Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and 'ibri Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and 'ibri

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,525 in Muscat versus $1,038 in 'ibri.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,272 in Muscat versus $1,615 in 'ibri.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,019 in Muscat versus $2,192 in 'ibri.

Living in Muscat is roughly 47% more expensive than in 'ibri, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Muscat is 11% above, 'ibri is 24% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.34 OMR 2.06

$5.15 OMR 1.98

3.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.00 OMR 13.09

$33.97 OMR 13.08

0.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.74 OMR 2.98

$7.58 OMR 2.92

2.11%

Cappuccino

$4.73 OMR 1.82

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

$0.86 OMR 0.33

$0.90 OMR 0.35

-4.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 OMR 0.11

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.07 OMR 5.03

$12.81 OMR 4.93

2.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.79 OMR 4.92

$13.23 OMR 5.09

-3.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 OMR 0.87

$1.31 OMR 0.50

71.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 OMR 0.48

$0.76 OMR 0.29

64.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 OMR 0.73

$1.33 OMR 0.51

42.86%

Eggs

$2.94 OMR 1.13

$2.11 OMR 0.81

39.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.65 OMR 2.94

$7.66 OMR 2.95

-0.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.57 OMR 2.53

$5.08 OMR 1.95

29.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.54 OMR 4.06

$10.46 OMR 4.03

0.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.41 OMR 1.31

$2.64 OMR 1.02

29.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$1.93 OMR 0.74

3.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 OMR 0.89

$1.60 OMR 0.62

45.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 OMR 0.46

$1.06 OMR 0.41

13.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$1.06 OMR 0.41

15.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 OMR 0.50

$0.80 OMR 0.31

61.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.80 OMR 0.69

$0.76 OMR 0.29

136.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 OMR 0.26

$0.54 OMR 0.21

24.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.30 OMR 2.43

$6.34 OMR 2.44

-0.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.43 OMR 5.94

$15.31 OMR 5.89

0.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.68 OMR 2.19

$5.71 OMR 2.20

-0.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.72 OMR 3.36

$8.90 OMR 3.43

-2.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.7 OMR 29.52

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 OMR 1.24

$2.56 OMR 0.99

25.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.59 OMR 1.00

$1.34 OMR 0.51

93.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.82 OMR 3.01

$7.71 OMR 2.97

1.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

$0.62 OMR 0.24

-1.61%

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

$25.1K OMR 9,665

$25.9K OMR 9,967

-3.03%

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

$22.2K OMR 8,564

$22.4K OMR 8,611

-0.54%

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

$170 OMR 65.5

$79.0 OMR 30.40

115.29%

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

$30.94 OMR 11.91

$30.98 OMR 11.93

-0.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 OMR 26.92

$70.1 OMR 26.97

-0.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.7 OMR 24.14

$76.5 OMR 29.45

-18.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.20 OMR 11.24

Cinema Ticket

$10.34 OMR 3.98

$10.33 OMR 3.98

0.10%

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

$289 OMR 111

$290 OMR 112

-0.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K OMR 4,110

$10.5K OMR 4,040

1.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 OMR 21.42

$56.9 OMR 21.90

-2.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.19 OMR 16.63

$43.50 OMR 16.75

-0.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.0 OMR 35.43

$89.2 OMR 34.34

3.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.0 OMR 36.95

$94.7 OMR 36.45

1.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$673 OMR 259

$232 OMR 89.4

189.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 OMR 175

$184 OMR 70.7

147.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,366 OMR 526

$476 OMR 183

187.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$857 OMR 330

$372 OMR 143

130.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,835 OMR 1,092

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,595 OMR 614

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,660 OMR 639

$2,956 OMR 1,138

-43.82%

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 Muscat: September 1, 2026

Last update for 'ibri: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $673 in Muscat and $232 in 'ibri. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

'ibri pays 78% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Muscat vs $34.00 in 'ibri. Groceries flip the comparison at $284 vs $242, with 'ibri 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

Muscat vs 'ibri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Muscat and 'ibri differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($1,525 vs $1,038 including rent). 'ibri is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 78% lower in 'ibri. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $673 in Muscat versus $232 in 'ibri. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Muscat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,525 per month in Muscat versus $1,038 in 'ibri – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,038 in 'ibri versus $1,525 in Muscat, a $2,000 budget is realistic in 'ibri but tight or insufficient in Muscat. The gap between the two cities makes 'ibri the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Muscat and 'ibri 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 'ibri gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.