Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Athens, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Athens, OH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,525 in Muscat versus $1,678 in Athens, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,272 in Muscat versus $2,494 in Athens, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,019 in Muscat versus $3,310 in Athens, OH.

Living in Muscat costs roughly 9% less than in Athens, OH, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Muscat 11% above, Athens, OH 22% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.34 OMR 2.06

$15.02 $15.02

-64.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.00 OMR 13.09

$50.0 $50.0

-32.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.74 OMR 2.98

$10.15 $10.15

-23.74%

Cappuccino

$4.73 OMR 1.82

$5.02 $5.02

-5.78%

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

$0.86 OMR 0.33

$2.33 $2.33

-63.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 OMR 0.11

$1.41 $1.41

-79.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.07 OMR 5.03

$4.97 $4.97

162.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.79 OMR 4.92

$6.86 $6.86

86.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 OMR 0.87

$0.69 $0.69

226.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 OMR 0.48

$2.16 $2.16

-42.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 OMR 0.73

$2.92 $2.92

-34.93%

Eggs

$2.94 OMR 1.13

$4.19 $4.19

-29.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.65 OMR 2.94

$12.97 $12.97

-41.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.57 OMR 2.53

$8.67 $8.67

-24.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.54 OMR 4.06

$16.22 $16.22

-35.02%

Apples (1kg)

$3.41 OMR 1.31

$3.65 $3.65

-6.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$0.97 $0.97

106.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 OMR 0.89

$2.73 $2.73

-15.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 OMR 0.46

$2.99 $2.99

-59.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$1.63 $1.63

-25.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 OMR 0.50

$2.20 $2.20

-41.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.80 OMR 0.69

$1.69 $1.69

6.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 OMR 0.26

$1.93 $1.93

-65.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.30 OMR 2.43

$9.16 $9.16

-31.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.43 OMR 5.94

$14.84 $14.84

3.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.68 OMR 2.19

$2.09 $2.09

171.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.72 OMR 3.36

$3.02 $3.02

188.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 OMR 0.49

$0.99 $0.99

30.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.7 OMR 29.52

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 OMR 1.24

$3.82 $3.82

-15.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.59 OMR 1.00

$1.25 $1.25

107.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.82 OMR 3.01

$25.21 $25.21

-68.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

$0.87 $0.87

-29.89%

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

$25.1K OMR 9,665

$36.5K $36.5K

-31.22%

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

$22.2K OMR 8,564

$25.9K $25.9K

-14.01%

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

$170 OMR 65.5

$150 $150

13.54%

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

$30.94 OMR 11.91

$29.94 $29.94

3.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 OMR 26.92

$48.78 $48.78

43.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.7 OMR 24.14

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.20 OMR 11.24

Cinema Ticket

$10.34 OMR 3.98

$12.09 $12.09

-14.47%

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

$289 OMR 111

$1,442 $1,442

-79.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K OMR 4,110

$19.3K $19.3K

-44.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 OMR 21.42

$45.48 $45.48

22.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.19 OMR 16.63

$44.84 $44.84

-3.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.0 OMR 35.43

$66.2 $66.2

39.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.0 OMR 36.95

$110 $110

-12.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$673 OMR 259

$1,303 $1,303

-48.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 OMR 175

$699 $699

-34.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,366 OMR 526

$1,468 $1,468

-6.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$857 OMR 330

$1,252 $1,252

-31.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,835 OMR 1,092

$1,649 $1,649

71.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,595 OMR 614

$1,653 $1,653

-3.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,660 OMR 639

$3,464 $3,464

-52.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

6.21

-15.46%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Muscat: September 1, 2026

Last update for Athens, OH: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $673 in Muscat and $1,303 in Athens, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Athens, OH pays 109% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $34.00 in Muscat vs $50.0 in Athens, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $323 per month, with Muscat cheaper across the board.

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 Athens, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Muscat is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 109% lower in Athens, OH. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $673 in Muscat versus $1,303 in Athens, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Athens, OH. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,525 per month in Muscat versus $1,678 in Athens, OH – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,525 in Muscat versus $1,678 in Athens, OH, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Muscat but tight or insufficient in Athens, OH. The gap between the two cities makes Muscat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

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

Expats usually find Muscat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Athens, OH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.