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: $935 in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos versus $624 in Ruwi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,410 in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos versus $824 in Ruwi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,885 in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos versus $1,023 in Ruwi.

Living in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos is roughly 50% more expensive than in Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Madinat As Sultan Qaboos 32% lower, Ruwi 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.35 OMR 2.06

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.65 OMR 12.95

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 OMR 3.05

Cappuccino

$4.89 OMR 1.88

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

$0.85 OMR 0.33

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.04 OMR 5.02

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.75 OMR 4.91

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 OMR 0.88

$1.98 OMR 0.76

15.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.97 OMR 0.76

-35.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 OMR 0.70

$1.01 OMR 0.39

79.21%

Eggs

$2.89 OMR 1.11

$1.22 OMR 0.47

136.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.61 OMR 2.93

$2.02 OMR 0.78

276.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.82 OMR 2.63

$1.99 OMR 0.77

242.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.67 OMR 4.11

$4.87 OMR 1.87

119.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 OMR 1.34

$0.97 OMR 0.37

259.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 OMR 0.73

$1.03 OMR 0.40

84.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.34 OMR 0.90

$1.03 OMR 0.40

127.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.02 OMR 0.39

21.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 OMR 0.46

$0.98 OMR 0.38

23.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 OMR 0.48

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.83 OMR 0.70

$0.99 OMR 0.38

84.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 OMR 0.24

$1.03 OMR 0.40

-38.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.63 OMR 2.55

Wine (Bottle)

$15.57 OMR 6.00

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.44 OMR 2.09

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.69 OMR 3.34

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 OMR 1.24

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.59 OMR 1.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.94 OMR 3.06

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 OMR 0.25

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

$25.2K OMR 9,698

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

$22.5K OMR 8,645

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

$172 OMR 66.1

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

$31.31 OMR 12.06

$25.65 OMR 9.88

22.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.5 OMR 27.13

$77.9 OMR 30.00

-9.57%

Cinema Ticket

$10.49 OMR 4.04

$8.93 OMR 3.44

17.47%

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

$287 OMR 111

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K OMR 4,044

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 OMR 21.91

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.63 OMR 16.80

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.3 OMR 34.39

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.5 OMR 36.77

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$396 OMR 153

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$385 OMR 148

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$912 OMR 351

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 OMR 224

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,419 OMR 1,701

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

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

Last update for Madinat As Sultan Qaboos: September 1, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: August 31, 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 50% 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 $1,402 in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos and $936 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 140% 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 $935 per month in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos versus $624 in Ruwi – a 50% 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 $624 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 50% less than in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.