Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Al-masna'ah Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Al-masna'ah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,519 per month in Muscat vs $931 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,303 per month in Muscat vs $1,409 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,087 per month in Muscat vs $1,887 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

Muscat costs about 63% more than Al-masna'ah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Muscat sits 10% above the global median, while Al-masna'ah is 33% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.22 OMR 2.01

$5.31 OMR 2.04

-1.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.29 OMR 13.20

$33.62 OMR 12.94

1.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.88 OMR 3.03

$7.63 OMR 2.94

3.28%

Cappuccino

$4.79 OMR 1.84

$4.94 OMR 1.90

-3.04%

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

$0.89 OMR 0.34

$0.90 OMR 0.35

-1.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 OMR 0.11

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.75 OMR 4.91

$12.78 OMR 4.92

-0.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.96 OMR 4.99

$12.87 OMR 4.95

0.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.36 OMR 0.91

$2.29 OMR 0.88

3.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.29 OMR 0.50

-1.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 OMR 0.71

$1.87 OMR 0.72

-1.60%

Eggs

$2.85 OMR 1.10

$2.86 OMR 1.10

-0.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 OMR 2.90

$7.57 OMR 2.91

-0.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.80 OMR 2.62

$6.92 OMR 2.66

-1.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.36 OMR 3.99

$10.49 OMR 4.04

-1.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 OMR 1.32

$3.54 OMR 1.36

-3.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 OMR 0.75

$1.99 OMR 0.77

-2.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 OMR 0.93

$2.34 OMR 0.90

2.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 OMR 0.49

$1.24 OMR 0.48

1.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 OMR 0.46

$1.21 OMR 0.47

-1.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.27 OMR 0.49

-2.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

$1.79 OMR 0.69

3.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 OMR 0.24

$0.63 OMR 0.24

-3.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.45 OMR 2.48

$6.52 OMR 2.51

-1.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.36 OMR 5.91

$15.33 OMR 5.90

0.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 OMR 2.09

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.04 OMR 3.48

$8.82 OMR 3.39

2.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.7 OMR 29.51

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 OMR 1.28

$3.34 OMR 1.28

-0.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 OMR 1.01

$2.68 OMR 1.03

-2.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.90 OMR 3.04

$7.71 OMR 2.97

2.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 OMR 0.24

$0.61 OMR 0.23

3.28%

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

$25.0K OMR 9,618

$25.7K OMR 9,908

-2.93%

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

$23.0K OMR 8,863

$22.9K OMR 8,801

0.70%

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

$173 OMR 66.4

$174 OMR 66.8

-0.60%

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

$31.32 OMR 12.05

$30.57 OMR 11.77

2.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.0 OMR 26.56

$71.0 OMR 27.32

-2.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.5 OMR 24.04

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.49 OMR 11.35

Cinema Ticket

$10.31 OMR 3.97

$10.41 OMR 4.01

-0.96%

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

$293 OMR 113

$282 OMR 108

3.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K OMR 4,120

$10.6K OMR 4,089

0.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 OMR 21.36

$56.8 OMR 21.87

-2.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.08 OMR 16.97

$43.98 OMR 16.93

0.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.7 OMR 34.90

$91.6 OMR 35.26

-1.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.1 OMR 36.24

$96.2 OMR 37.02

-2.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$665 OMR 256

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$457 OMR 176

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,340 OMR 516

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$848 OMR 326

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,837 OMR 1,092

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 OMR 612

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,698 OMR 654

$3,968 OMR 1,527

-57.19%

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 6, 2026

Last update for Al-masna'ah: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 134% higher in Al-masna'ah, 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 $34.00 in Muscat versus $34.00 in Al-masna'ah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 vs $285 – 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-masna'ah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,519 in Muscat, $931 in Al-masna'ah – roughly 63% apart. Muscat costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,278 per month in Muscat and $1,396 in Al-masna'ah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,519 in Muscat and $931 in Al-masna'ah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $293 per month in Muscat and $282 in Al-masna'ah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Al-masna'ah, where all-in costs run around $931, than in Muscat at $1,519. In Al-masna'ah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Muscat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-masna'ah – 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-masna'ah. 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.