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 $1,346 per month in Muscat vs $818 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,982 per month in Muscat vs $1,219 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,619 per month in Muscat vs $1,619 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

Muscat costs about 65% more than Al-masna'ah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Muscat sits 1% above the global median, while Al-masna'ah is 39% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.36 OMR 2.06

$5.09 OMR 1.95

5.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.15 OMR 10.04

$26.23 OMR 10.07

-0.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.94 OMR 3.05

$7.59 OMR 2.92

4.61%

Cappuccino

$5.03 OMR 1.93

$4.95 OMR 1.90

1.62%

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

$1.05 OMR 0.40

$1.06 OMR 0.41

-0.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 OMR 0.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.51 OMR 4.81

$12.52 OMR 4.81

-0.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.65 OMR 4.47

$11.83 OMR 4.54

-1.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 OMR 0.74

$1.91 OMR 0.73

1.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$1.18 OMR 0.45

3.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 OMR 0.66

Eggs

$2.37 OMR 0.91

$2.39 OMR 0.92

-0.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.67 OMR 1.41

$3.81 OMR 1.46

-3.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 OMR 1.95

$5.12 OMR 1.97

-0.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.40 OMR 3.23

$8.66 OMR 3.33

-3.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.52 OMR 0.97

$2.57 OMR 0.99

-1.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 OMR 0.66

$1.67 OMR 0.64

2.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 OMR 0.68

$1.76 OMR 0.67

0.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 OMR 0.44

$1.14 OMR 0.44

-0.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 OMR 0.38

$0.99 OMR 0.38

1.01%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$1.03 OMR 0.39

-5.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 OMR 0.41

$1.04 OMR 0.40

3.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 OMR 0.21

$0.56 OMR 0.21

-1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.36 OMR 2.44

$6.45 OMR 2.48

-1.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.50 OMR 5.95

$15.42 OMR 5.92

0.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.37 OMR 1.68

$4.33 OMR 1.66

0.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.99 OMR 3.07

$7.58 OMR 2.91

5.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.0 OMR 23.81

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 OMR 1.18

$3.09 OMR 1.19

-0.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 OMR 0.29

$0.81 OMR 0.31

-4.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.47 OMR 4.02

$10.28 OMR 3.95

1.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 OMR 0.25

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

$22.6K OMR 8,695

$22.5K OMR 8,634

0.70%

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

$21.4K OMR 8,228

$22.0K OMR 8,434

-2.45%

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

$109 OMR 41.88

$109 OMR 41.69

0.46%

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

$41.31 OMR 15.86

$41.99 OMR 16.12

-1.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.8 OMR 26.41

$70.2 OMR 26.94

-1.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.18 OMR 18.50

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.11 OMR 8.87

Cinema Ticket

$10.27 OMR 3.94

$10.59 OMR 4.07

-3.02%

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

$189 OMR 72.7

$190 OMR 73.1

-0.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,697 OMR 3,723

$9,774 OMR 3,753

-0.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 OMR 19.56

$50.1 OMR 19.25

1.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.59 OMR 15.20

$39.12 OMR 15.02

1.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 OMR 30.48

$79.1 OMR 30.38

0.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.4 OMR 34.69

$88.9 OMR 34.14

1.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$611 OMR 235

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 OMR 158

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,230 OMR 472

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$733 OMR 281

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,609 OMR 1,002

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,545 OMR 593

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,746 OMR 670

$4,049 OMR 1,555

-56.88%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Al-masna'ah: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 132% 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. Groceries tell a different story – $230 in Muscat vs $229 in Al-masna'ah – so Al-masna'ah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $1,346 in Muscat, $818 in Al-masna'ah – roughly 65% apart. Muscat costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,019 per month in Muscat and $1,227 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 $1,346 in Muscat and $818 in Al-masna'ah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $189 per month in Muscat and $190 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 $818, than in Muscat at $1,346. 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.