😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,988 in Middlesbrough versus $1,470 in Sohar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,839 in Middlesbrough versus $2,139 in Sohar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,689 in Middlesbrough versus $2,808 in Sohar.
😐Living in Middlesbrough is roughly 35% more expensive than Sohar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Middlesbrough48% above, Sohar9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Middlesbrough
Sohar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.34£15.07
$6.69OMR 2.57
204.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.6£54.5
$20.52OMR 7.88
258.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.17£7.53
$9.30OMR 3.57
9.35%
Cappuccino
$4.26£3.16
$6.95OMR 2.67
-38.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93£1.43
$0.66OMR 0.25
192.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43£1.06
$0.27OMR 0.10
429.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.54£4.10
$13.25OMR 5.09
-58.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.35£3.96
$14.44OMR 5.55
-62.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Middlesbrough
Sohar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61£1.19
$2.24OMR 0.86
-28.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.64£1.21
$1.05OMR 0.41
56.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.63£1.95
$3.33OMR 1.28
-21.02%
Eggs
$4.11£3.04
$2.75OMR 1.05
49.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.82£5.05
$13.55OMR 5.20
-49.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.64£5.66
$9.26OMR 3.56
-17.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.46£7.01
$14.02OMR 5.38
-32.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.56£1.90
$3.38OMR 1.30
-24.26%
Banana(1kg)
$2.25£1.67
$2.11OMR 0.81
6.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.23£1.65
$2.58OMR 0.99
-13.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.78£2.06
$1.19OMR 0.46
133.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.75£1.30
$1.74OMR 0.67
0.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.37£1.01
$1.87OMR 0.72
-26.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44£1.07
$1.73OMR 0.66
-16.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87£1.38
$0.97OMR 0.37
92.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.25£13.52
$5.89OMR 2.26
209.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.07£9.69
$25.74OMR 9.88
-49.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.78£2.80
$3.96OMR 1.52
-4.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.37£3.98
$8.77OMR 3.37
-38.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Middlesbrough
Sohar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.14£3.06
$2.59OMR 0.99
59.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$96.5£71.5
$51.8OMR 19.87
86.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.17£4.57
$3.19OMR 1.23
93.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19£0.88
$1.55OMR 0.59
-23.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.42£12.17
$10.50OMR 4.03
56.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87£1.39
$0.63OMR 0.24
196.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K£22.8K
$18.1KOMR 6,941
69.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K£29.0K
$20.1KOMR 7,718
94.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Middlesbrough
Sohar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$286£212
$104OMR 39.87
175.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.87£12.50
$29.22OMR 11.22
-42.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.36£31.39
$85.3OMR 32.75
-50.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Middlesbrough
Sohar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.6£39.74
$52.5OMR 20.16
2.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.90£15.48
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.82£9.50
$11.66OMR 4.48
9.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Middlesbrough
Sohar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$932£691
$271OMR 104
244.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.5K£15.2K
$7,031OMR 2,700
192.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Middlesbrough
Sohar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.4£60.4
$51.0OMR 19.59
59.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.84£31.75
$43.93OMR 16.87
-2.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.9£64.4
$80.3OMR 30.84
8.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.0£54.1
$47.72OMR 18.33
52.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Middlesbrough
Sohar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$911£675
$504OMR 193
80.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$715£530
$383OMR 147
86.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,036£767
$771OMR 296
34.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$968£717
$668OMR 257
44.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,621£1,942
$1,149OMR 441
128.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,236£1,657
$784OMR 301
185.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Middlesbrough
Sohar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,655£1,967
$2,501OMR 960
6.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.6
5.62
-0.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Middlesbrough: April 12, 2026
Last update for Sohar: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $911 in Middlesbrough and $504 in Sohar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Middlesbrough pays 6% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $74 in Middlesbrough vs $21 in Sohar. Groceries flip the comparison at $287 vs $348, 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 Sohar?
Middlesbrough and Sohar differ by about 35% in total monthly costs ($1,988 vs $1,470 including rent). Sohar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Middlesbrough or Sohar?
Middlesbrough pays 6% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Middlesbrough and Sohar?
Rent for a central apartment: $911 in Middlesbrough versus $504 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 21% 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 $1,470 in Sohar versus $1,988 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 35% 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