Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Al-hamra' Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Al-hamra'

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,322 per month in Muscat vs $806 in Al-hamra', rent included.

A couple spends around $1,928 per month in Muscat vs $1,207 in Al-hamra', rent included.

A family of three spends $2,533 per month in Muscat vs $1,608 in Al-hamra', rent included.

Muscat costs about 64% more than Al-hamra', driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Muscat and Al-hamra' are more affordable than the global median – Muscat 1% lower, Al-hamra' 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.29 OMR 2.04

$5.09 OMR 1.96

3.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.50 OMR 9.81

$25.63 OMR 9.86

-0.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.99 OMR 3.07

$7.87 OMR 3.03

1.52%

Cappuccino

$4.86 OMR 1.87

$4.79 OMR 1.84

1.46%

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

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$1.06 OMR 0.41

-4.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.41 OMR 4.78

$12.58 OMR 4.84

-1.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.66 OMR 4.49

$11.48 OMR 4.42

1.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$1.91 OMR 0.73

3.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

$1.18 OMR 0.46

4.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 OMR 0.66

$1.73 OMR 0.67

-1.73%

Eggs

$2.42 OMR 0.93

$2.45 OMR 0.94

-1.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.71 OMR 1.43

$3.68 OMR 1.41

0.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 OMR 1.88

$5.07 OMR 1.95

-3.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.27 OMR 3.18

$8.74 OMR 3.36

-5.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.51 OMR 0.97

$2.61 OMR 1.01

-3.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 OMR 0.66

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 OMR 0.69

$1.80 OMR 0.69

-1.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 OMR 0.44

$1.13 OMR 0.43

0.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.01 OMR 0.39

0.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$1.07 OMR 0.41

1.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 OMR 0.20

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.28 OMR 2.42

$6.43 OMR 2.47

-2.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.71 OMR 6.05

$15.62 OMR 6.01

0.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.38 OMR 1.68

$4.26 OMR 1.64

2.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 OMR 3.09

$7.60 OMR 2.92

5.53%

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

$3.21 OMR 1.24

-1.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

$0.81 OMR 0.31

-1.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.20 OMR 3.92

$10.47 OMR 4.03

-2.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 OMR 0.25

$0.61 OMR 0.23

4.92%

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

$22.5K OMR 8,652

$23.0K OMR 8,860

-2.34%

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

$21.5K OMR 8,277

$21.7K OMR 8,351

-0.89%

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

$109 OMR 41.77

$108 OMR 41.48

0.71%

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

$40.41 OMR 15.55

$40.97 OMR 15.77

-1.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.5 OMR 26.37

$69.3 OMR 26.65

-1.04%

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

$10.27 OMR 3.95

0.10%

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

$190 OMR 73.0

$195 OMR 75.2

-2.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K OMR 3,860

$9,875 OMR 3,800

1.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 OMR 19.62

$51.3 OMR 19.74

-0.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.14 OMR 15.06

$39.76 OMR 15.30

-1.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 OMR 29.86

$77.9 OMR 29.96

-0.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.6 OMR 33.71

$88.7 OMR 34.12

-1.20%

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

$4,241 OMR 1,632

-62.83%

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-hamra': July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 169% higher in Al-hamra', which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Muscat versus $26.00 in Al-hamra'. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $230 vs $230 – making Muscat the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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-hamra': Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Muscat is pricier by about 64%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,983 per month in Muscat and $1,209 in Al-hamra'. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,322 in Muscat and $806 in Al-hamra'. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $190 per month in Muscat and $195 in Al-hamra'. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-hamra', where all-in costs run around $806, than in Muscat at $1,322. In Al-hamra' it covers expenses comfortably, while in Muscat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-hamra' – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Al-hamra'. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Muscat makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.