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: $1,519 in Muscat versus $945 in Adam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,303 in Muscat versus $1,398 in Adam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,087 in Muscat versus $1,851 in Adam.

Living in Muscat is roughly 61% more expensive than in Adam, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Muscat is 10% above, Adam is 31% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.22 OMR 2.01

$5.14 OMR 1.98

1.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.29 OMR 13.20

$33.14 OMR 12.76

3.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.88 OMR 3.03

$7.72 OMR 2.97

2.07%

Cappuccino

$4.79 OMR 1.84

$4.96 OMR 1.91

-3.43%

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

$0.89 OMR 0.34

$0.85 OMR 0.33

4.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 OMR 0.11

$0.27 OMR 0.10

7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.75 OMR 4.91

$13.02 OMR 5.01

-2.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.96 OMR 4.99

$12.95 OMR 4.98

0.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.36 OMR 0.91

$2.23 OMR 0.86

5.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.23 OMR 0.47

3.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 OMR 0.71

$1.88 OMR 0.72

-2.13%

Eggs

$2.85 OMR 1.10

$2.86 OMR 1.10

-0.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 OMR 2.90

$7.48 OMR 2.88

0.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.80 OMR 2.62

$6.84 OMR 2.63

-0.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.36 OMR 3.99

$10.51 OMR 4.05

-1.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 OMR 1.32

$3.40 OMR 1.31

0.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 OMR 0.75

$1.90 OMR 0.73

2.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 OMR 0.93

$2.34 OMR 0.90

2.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 OMR 0.49

$1.27 OMR 0.49

-0.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 OMR 0.46

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.23 OMR 0.47

0.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

$1.77 OMR 0.68

4.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 OMR 0.24

$0.66 OMR 0.25

-7.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.45 OMR 2.48

$6.54 OMR 2.52

-1.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.36 OMR 5.91

$15.74 OMR 6.06

-2.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 OMR 2.09

$5.53 OMR 2.13

-1.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.04 OMR 3.48

$9.13 OMR 3.52

-0.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.7 OMR 29.51

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 OMR 1.28

$3.31 OMR 1.27

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 OMR 1.01

$2.57 OMR 0.99

1.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.90 OMR 3.04

$7.77 OMR 2.99

1.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 OMR 0.24

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

$25.0K OMR 9,618

$25.6K OMR 9,862

-2.47%

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

$23.0K OMR 8,863

$22.3K OMR 8,569

3.43%

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

$173 OMR 66.4

$172 OMR 66.2

0.37%

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

$31.32 OMR 12.05

$31.18 OMR 12.00

0.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.0 OMR 26.56

$69.6 OMR 26.80

-0.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.5 OMR 24.04

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.49 OMR 11.35

Cinema Ticket

$10.31 OMR 3.97

$10.52 OMR 4.05

-2.00%

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

$293 OMR 113

$289 OMR 111

1.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K OMR 4,120

$10.3K OMR 3,975

3.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 OMR 21.36

$56.9 OMR 21.91

-2.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.08 OMR 16.97

$43.63 OMR 16.79

1.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.7 OMR 34.90

$90.9 OMR 34.99

-0.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.1 OMR 36.24

$94.5 OMR 36.39

-0.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$665 OMR 256

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$457 OMR 176

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,340 OMR 516

$264 OMR 102

407.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$848 OMR 326

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,837 OMR 1,092

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 OMR 612

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,698 OMR 654

$2,640 OMR 1,016

-35.67%

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 6, 2026

Last update for Adam: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Adam pays 55% 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 $33.00 in Adam. Groceries flip the comparison at $284 vs $284, with Muscat 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, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 55% lower in Adam. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $293 in Muscat versus $289 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 $33.00 versus $34.00 in Muscat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $945 in Adam versus $1,519 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 61% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.