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: $1,328 in Muscat versus $809 in Adam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,944 in Muscat versus $1,201 in Adam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,560 in Muscat versus $1,593 in Adam.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Muscat 1% lower, Adam 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 OMR 2.03

$5.31 OMR 2.04

-0.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.85 OMR 9.95

$25.54 OMR 9.83

1.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.58 OMR 2.92

$7.78 OMR 3.00

-2.57%

Cappuccino

$5.00 OMR 1.93

$4.92 OMR 1.89

1.63%

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

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$1.05 OMR 0.40

-3.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.14 OMR 4.67

$12.11 OMR 4.66

0.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.88 OMR 4.57

$11.80 OMR 4.54

0.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$1.90 OMR 0.73

5.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.19 OMR 0.46

4.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$1.67 OMR 0.64

4.19%

Eggs

$2.36 OMR 0.91

$2.34 OMR 0.90

0.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.88 OMR 1.49

$3.71 OMR 1.43

4.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.90 OMR 1.88

$4.97 OMR 1.91

-1.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.39 OMR 3.23

$8.56 OMR 3.29

-1.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.48 OMR 0.95

$2.51 OMR 0.96

-1.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 OMR 0.65

$1.75 OMR 0.67

-3.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 OMR 0.72

$1.85 OMR 0.71

0.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 OMR 0.43

$1.18 OMR 0.45

-5.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 OMR 0.37

$0.99 OMR 0.38

-4.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.03 OMR 0.40

-4.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 OMR 0.42

$1.04 OMR 0.40

3.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 OMR 0.20

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.53 OMR 2.51

$6.55 OMR 2.52

-0.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.84 OMR 6.10

$15.50 OMR 5.97

2.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.39 OMR 1.69

$4.22 OMR 1.62

4.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.98 OMR 3.07

$7.58 OMR 2.92

5.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.1 OMR 24.29

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 OMR 1.21

$3.17 OMR 1.22

-0.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 OMR 0.29

$0.80 OMR 0.31

-6.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.44 OMR 4.02

$10.54 OMR 4.06

-0.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 OMR 0.25

$0.61 OMR 0.23

6.56%

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

$23.3K OMR 8,979

$23.2K OMR 8,938

0.45%

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

$21.8K OMR 8,376

$21.8K OMR 8,400

-0.29%

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

$106 OMR 40.94

$107 OMR 41.21

-0.64%

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

$40.96 OMR 15.77

$41.52 OMR 15.98

-1.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 OMR 26.67

$70.8 OMR 27.25

-2.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.71 OMR 18.36

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.92 OMR 8.82

Cinema Ticket

$10.45 OMR 4.02

$10.26 OMR 3.95

1.85%

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

$192 OMR 73.8

$189 OMR 72.9

1.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,734 OMR 3,747

$9,873 OMR 3,800

-1.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.1 OMR 19.29

$50.0 OMR 19.26

0.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.73 OMR 15.29

$39.87 OMR 15.35

-0.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.1 OMR 30.46

$79.5 OMR 30.61

-0.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.2 OMR 34.71

$88.6 OMR 34.09

1.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$620 OMR 239

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 OMR 158

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,230 OMR 473

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 OMR 279

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,661 OMR 1,024

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,567 OMR 603

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,703 OMR 656

$2,625 OMR 1,010

-35.12%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Adam: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Adam pays 54% 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. Groceries flip the comparison at $231 vs $228, with Adam 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 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 54% 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 $192 in Muscat versus $189 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 $809 in Adam versus $1,328 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.