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: $1,331 in Muscat versus $1,011 in Al-Buraimi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,982 in Muscat versus $1,298 in Al-Buraimi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,633 in Muscat versus $1,586 in Al-Buraimi.

Living in Muscat is roughly 32% more expensive than Al-Buraimi, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Muscat 1% lower, Al-Buraimi 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.29 OMR 2.04

$5.12 OMR 1.97

3.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.39 OMR 10.16

$25.59 OMR 9.85

3.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 OMR 3.02

$7.75 OMR 2.98

1.16%

Cappuccino

$4.95 OMR 1.90

$4.96 OMR 1.91

-0.20%

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

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.06 OMR 0.41

-3.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

$0.32 OMR 0.12

6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.16 OMR 4.68

$12.15 OMR 4.68

0.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.87 OMR 4.57

$11.65 OMR 4.49

1.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 OMR 0.46

$1.23 OMR 0.48

-2.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 OMR 0.65

$1.74 OMR 0.67

-2.30%

Eggs

$2.45 OMR 0.94

$2.47 OMR 0.95

-0.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.84 OMR 1.48

$3.87 OMR 1.49

-0.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.16 OMR 1.98

$5.08 OMR 1.96

1.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.46 OMR 3.26

$8.79 OMR 3.38

-3.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 OMR 0.98

$2.61 OMR 1.00

-2.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 OMR 0.66

$1.73 OMR 0.67

-0.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 OMR 0.68

$1.84 OMR 0.71

-3.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 OMR 0.44

$1.18 OMR 0.45

-4.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 OMR 0.38

$0.97 OMR 0.37

3.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$0.97 OMR 0.38

5.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$1.09 OMR 0.42

-5.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 OMR 0.22

$0.56 OMR 0.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.22 OMR 2.39

$6.54 OMR 2.52

-4.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.55 OMR 5.99

$15.77 OMR 6.07

-1.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.25 OMR 1.64

$4.32 OMR 1.66

-1.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.90 OMR 3.04

$7.74 OMR 2.98

2.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.3 OMR 23.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 OMR 1.22

$2.59 OMR 1.00

22.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

$0.54 OMR 0.21

48.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.34 OMR 3.98

$5.14 OMR 1.98

101.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

$0.65 OMR 0.25

-7.69%

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

$22.8K OMR 8,778

$22.5K OMR 8,664

1.31%

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

$21.8K OMR 8,405

$21.6K OMR 8,300

1.27%

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

$107 OMR 41.32

$105 OMR 40.56

1.87%

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

$40.60 OMR 15.63

$41.88 OMR 16.12

-3.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.5 OMR 27.13

$69.6 OMR 26.80

1.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.24 OMR 18.19

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.99 OMR 8.85

Cinema Ticket

$10.47 OMR 4.03

$10.36 OMR 3.99

1.06%

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

$192 OMR 74.1

$193 OMR 74.2

-0.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,757 OMR 3,756

$9,914 OMR 3,817

-1.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.7 OMR 19.53

$49.99 OMR 19.25

1.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.51 OMR 15.21

$39.43 OMR 15.18

0.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 OMR 30.56

$79.0 OMR 30.42

0.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 OMR 34.66

$88.2 OMR 33.97

2.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 OMR 238

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 OMR 158

$206 OMR 79.4

99.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,222 OMR 470

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 OMR 281

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,666 OMR 1,026

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,552 OMR 597

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,654 OMR 637

$3,613 OMR 1,391

-54.23%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Al-Buraimi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al-Buraimi pays 118% 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 $231 vs $234 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, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Al-Buraimi earns 118% less. 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 $1,331 per month in Muscat versus $1,011 in Al-Buraimi – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,011 in Al-Buraimi versus $1,331 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 32% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.