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 $1,322 per month in Muscat vs $966 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,928 per month in Muscat vs $1,335 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,533 per month in Muscat vs $1,705 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

Muscat costs about 37% more than Ar-rustaq, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Muscat and Ar-rustaq are more affordable than the global median – Muscat 1% lower, Ar-rustaq 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.29 OMR 2.04

$5.13 OMR 1.97

3.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.50 OMR 9.82

$25.59 OMR 9.85

-0.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.99 OMR 3.08

$7.95 OMR 3.06

0.50%

Cappuccino

$4.86 OMR 1.87

$4.75 OMR 1.83

2.32%

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

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$0.50 OMR 0.19

102.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

$0.27 OMR 0.10

25.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.41 OMR 4.78

$12.36 OMR 4.76

0.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.66 OMR 4.49

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$1.93 OMR 0.74

2.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

$1.22 OMR 0.47

0.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 OMR 0.66

$1.68 OMR 0.65

1.19%

Eggs

$2.42 OMR 0.93

$1.91 OMR 0.73

26.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.71 OMR 1.43

$3.67 OMR 1.41

1.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 OMR 1.88

$4.26 OMR 1.64

14.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.27 OMR 3.18

$7.72 OMR 2.97

7.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.51 OMR 0.97

$2.28 OMR 0.88

10.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 OMR 0.66

$1.75 OMR 0.67

-1.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 OMR 0.69

$1.84 OMR 0.71

-3.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 OMR 0.44

$1.12 OMR 0.43

1.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$0.95 OMR 0.37

7.37%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$0.99 OMR 0.38

-1.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$1.04 OMR 0.40

4.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 OMR 0.20

$0.53 OMR 0.21

-1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.28 OMR 2.42

$6.48 OMR 2.49

-3.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.71 OMR 6.05

$15.88 OMR 6.11

-1.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.38 OMR 1.68

$4.20 OMR 1.62

4.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 OMR 3.09

$7.62 OMR 2.93

5.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.26 OMR 0.49

0.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.0 OMR 24.26

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 OMR 1.22

$1.58 OMR 0.61

100.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.20 OMR 3.92

$10.47 OMR 4.03

-2.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 OMR 0.25

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

$22.5K OMR 8,654

$22.5K OMR 8,649

0.06%

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

$21.5K OMR 8,279

$21.5K OMR 8,261

0.22%

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

$109 OMR 41.78

$106 OMR 40.84

2.31%

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

$40.41 OMR 15.55

$40.86 OMR 15.73

-1.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.5 OMR 26.38

$69.3 OMR 26.69

-1.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.75 OMR 18.76

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.23 OMR 8.94

$2.56 OMR 0.98

807.42%

Cinema Ticket

$10.28 OMR 3.96

$10.45 OMR 4.02

-1.63%

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

$190 OMR 73.0

$129 OMR 49.74

46.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K OMR 3,861

$3,739 OMR 1,439

168.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 OMR 19.62

$20.56 OMR 7.92

147.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.14 OMR 15.07

$26.17 OMR 10.07

49.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 OMR 29.87

$39.16 OMR 15.07

98.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.6 OMR 33.72

$52.4 OMR 20.17

67.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 OMR 237

$154 OMR 59.2

300.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$407 OMR 157

$208 OMR 80.1

95.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 OMR 478

$397 OMR 153

213.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$714 OMR 275

$212 OMR 81.5

237.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,866 OMR 1,103

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,593 OMR 613

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,576 OMR 607

$4,373 OMR 1,683

-63.95%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ar-rustaq: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Muscat versus $154 in Ar-rustaq. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 177% 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 $26.00 in Muscat versus $26.00 in Ar-rustaq. Groceries tell a different story – $230 in Muscat vs $220 in Ar-rustaq – so Ar-rustaq 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 Ar-rustaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Muscat is pricier by about 37%, 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 $1,983 per month in Muscat and $1,449 in Ar-rustaq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ar-rustaq, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,322 in Muscat and $966 in Ar-rustaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $190 per month in Muscat and $129 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 $966, than in Muscat at $1,322. 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.