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 $1,328 per month in Muscat vs $818 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,944 per month in Muscat vs $1,200 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,560 per month in Muscat vs $1,582 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

Muscat costs about 62% more than Al-masna'ah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Muscat and Al-masna'ah are more affordable than the global median – Muscat 1% lower, Al-masna'ah 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 OMR 2.03

$5.11 OMR 1.97

3.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.85 OMR 9.95

$26.40 OMR 10.16

-2.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.58 OMR 2.92

$7.95 OMR 3.06

-4.65%

Cappuccino

$5.00 OMR 1.93

$4.97 OMR 1.91

0.60%

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

$0.32 OMR 0.12

6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.14 OMR 4.67

$12.21 OMR 4.70

-0.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.88 OMR 4.57

$11.51 OMR 4.43

3.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$1.93 OMR 0.74

3.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.23 OMR 0.47

0.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$1.71 OMR 0.66

1.75%

Eggs

$2.36 OMR 0.91

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.88 OMR 1.49

$3.75 OMR 1.44

3.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.90 OMR 1.88

$5.11 OMR 1.97

-4.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.39 OMR 3.23

$8.40 OMR 3.23

-0.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.48 OMR 0.95

$2.52 OMR 0.97

-1.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 OMR 0.65

$1.74 OMR 0.67

-2.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 OMR 0.72

$1.79 OMR 0.69

3.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 OMR 0.43

$1.13 OMR 0.43

-0.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 OMR 0.37

$0.96 OMR 0.37

-1.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$0.97 OMR 0.37

1.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 OMR 0.42

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 OMR 0.20

$0.53 OMR 0.20

-1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.53 OMR 2.51

$6.44 OMR 2.48

1.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.84 OMR 6.10

$15.82 OMR 6.09

0.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.39 OMR 1.69

$4.23 OMR 1.63

3.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.98 OMR 3.07

$8.02 OMR 3.09

-0.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.1 OMR 24.29

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 OMR 1.21

$3.04 OMR 1.17

3.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 OMR 0.29

$0.76 OMR 0.29

-1.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.44 OMR 4.02

$10.30 OMR 3.96

1.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 OMR 0.25

$0.63 OMR 0.24

3.17%

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

$23.3K OMR 8,979

$23.3K OMR 8,949

0.33%

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

$21.8K OMR 8,376

$21.8K OMR 8,374

0.02%

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

$106 OMR 40.94

$107 OMR 41.25

-0.76%

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

$40.96 OMR 15.77

$41.71 OMR 16.06

-1.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 OMR 26.67

$69.4 OMR 26.73

-0.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.71 OMR 18.36

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.92 OMR 8.82

Cinema Ticket

$10.45 OMR 4.02

$10.21 OMR 3.93

2.35%

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

$192 OMR 73.8

$192 OMR 74.0

-0.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,734 OMR 3,747

$9,766 OMR 3,759

-0.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.1 OMR 19.29

$50.8 OMR 19.57

-1.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.73 OMR 15.29

$38.61 OMR 14.86

2.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.1 OMR 30.46

$79.4 OMR 30.54

-0.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.2 OMR 34.71

$89.1 OMR 34.28

1.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$620 OMR 239

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 OMR 158

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,230 OMR 473

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 OMR 279

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,661 OMR 1,024

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,567 OMR 603

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,703 OMR 656

$4,061 OMR 1,563

-58.06%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Al-masna'ah: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 138% 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 – $231 in Muscat vs $230 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: $1,328 in Muscat, $818 in Al-masna'ah – roughly 62% apart. Muscat costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,992 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 $1,328 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 $192 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 $818, than in Muscat at $1,328. 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.