Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Al-qabil Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Al-qabil

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 OMR 2.04

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.04 OMR 13.11

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.24 OMR 3.17

Cappuccino

$4.70 OMR 1.81

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

$0.90 OMR 0.35

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 OMR 0.11

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.21 OMR 5.09

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.82 OMR 4.94

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 OMR 0.89

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 OMR 0.49

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 OMR 0.73

Eggs

$2.96 OMR 1.14

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.94 OMR 3.06

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.67 OMR 2.57

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.13 OMR 3.90

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 OMR 1.24

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 OMR 0.85

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 OMR 0.49

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

Onion (1kg)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.73 OMR 0.67

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.33 OMR 2.44

Wine (Bottle)

$15.50 OMR 5.97

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.52 OMR 2.13

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.67 OMR 3.34

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.33 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.5 OMR 29.46

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 OMR 1.27

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.64 OMR 1.02

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.96 OMR 3.06

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 OMR 0.25

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

$25.1K OMR 9,649

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

$22.3K OMR 8,594

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

$174 OMR 66.9

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

$30.65 OMR 11.80

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.1 OMR 26.99

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.9 OMR 24.97

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.82 OMR 11.10

Cinema Ticket

$10.51 OMR 4.05

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

$291 OMR 112

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K OMR 4,109

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 OMR 21.50

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.27 OMR 16.66

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.5 OMR 35.61

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.5 OMR 36.37

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$673 OMR 259

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)

$840 OMR 323

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,821 OMR 1,086

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 OMR 612

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,651 OMR 635

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: August 15, 2026

Last update for Al-qabil: August 15, 2026

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-qabil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For families, Al-qabil is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Muscat, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Muscat and Al-qabil are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Al-qabil wins on affordability, Muscat on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.