Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalmar and SoharCost of Living Comparison Between Kalmar and Sohar
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,926 per month in Kalmar vs $1,428 in Sohar, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,839 per month in Kalmar vs $2,124 in Sohar, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,751 per month in Kalmar vs $2,820 in Sohar, rent included.
😐Kalmar costs about 35% more than Sohar, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Kalmar and Sohar sit above the global median – Kalmar by 44%, Sohar by 7%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalmar
Sohar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.76SEK 152
$6.65OMR 2.56
136.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.7SEK 720
$21.08OMR 8.11
254.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.34SEK 99.7
$9.12OMR 3.51
13.38%
Cappuccino
$4.68SEK 45.05
$7.01OMR 2.70
-33.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81SEK 27.10
$0.64OMR 0.25
339.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73SEK 26.33
$0.25OMR 0.10
992.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.90SEK 95.4
$13.09OMR 5.04
-24.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.59SEK 73.1
$14.16OMR 5.45
-46.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalmar
Sohar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50SEK 14.50
$2.27OMR 0.87
-33.92%
White Bread(500g)
$2.48SEK 23.88
$1.06OMR 0.41
133.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.71SEK 26.14
$3.33OMR 1.28
-18.62%
Eggs
$4.88SEK 47.04
$2.73OMR 1.05
78.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.18SEK 98.1
$13.68OMR 5.26
-25.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.54SEK 111
$8.89OMR 3.42
29.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.07SEK 155
$14.06OMR 5.41
14.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.67SEK 25.72
$3.30OMR 1.27
-19.09%
Banana(1kg)
$2.73SEK 26.35
$2.10OMR 0.81
30.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.17SEK 30.54
$2.58OMR 0.99
22.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.78SEK 36.43
$1.17OMR 0.45
223.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49SEK 14.31
$1.75OMR 0.67
-14.86%
Onion(1kg)
$2.33SEK 22.42
$1.83OMR 0.71
27.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.07SEK 19.95
$1.74OMR 0.67
18.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.68SEK 16.16
$0.98OMR 0.38
71.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12SEK 68.6
$5.85OMR 2.25
21.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.11SEK 87.8
$25.86OMR 9.95
-64.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00SEK 19.31
$3.96OMR 1.52
-49.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72SEK 16.53
$8.79OMR 3.38
-80.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalmar
Sohar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98SEK 28.73
$2.62OMR 1.01
13.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.1SEK 839
$51.3OMR 19.74
69.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.08SEK 68.3
$3.34OMR 1.28
111.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59SEK 15.36
$1.60OMR 0.62
-0.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$52.6SEK 507
$10.37OMR 3.99
407.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91SEK 18.36
$0.60OMR 0.23
218.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6KSEK 265.6K
$18.2KOMR 7,016
51.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1KSEK 270.7K
$20.6KOMR 7,923
36.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalmar
Sohar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117SEK 1,125
$102OMR 39.11
14.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.56SEK 275
$29.28OMR 11.27
-2.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.64SEK 295
$87.1OMR 33.53
-64.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalmar
Sohar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.77SEK 287
$52.4OMR 20.15
-43.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.73SEK 152
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.39SEK 139
$11.69OMR 4.50
23.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalmar
Sohar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$146SEK 1,406
$267OMR 103
-45.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,077SEK 39.3K
$7,155OMR 2,754
-43.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalmar
Sohar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.2SEK 619
$50.6OMR 19.48
26.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.00SEK 202
$43.88OMR 16.89
-52.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.4SEK 582
$80.2OMR 30.88
-24.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.9SEK 731
$46.41OMR 17.86
63.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalmar
Sohar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947SEK 9,125
$497OMR 191
90.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$812SEK 7,820
$383OMR 148
111.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,363SEK 13.1K
$780OMR 300
74.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203SEK 11.6K
$683OMR 263
76.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,262SEK 41.1K
$1,184OMR 456
260.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,835SEK 27.3K
$775OMR 298
265.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalmar
Sohar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,928SEK 28.2K
$2,506OMR 965
16.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.66
5.62
-17.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kalmar: July 13, 2026
Last update for Sohar: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Kalmar versus $497 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 17% 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 $75.0 in Kalmar versus $21.00 in Sohar. Groceries tell a different story – $337 in Kalmar vs $347 in Sohar – so Kalmar wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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: $1,926 in Kalmar, $1,428 in Sohar – roughly 35% apart. Kalmar costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kalmar compared to Sohar?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,889 per month in Kalmar and $2,142 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 $267 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?
Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Kalmar – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
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 $1,428, than in Kalmar at $1,926. 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.