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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.23 OMR 2.01

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.68 OMR 15.28

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.64 OMR 2.94

Cappuccino

$4.97 OMR 1.91

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

$0.85 OMR 0.33

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.92 OMR 4.97

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$13.23 OMR 5.09

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 OMR 0.87

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 OMR 0.45

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 OMR 0.73

Eggs

$2.91 OMR 1.12

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.23 OMR 2.78

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.86 OMR 2.64

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.63 OMR 4.09

Apples (1kg)

$3.66 OMR 1.41

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 OMR 0.75

Oranges (1kg)

$2.40 OMR 0.92

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 OMR 0.49

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 OMR 0.47

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 OMR 0.72

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 OMR 0.27

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.36 OMR 2.45

Wine (Bottle)

$15.54 OMR 5.98

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$6.00 OMR 2.31

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.34 OMR 3.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 OMR 0.50

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.2 OMR 29.71

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 OMR 1.27

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.56 OMR 0.99

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.82 OMR 3.01

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 OMR 0.24

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

$25.7K OMR 9,907

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

$23.0K OMR 8,864

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

$177 OMR 68.2

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

$30.49 OMR 11.74

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.6 OMR 27.57

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.1 OMR 23.53

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.78 OMR 11.46

Cinema Ticket

$10.45 OMR 4.02

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

$282 OMR 109

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K OMR 4,004

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.6 OMR 22.17

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.41 OMR 16.71

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.2 OMR 35.12

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.9 OMR 33.06

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$690 OMR 265

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$453 OMR 174

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,292 OMR 498

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$819 OMR 315

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,815 OMR 1,084

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 OMR 619

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,651 OMR 636

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: October 3, 2026

Last update for Al-qabil: October 5, 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.