OMR 3.31
-70.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalmar
Sohar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.55 SEK 34.18
$2.54 OMR 0.98
39.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.1 SEK 780
$51.5 OMR 19.81
57.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.03 SEK 96.5
$3.22 OMR 1.24
211.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.75 SEK 16.80
$1.52 OMR 0.58
15.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.3 SEK 484
$10.30 OMR 3.97
388.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 SEK 17.46
$0.59 OMR 0.23
206.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.6K SEK 303.9K
$18.1K OMR 6,959
74.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K SEK 290.3K
$20.1K OMR 7,727
50.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalmar
Sohar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$152 SEK 1,459
$104 OMR 40.01
45.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.98 SEK 269
$29.51 OMR 11.36
-5.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.50 SEK 322
$89.7 OMR 34.53
-62.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalmar
Sohar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.39 SEK 312
$48.03 OMR 18.49
-32.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.98 SEK 260
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.39 SEK 148
$11.87 OMR 4.57
29.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalmar
Sohar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$146 SEK 1,409
$301 OMR 116
-51.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,205 SEK 50.1K
$6,971 OMR 2,684
-25.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalmar
Sohar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 SEK 506
$50.5 OMR 19.43
4.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.15 SEK 434
$44.86 OMR 17.27
0.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.3 SEK 821
$78.5 OMR 30.21
8.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 SEK 1,017
$45.98 OMR 17.70
129.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalmar
Sohar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$945 SEK 9,088
$486 OMR 187
94.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$812 SEK 7,807
$379 OMR 146
114.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,368 SEK 13.2K
$806 OMR 310
69.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,213 SEK 11.7K
$682 OMR 263
77.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,269 SEK 41.1K
$1,188 OMR 457
259.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,887 SEK 27.8K
$784 OMR 302
268.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalmar
Sohar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,037 SEK 29.2K
$2,465 OMR 949
23.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.93
6.33
-37.91%

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

Last update for Kalmar: August 29, 2026

Last update for Sohar: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $945 in Kalmar versus $486 in Sohar. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 23% higher in Kalmar, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Kalmar versus $21.00 in Sohar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $378 vs $347 – making Sohar the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Kalmar vs Sohar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kalmar and in Sohar compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,981 in Kalmar, $1,430 in Sohar – roughly 39% apart. Kalmar costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kalmar compared to Sohar?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,971 per month in Kalmar and $2,145 in Sohar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kalmar and Sohar?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sohar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kalmar and Sohar?
Kindergarten costs $146 per month in Kalmar and $301 in Sohar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Kalmar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sohar, where all-in costs run around $1,430, than in Kalmar at $1,981. In Sohar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kalmar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Kalmar or Sohar?
Families tend to lean toward Sohar – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Kalmar or Sohar safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Kalmar and Sohar?
If budget matters most, go with Sohar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kalmar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Kalmar vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities