Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Al Ghubra Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Al Ghubra

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,322 in Muscat versus $355 in Al Ghubra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,928 in Muscat versus $473 in Al Ghubra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,533 in Muscat versus $591 in Al Ghubra.

Living in Muscat is roughly 273% more expensive than in Al Ghubra, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Muscat 1% lower, Al Ghubra 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.29 OMR 2.04

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.50 OMR 9.81

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.99 OMR 3.07

Cappuccino

$4.86 OMR 1.87

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

$1.01 OMR 0.39

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

$0.25 OMR 0.10

36.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.41 OMR 4.78

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.66 OMR 4.49

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$1.84 OMR 0.71

7.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 OMR 0.66

$2.13 OMR 0.82

-20.19%

Eggs

$2.42 OMR 0.93

$5.10 OMR 1.96

-52.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.71 OMR 1.43

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 OMR 1.88

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.27 OMR 3.18

Apples (1kg)

$2.51 OMR 0.97

$2.11 OMR 0.81

18.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 OMR 0.66

$1.86 OMR 0.72

-7.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 OMR 0.69

$1.83 OMR 0.70

-2.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 OMR 0.44

$1.27 OMR 0.49

-10.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$0.62 OMR 0.24

64.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$0.68 OMR 0.26

44.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 OMR 0.20

$0.54 OMR 0.21

-3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.28 OMR 2.42

Wine (Bottle)

$15.71 OMR 6.05

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.38 OMR 1.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 OMR 3.09

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

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.20 OMR 3.92

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 OMR 0.25

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

$22.5K OMR 8,652

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

$21.5K OMR 8,277

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

$109 OMR 41.77

$113 OMR 43.33

-3.60%

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

$40.41 OMR 15.55

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.5 OMR 26.37

$85.8 OMR 33.01

-20.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.75 OMR 18.76

$43.51 OMR 16.74

12.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.23 OMR 8.94

$37.04 OMR 14.25

-37.28%

Cinema Ticket

$10.28 OMR 3.96

$8.88 OMR 3.42

15.77%

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

$190 OMR 73.0

$182 OMR 69.9

4.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K OMR 3,860

$10.5K OMR 4,037

-4.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 OMR 19.62

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.14 OMR 15.06

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 OMR 29.86

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.6 OMR 33.71

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 OMR 237

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$407 OMR 157

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

$3,096 OMR 1,191

-49.08%

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 Ghubra: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al Ghubra pays 96% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Ghubra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Muscat and Al Ghubra differ by about 273% in total monthly costs ($1,322 vs $355 including rent). Al Ghubra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 96% lower in Al Ghubra. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $190 in Muscat versus $182 in Al Ghubra. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $1,322 per month in Muscat versus $355 in Al Ghubra – a 273% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $355 in Al Ghubra versus $1,322 in Muscat, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al Ghubra but tight or insufficient in Muscat. The gap between the two cities makes Al Ghubra 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 Ghubra 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 Ghubra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 273% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.