😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,157 in Middlesbrough versus $1,430 in Sohar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,127 in Middlesbrough versus $2,090 in Sohar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,097 in Middlesbrough versus $2,750 in Sohar.
🌍Living in Middlesbrough is roughly 51% more expensive than in Sohar, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Middlesbrough57% above, Sohar4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Middlesbrough
Sohar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.11£17.82
$6.56OMR 2.53
267.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.6£54.4
$20.53OMR 7.90
258.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.80£7.98
$8.86OMR 3.41
21.90%
Cappuccino
$4.82£3.56
$4.89OMR 1.88
-1.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43£1.80
$0.69OMR 0.27
252.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89£1.40
$0.28OMR 0.11
575.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.86£5.07
$13.04OMR 5.02
-47.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.37£5.45
$14.15OMR 5.45
-47.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Middlesbrough
Sohar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31£0.97
$2.20OMR 0.85
-40.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45£1.08
$1.07OMR 0.41
35.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.50£1.85
$3.18OMR 1.22
-21.38%
Eggs
$3.60£2.66
$2.83OMR 1.09
27.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.75£5.73
$13.76OMR 5.30
-43.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.23£5.34
$9.08OMR 3.49
-20.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.80£10.94
$14.25OMR 5.49
3.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.43£1.80
$3.25OMR 1.25
-25.23%
Banana(1kg)
$2.42£1.79
$2.13OMR 0.82
13.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.66£1.97
$2.49OMR 0.96
6.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.66£1.97
$1.21OMR 0.47
119.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77£1.31
$1.80OMR 0.69
-1.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.59£1.17
$1.77OMR 0.68
-10.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18£0.87
$1.71OMR 0.66
-30.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.13£2.31
$0.93OMR 0.36
236.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$23.42£17.31
$5.90OMR 2.27
296.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.41£9.18
$26.28OMR 10.12
-52.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.31£3.19
$3.86OMR 1.49
11.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.26£4.63
$8.61OMR 3.31
-27.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Middlesbrough
Sohar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.64£4.17
$2.54OMR 0.98
122.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$94.4£69.8
$51.5OMR 19.81
83.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.38£3.24
$3.22OMR 1.24
36.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.52OMR 0.58
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.56£20.37
$10.30OMR 3.97
167.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.04£1.51
$0.59OMR 0.23
245.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.1K£28.9K
$18.1KOMR 6,959
116.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.7K£30.1K
$20.1KOMR 7,727
102.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Middlesbrough
Sohar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$358£264
$104OMR 40.01
244.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.30£12.79
$29.51OMR 11.36
-41.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.46£31.39
$89.7OMR 34.53
-52.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Middlesbrough
Sohar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.4£38.70
$48.03OMR 18.49
9.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.53£24.79
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.99£11.08
$11.87OMR 4.57
26.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Middlesbrough
Sohar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$816£603
$301OMR 116
171.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$40.2K£29.7K
$6,971OMR 2,684
476.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Middlesbrough
Sohar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104£77.2
$50.5OMR 19.43
106.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.8£40.54
$44.86OMR 17.27
22.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114£84.5
$78.5OMR 30.21
45.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108£79.7
$45.98OMR 17.70
134.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Middlesbrough
Sohar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$966£714
$486OMR 187
98.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$701£518
$379OMR 146
84.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,134£838
$806OMR 310
40.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$989£731
$682OMR 263
44.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,188OMR 457
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$784OMR 302
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Middlesbrough
Sohar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,318£1,713
$2,465OMR 949
-5.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.64
6.33
-10.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Middlesbrough: September 1, 2026
Last update for Sohar: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $966 in Middlesbrough and $486 in Sohar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sohar pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $74.0 in Middlesbrough vs $21.00 in Sohar. Groceries flip the comparison at $316 vs $347, with Middlesbrough cheaper for home cooking.
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
Middlesbrough vs Sohar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Middlesbrough and in Sohar?
Middlesbrough and Sohar differ by about 51% in total monthly costs ($2,157 vs $1,430 including rent). Sohar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 6% lower in Sohar. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Middlesbrough and in Sohar?
Rent for a central apartment: $966 in Middlesbrough versus $486 in Sohar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Middlesbrough pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Sohar – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $74.0 in Middlesbrough. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,430 in Sohar versus $2,157 in Middlesbrough, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sohar but tight or insufficient in Middlesbrough. The gap between the two cities makes Sohar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Middlesbrough and Sohar?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Middlesbrough or Sohar safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Middlesbrough and Sohar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Middlesbrough or Sohar?
Expats usually find Sohar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Middlesbrough. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Middlesbrough vs other spots: cost of living compared