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: $1,322 in Muscat versus $1,009 in Al-Buraimi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,928 in Muscat versus $1,303 in Al-Buraimi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,533 in Muscat versus $1,596 in Al-Buraimi.

Living in Muscat is roughly 31% more expensive than in Al-Buraimi, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Muscat 1% lower, Al-Buraimi 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.29 OMR 2.04

$5.28 OMR 2.03

0.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.50 OMR 9.81

$25.64 OMR 9.87

-0.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.99 OMR 3.07

$7.58 OMR 2.92

5.41%

Cappuccino

$4.86 OMR 1.87

$4.76 OMR 1.83

2.10%

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

$1.01 OMR 0.39

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.41 OMR 4.78

$12.37 OMR 4.76

0.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.66 OMR 4.49

$11.87 OMR 4.57

-1.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$1.99 OMR 0.76

-0.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 OMR 0.66

$1.65 OMR 0.63

3.03%

Eggs

$2.42 OMR 0.93

$2.40 OMR 0.92

0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.71 OMR 1.43

$3.81 OMR 1.46

-2.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 OMR 1.88

$5.13 OMR 1.97

-4.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.27 OMR 3.18

$8.77 OMR 3.38

-5.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.51 OMR 0.97

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 OMR 0.66

$1.74 OMR 0.67

-1.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 OMR 0.69

$1.85 OMR 0.71

-3.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 OMR 0.44

$1.13 OMR 0.44

0.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$0.97 OMR 0.37

1.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$1.05 OMR 0.40

3.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 OMR 0.20

$0.56 OMR 0.21

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.28 OMR 2.42

$6.44 OMR 2.48

-2.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.71 OMR 6.05

$15.73 OMR 6.05

-0.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.38 OMR 1.68

$4.42 OMR 1.70

-0.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 OMR 3.09

$7.79 OMR 3.00

2.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.0 OMR 24.25

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 OMR 1.22

$2.61 OMR 1.01

21.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

$0.53 OMR 0.21

50.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.20 OMR 3.92

$5.34 OMR 2.06

91.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 OMR 0.25

$0.59 OMR 0.23

8.47%

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

$22.5K OMR 8,652

$23.3K OMR 8,966

-3.50%

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

$21.5K OMR 8,277

$21.5K OMR 8,288

-0.13%

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

$109 OMR 41.77

$105 OMR 40.58

2.95%

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

$40.41 OMR 15.55

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.5 OMR 26.37

$69.4 OMR 26.71

-1.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.75 OMR 18.76

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.23 OMR 8.94

Cinema Ticket

$10.28 OMR 3.96

$10.24 OMR 3.94

0.39%

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

$190 OMR 73.0

$196 OMR 75.3

-3.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K OMR 3,860

$9,765 OMR 3,758

2.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 OMR 19.62

$50.4 OMR 19.41

1.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.14 OMR 15.06

$40.07 OMR 15.42

-2.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 OMR 29.86

$79.8 OMR 30.70

-2.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.6 OMR 33.71

$89.1 OMR 34.29

-1.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 OMR 237

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$407 OMR 157

$208 OMR 79.9

95.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 OMR 478

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$714 OMR 275

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,866 OMR 1,103

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,593 OMR 613

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,576 OMR 607

$3,590 OMR 1,382

-56.09%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Al-Buraimi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al-Buraimi pays 128% 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 Al-Buraimi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $233 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 Al-Buraimi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Buraimi is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 128% 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.

Shoppers in Muscat pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,322 per month in Muscat versus $1,009 in Al-Buraimi – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,009 in Al-Buraimi versus $1,322 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 31% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.