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 $1,331 per month in Muscat vs $970 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,982 per month in Muscat vs $1,309 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,633 per month in Muscat vs $1,647 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

$5.28 OMR 2.03

0.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.39 OMR 10.16

$26.10 OMR 10.05

1.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 OMR 3.02

$8.00 OMR 3.08

-2.00%

Cappuccino

$4.95 OMR 1.90

$5.01 OMR 1.93

-1.20%

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

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$0.50 OMR 0.19

104.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

$0.27 OMR 0.10

25.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.16 OMR 4.68

$12.54 OMR 4.83

-3.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.87 OMR 4.57

$11.82 OMR 4.55

0.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$1.97 OMR 0.76

1.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 OMR 0.46

$1.24 OMR 0.48

-3.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 OMR 0.65

$1.67 OMR 0.64

1.80%

Eggs

$2.45 OMR 0.94

$1.88 OMR 0.72

30.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.84 OMR 1.48

$3.86 OMR 1.48

-0.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.16 OMR 1.98

$4.20 OMR 1.62

22.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.46 OMR 3.26

$7.87 OMR 3.03

7.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 OMR 0.98

$2.30 OMR 0.89

10.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 OMR 0.66

$1.66 OMR 0.64

3.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 OMR 0.68

$1.83 OMR 0.71

-3.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 OMR 0.44

$1.12 OMR 0.43

0.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 OMR 0.38

$1.03 OMR 0.40

-2.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.03 OMR 0.40

-0.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$1.09 OMR 0.42

-5.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 OMR 0.22

$0.51 OMR 0.20

9.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.22 OMR 2.39

$6.47 OMR 2.49

-3.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.55 OMR 5.99

$15.89 OMR 6.12

-2.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.25 OMR 1.64

$4.20 OMR 1.62

1.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.90 OMR 3.04

$7.71 OMR 2.97

2.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.32 OMR 0.51

-3.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.3 OMR 23.99

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

$0.75 OMR 0.29

6.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.34 OMR 3.98

$10.25 OMR 3.94

0.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

$0.61 OMR 0.23

-1.64%

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

$22.8K OMR 8,778

$22.5K OMR 8,645

1.53%

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

$21.8K OMR 8,405

$21.9K OMR 8,417

-0.13%

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

$107 OMR 41.32

$106 OMR 40.86

1.13%

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

$40.60 OMR 15.63

$40.96 OMR 15.77

-0.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.5 OMR 27.13

$70.0 OMR 26.96

0.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.24 OMR 18.19

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.99 OMR 8.85

$2.58 OMR 0.99

791.09%

Cinema Ticket

$10.47 OMR 4.03

$10.32 OMR 3.97

1.45%

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

$192 OMR 74.1

$132 OMR 51.0

45.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,757 OMR 3,756

$3,748 OMR 1,443

160.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.7 OMR 19.53

$20.63 OMR 7.94

145.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.51 OMR 15.21

$25.54 OMR 9.83

54.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 OMR 30.56

$39.59 OMR 15.24

100.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 OMR 34.66

$51.5 OMR 19.82

74.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 OMR 238

$159 OMR 61.2

288.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 OMR 158

$211 OMR 81.1

94.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,222 OMR 470

$385 OMR 148

217.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 OMR 281

$211 OMR 81.1

246.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,666 OMR 1,026

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,552 OMR 597

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,654 OMR 637

$4,394 OMR 1,692

-62.36%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ar-rustaq: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Muscat versus $159 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 166% 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 – $231 in Muscat vs $221 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 $1,997 per month in Muscat and $1,455 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 $1,331 in Muscat and $970 in Ar-rustaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $192 per month in Muscat and $132 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 $970, than in Muscat at $1,331. 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.