Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Adam Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Adam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,346 in Muscat versus $819 in Adam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,982 in Muscat versus $1,212 in Adam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,619 in Muscat versus $1,605 in Adam.

Living in Muscat is roughly 64% more expensive than Adam, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Muscat is 1% above, Adam is 39% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.36 OMR 2.06

$5.07 OMR 1.95

5.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.15 OMR 10.04

$26.41 OMR 10.14

-0.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.94 OMR 3.05

$7.89 OMR 3.03

0.63%

Cappuccino

$5.03 OMR 1.93

$4.94 OMR 1.90

1.82%

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

$1.05 OMR 0.40

$1.01 OMR 0.39

3.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 OMR 0.12

$0.31 OMR 0.12

3.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.51 OMR 4.81

$12.39 OMR 4.76

0.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.65 OMR 4.47

$11.77 OMR 4.52

-1.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 OMR 0.74

$1.92 OMR 0.74

1.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$1.17 OMR 0.45

4.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 OMR 0.66

$1.73 OMR 0.66

-1.16%

Eggs

$2.37 OMR 0.91

$2.35 OMR 0.90

0.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.67 OMR 1.41

$3.72 OMR 1.43

-1.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 OMR 1.95

$4.86 OMR 1.87

4.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.40 OMR 3.23

$8.77 OMR 3.37

-4.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.52 OMR 0.97

$2.57 OMR 0.99

-1.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 OMR 0.66

$1.66 OMR 0.64

3.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 OMR 0.68

$1.83 OMR 0.70

-3.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 OMR 0.44

$1.18 OMR 0.45

-4.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 OMR 0.38

$0.93 OMR 0.36

7.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$1.01 OMR 0.39

-3.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 OMR 0.41

$1.04 OMR 0.40

3.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 OMR 0.21

$0.56 OMR 0.21

-1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.36 OMR 2.44

$6.44 OMR 2.47

-1.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.50 OMR 5.95

$15.56 OMR 5.97

-0.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.37 OMR 1.68

$4.38 OMR 1.68

-0.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.99 OMR 3.07

$8.03 OMR 3.08

-0.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.0 OMR 23.81

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 OMR 1.18

$3.14 OMR 1.21

-2.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 OMR 0.29

$0.80 OMR 0.31

-3.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.47 OMR 4.02

$10.43 OMR 4.00

0.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 OMR 0.25

$0.64 OMR 0.24

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

$22.6K OMR 8,695

$22.7K OMR 8,730

-0.41%

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

$21.4K OMR 8,228

$21.9K OMR 8,401

-2.06%

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

$109 OMR 41.88

$107 OMR 41.04

2.06%

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

$41.31 OMR 15.86

$40.67 OMR 15.62

1.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.8 OMR 26.41

$69.9 OMR 26.84

-1.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.18 OMR 18.50

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.11 OMR 8.87

Cinema Ticket

$10.27 OMR 3.94

$10.36 OMR 3.98

-0.87%

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

$189 OMR 72.7

$193 OMR 74.0

-1.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,697 OMR 3,723

$10.0K OMR 3,842

-3.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 OMR 19.56

$49.69 OMR 19.08

2.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.59 OMR 15.20

$39.32 OMR 15.10

0.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 OMR 30.48

$78.3 OMR 30.05

1.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.4 OMR 34.69

$87.3 OMR 33.53

3.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$611 OMR 235

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 OMR 158

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,230 OMR 472

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$733 OMR 281

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,609 OMR 1,002

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,545 OMR 593

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,746 OMR 670

$2,591 OMR 995

-32.61%

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 Muscat: April 26, 2026

Last update for Adam: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Adam pays 48% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $26.00 in Muscat vs $26.00 in Adam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $230 per month, with Muscat cheaper across the board.

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 Adam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Adam is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Adam earns 48% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $189 in Muscat versus $193 in Adam. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Adam – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $26.00 in Muscat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $819 in Adam versus $1,346 in Muscat, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Adam but tight or insufficient in Muscat. The gap between the two cities makes Adam 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 Adam 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 Adam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.