Cost of Living Comparison Between Madinat As Sultan Qaboos and Ruwi Cost of Living Comparison Between Madinat As Sultan Qaboos and Ruwi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $816 in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos versus $510 in Ruwi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,207 in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos versus $774 in Ruwi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,597 in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos versus $1,039 in Ruwi.

Living in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos is roughly 60% more expensive than in Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Madinat As Sultan Qaboos 39% lower, Ruwi 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.07 OMR 1.95

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.53 OMR 10.21

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 OMR 3.01

Cappuccino

$5.02 OMR 1.93

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

$1.06 OMR 0.41

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 OMR 0.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.50 OMR 4.81

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.84 OMR 4.56

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$2.02 OMR 0.78

-1.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$1.95 OMR 0.75

-37.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 OMR 0.67

$0.98 OMR 0.38

76.53%

Eggs

$2.35 OMR 0.91

$1.18 OMR 0.45

99.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.69 OMR 1.42

$2.05 OMR 0.79

80.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.91 OMR 1.89

$2.05 OMR 0.79

139.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.28 OMR 3.19

$5.07 OMR 1.95

63.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.52 OMR 0.97

$0.99 OMR 0.38

154.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 OMR 0.65

$0.98 OMR 0.38

71.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

$1.02 OMR 0.39

81.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

$0.98 OMR 0.38

19.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 OMR 0.36

$1.01 OMR 0.39

-5.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 OMR 0.41

$1.02 OMR 0.39

4.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 OMR 0.20

$0.99 OMR 0.38

-46.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.25 OMR 2.41

Wine (Bottle)

$15.81 OMR 6.09

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.39 OMR 1.69

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.68 OMR 2.96

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 OMR 1.16

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 OMR 0.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.57 OMR 4.07

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 OMR 0.25

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

$23.1K OMR 8,893

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

$21.4K OMR 8,226

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

$107 OMR 41.12

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

$40.73 OMR 15.67

$25.58 OMR 9.84

59.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.9 OMR 27.27

$78.5 OMR 30.21

-9.74%

Cinema Ticket

$10.28 OMR 3.95

$9.03 OMR 3.48

13.84%

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

$189 OMR 72.9

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K OMR 3,867

$12.8K OMR 4,910

-21.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.39 OMR 19.01

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.11 OMR 15.05

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.7 OMR 30.30

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.3 OMR 33.59

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 OMR 149

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 OMR 98.1

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$900 OMR 346

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 OMR 224

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,481 OMR 1,724

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 Madinat As Sultan Qaboos: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: July 13, 2026

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

Madinat As Sultan Qaboos vs Ruwi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ruwi wins on cost – living expenses run 60% lower than in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ruwi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,225 in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos and $765 in Ruwi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 93% higher in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $816 per month in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos versus $510 in Ruwi – a 60% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Ruwi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ruwi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $510 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ruwi hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Madinat As Sultan Qaboos and Ruwi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ruwi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.