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 $1,338 per month in Muscat vs $792 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,954 per month in Muscat vs $1,184 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,569 per month in Muscat vs $1,576 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

Muscat costs about 69% more than Al-masna'ah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Muscat sits 1% above the global median, while Al-masna'ah is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 OMR 2.02

$5.32 OMR 2.05

-1.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.76 OMR 9.92

$26.28 OMR 10.12

-1.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.85 OMR 3.02

$7.83 OMR 3.02

0.26%

Cappuccino

$4.83 OMR 1.86

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

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$1.00 OMR 0.39

1.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 OMR 0.12

$0.34 OMR 0.13

-5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.40 OMR 4.77

$12.19 OMR 4.69

1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.90 OMR 4.58

$11.91 OMR 4.58

-0.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$2.00 OMR 0.77

-1.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.23 OMR 0.47

0.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$1.73 OMR 0.66

0.58%

Eggs

$2.37 OMR 0.91

$2.47 OMR 0.95

-4.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.76 OMR 1.45

$3.74 OMR 1.44

0.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.95 OMR 1.91

$4.96 OMR 1.91

-0.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.57 OMR 3.30

$8.64 OMR 3.33

-0.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.51 OMR 0.96

$2.60 OMR 1.00

-3.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 OMR 0.64

$1.66 OMR 0.64

-0.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 OMR 0.68

$1.84 OMR 0.71

-4.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$0.98 OMR 0.38

4.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 OMR 0.40

$1.08 OMR 0.41

-3.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 OMR 0.22

$0.55 OMR 0.21

3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.23 OMR 2.40

$6.46 OMR 2.49

-3.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.50 OMR 5.97

$15.75 OMR 6.06

-1.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 OMR 1.60

$4.31 OMR 1.66

-3.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.90 OMR 3.04

$7.91 OMR 3.05

-0.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.31 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.7 OMR 23.77

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 OMR 1.22

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 OMR 0.31

$0.75 OMR 0.29

9.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.49 OMR 4.04

$10.28 OMR 3.96

2.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

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

$22.9K OMR 8,823

$22.7K OMR 8,747

0.86%

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

$22.0K OMR 8,474

$21.7K OMR 8,347

1.52%

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

$106 OMR 40.65

$105 OMR 40.48

0.44%

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

$41.28 OMR 15.89

$40.58 OMR 15.62

1.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 OMR 26.93

$70.4 OMR 27.10

-0.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.51 OMR 18.68

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.39 OMR 9.00

Cinema Ticket

$10.54 OMR 4.06

$10.49 OMR 4.04

0.48%

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

$193 OMR 74.3

$192 OMR 73.9

0.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,748 OMR 3,753

$9,815 OMR 3,779

-0.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.70 OMR 19.13

$49.42 OMR 19.03

0.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.31 OMR 15.13

$38.67 OMR 14.89

1.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.2 OMR 30.50

$79.5 OMR 30.62

-0.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 OMR 34.77

$90.4 OMR 34.79

-0.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$618 OMR 238

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 OMR 156

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,241 OMR 478

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$734 OMR 283

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,884 OMR 1,110

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,603 OMR 617

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,588 OMR 611

$3,952 OMR 1,522

-59.83%

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 28, 2026

Last update for Al-masna'ah: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 149% 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 $26.00 in Muscat versus $26.00 in Al-masna'ah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $229 vs $232 – 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: $1,338 in Muscat, $792 in Al-masna'ah – roughly 69% apart. Muscat costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,007 per month in Muscat and $1,188 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 $1,338 in Muscat and $792 in Al-masna'ah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $193 per month in Muscat and $192 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 $792, than in Muscat at $1,338. 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.