Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Al-Buraimi Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Al-Buraimi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,525 in Muscat versus $923 in Al-Buraimi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,272 in Muscat versus $1,351 in Al-Buraimi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,019 in Muscat versus $1,778 in Al-Buraimi.

Living in Muscat is roughly 65% more expensive than in Al-Buraimi, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Muscat is 11% above, Al-Buraimi is 33% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.34 OMR 2.06

$5.07 OMR 1.95

5.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.00 OMR 13.09

$13.24 OMR 5.10

156.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.74 OMR 2.98

$7.84 OMR 3.02

-1.28%

Cappuccino

$4.73 OMR 1.82

$4.87 OMR 1.87

-2.87%

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

$0.86 OMR 0.33

$0.84 OMR 0.32

2.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 OMR 0.11

$0.27 OMR 0.10

7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.07 OMR 5.03

$12.84 OMR 4.94

1.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.79 OMR 4.92

$12.96 OMR 4.99

-1.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 OMR 0.87

$2.31 OMR 0.89

-2.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 OMR 0.48

$1.24 OMR 0.48

0.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 OMR 0.73

$1.53 OMR 0.59

24.18%

Eggs

$2.94 OMR 1.13

$2.91 OMR 1.12

1.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.65 OMR 2.94

$6.62 OMR 2.55

15.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.57 OMR 2.53

$5.56 OMR 2.14

18.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.54 OMR 4.06

$8.90 OMR 3.42

18.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.41 OMR 1.31

$2.12 OMR 0.82

60.85%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$1.81 OMR 0.70

10.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 OMR 0.89

$2.06 OMR 0.79

12.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 OMR 0.46

$1.25 OMR 0.48

-4.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$1.21 OMR 0.47

0.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 OMR 0.50

$0.99 OMR 0.38

30.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.80 OMR 0.69

$0.84 OMR 0.33

114.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 OMR 0.26

$0.66 OMR 0.25

1.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.30 OMR 2.43

$5.06 OMR 1.95

24.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.43 OMR 5.94

$15.70 OMR 6.04

-1.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.68 OMR 2.19

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.72 OMR 3.36

$8.86 OMR 3.41

-1.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.7 OMR 29.52

$39.22 OMR 15.10

95.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 OMR 1.24

$3.28 OMR 1.26

-2.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.59 OMR 1.00

$1.27 OMR 0.49

103.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.82 OMR 3.01

$7.86 OMR 3.03

-0.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

$0.64 OMR 0.25

-4.69%

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

$25.1K OMR 9,665

$25.3K OMR 9,741

-0.78%

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

$22.2K OMR 8,564

$22.4K OMR 8,610

-0.53%

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

$170 OMR 65.5

$76.7 OMR 29.53

121.60%

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

$30.94 OMR 11.91

$31.38 OMR 12.08

-1.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 OMR 26.92

$69.1 OMR 26.59

1.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.7 OMR 24.14

$64.0 OMR 24.63

-2.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.20 OMR 11.24

Cinema Ticket

$10.34 OMR 3.98

$7.86 OMR 3.03

31.55%

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

$289 OMR 111

$264 OMR 102

9.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K OMR 4,110

$10.7K OMR 4,121

-0.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 OMR 21.42

$56.0 OMR 21.56

-0.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.19 OMR 16.63

$42.79 OMR 16.47

0.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.0 OMR 35.43

$92.5 OMR 35.63

-0.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.0 OMR 36.95

$97.3 OMR 37.47

-1.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$673 OMR 259

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 OMR 175

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,366 OMR 526

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$857 OMR 330

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

$3,575 OMR 1,376

-53.55%

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 Al-Buraimi: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al-Buraimi pays 115% 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 $13.00 in Al-Buraimi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $258 per month, with Al-Buraimi 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 Al-Buraimi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Buraimi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 65% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 115% lower in Al-Buraimi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

A monthly transit pass in Al-Buraimi runs roughly 95% less than in Muscat. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $289 in Muscat versus $264 in Al-Buraimi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $923 in Al-Buraimi versus $1,525 in Muscat, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Buraimi but tight or insufficient in Muscat. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Buraimi 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 Al-Buraimi 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 Al-Buraimi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.