Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Ar-rustaq Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Ar-rustaq

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,519 per month in Muscat vs $934 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,303 per month in Muscat vs $1,412 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,087 per month in Muscat vs $1,890 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

Muscat costs about 63% more than Ar-rustaq, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Muscat sits 10% above the global median, while Ar-rustaq is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.22 OMR 2.01

$5.27 OMR 2.03

-0.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.29 OMR 13.20

$34.12 OMR 13.13

0.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.88 OMR 3.04

$7.61 OMR 2.93

3.55%

Cappuccino

$4.79 OMR 1.84

$4.88 OMR 1.88

-1.84%

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

$0.89 OMR 0.34

$0.85 OMR 0.33

4.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 OMR 0.11

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.75 OMR 4.91

$13.01 OMR 5.01

-2.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.96 OMR 4.99

$13.14 OMR 5.06

-1.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.36 OMR 0.91

$2.27 OMR 0.87

3.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.28 OMR 0.49

-0.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 OMR 0.71

$1.83 OMR 0.70

0.55%

Eggs

$2.85 OMR 1.10

$2.86 OMR 1.10

-0.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 OMR 2.90

$7.47 OMR 2.88

0.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.80 OMR 2.62

$6.70 OMR 2.58

1.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.36 OMR 3.99

$10.59 OMR 4.08

-2.17%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 OMR 1.32

$3.51 OMR 1.35

-2.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 OMR 0.75

$2.00 OMR 0.77

-3.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 OMR 0.93

$2.42 OMR 0.93

-0.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 OMR 0.49

$1.19 OMR 0.46

5.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 OMR 0.46

$1.21 OMR 0.47

-1.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 OMR 0.24

$0.62 OMR 0.24

-1.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.45 OMR 2.48

$6.32 OMR 2.43

2.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.36 OMR 5.91

$15.53 OMR 5.98

-1.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 OMR 2.09

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.04 OMR 3.48

$9.01 OMR 3.47

0.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.7 OMR 29.52

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 OMR 1.28

$3.19 OMR 1.23

3.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 OMR 1.01

$2.68 OMR 1.03

-2.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.90 OMR 3.04

$8.02 OMR 3.09

-1.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 OMR 0.24

$0.61 OMR 0.23

3.28%

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

$25.0K OMR 9,621

$25.2K OMR 9,695

-0.77%

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

$23.0K OMR 8,865

$22.4K OMR 8,606

3.00%

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

$173 OMR 66.4

$174 OMR 66.9

-0.69%

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

$31.32 OMR 12.06

$30.45 OMR 11.72

2.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.0 OMR 26.56

$69.1 OMR 26.60

-0.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.5 OMR 24.05

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.49 OMR 11.35

Cinema Ticket

$10.31 OMR 3.97

$10.37 OMR 3.99

-0.58%

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

$293 OMR 113

$288 OMR 111

1.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K OMR 4,121

$10.6K OMR 4,064

1.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 OMR 21.36

$55.7 OMR 21.44

-0.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.08 OMR 16.97

$43.38 OMR 16.70

1.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.7 OMR 34.91

$89.5 OMR 34.47

1.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.1 OMR 36.25

$97.3 OMR 37.44

-3.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$665 OMR 256

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)

$848 OMR 327

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,837 OMR 1,092

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 OMR 612

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,698 OMR 654

$4,389 OMR 1,690

-61.31%

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: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ar-rustaq: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 158% higher in Ar-rustaq, 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 $34.00 in Muscat versus $34.00 in Ar-rustaq. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 vs $284 – 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 Ar-rustaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Muscat is pricier by about 63%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,278 per month in Muscat and $1,401 in Ar-rustaq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,519 in Muscat and $934 in Ar-rustaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $293 per month in Muscat and $288 in Ar-rustaq. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ar-rustaq, where all-in costs run around $934, than in Muscat at $1,519. In Ar-rustaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Muscat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ar-rustaq – 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 Ar-rustaq. 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.