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