Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Dakar Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Dakar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,322 in Muscat versus $1,318 in Dakar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,928 in Muscat versus $2,218 in Dakar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,533 in Muscat versus $3,117 in Dakar.

Monthly costs are close between Muscat and Dakar; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Muscat 1% lower, Dakar 1% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Muscat
Dakar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.29 OMR 2.04
$5.43 F CFA 3,114
-2.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.50 OMR 9.82
$52.2 F CFA 29.9K
-51.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.99 OMR 3.08
$10.20 F CFA 5,849
-21.67%
Cappuccino
$4.86 OMR 1.87
$4.37 F CFA 2,509
11.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 OMR 0.39
$0.89 F CFA 511
13.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 OMR 0.13
$1.08 F CFA 620
-68.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.41 OMR 4.78
$2.70 F CFA 1,551
359.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.66 OMR 4.49
$4.51 F CFA 2,584
158.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Muscat
Dakar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.98 OMR 0.76
$2.57 F CFA 1,474
-22.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.23 OMR 0.47
$0.67 F CFA 385
83.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 OMR 0.66
$1.62 F CFA 927
4.94%
Eggs
$2.42 OMR 0.93
$2.76 F CFA 1,582
-12.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.71 OMR 1.43
$12.68 F CFA 7,271
-70.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.89 OMR 1.88
$9.44 F CFA 5,416
-48.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.27 OMR 3.18
$10.61 F CFA 6,088
-22.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.51 OMR 0.97
$2.80 F CFA 1,603
-10.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 OMR 0.66
$1.98 F CFA 1,137
-13.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 OMR 0.69
$2.58 F CFA 1,481
-31.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 OMR 0.44
$2.14 F CFA 1,227
-46.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.02 OMR 0.39
$1.54 F CFA 882
-33.77%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 OMR 0.38
$1.34 F CFA 771
-26.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 OMR 0.42
$1.07 F CFA 614
1.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 OMR 0.20
$0.82 F CFA 468
-36.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.28 OMR 2.42
$1.55 F CFA 892
305.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.71 OMR 6.05
$17.02 F CFA 9,762
-7.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.38 OMR 1.68
$1.13 F CFA 648
287.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.02 OMR 3.09
$2.23 F CFA 1,282
259.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Muscat
Dakar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.27 OMR 0.49
$0.36 F CFA 208
252.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.0 OMR 24.26
$79.0 F CFA 45.3K
-20.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.16 OMR 1.22
$2.58 F CFA 1,478
22.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 OMR 0.31
$2.80 F CFA 1,607
-71.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.20 OMR 3.92
$17.55 F CFA 10.1K
-41.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 OMR 0.25
$1.78 F CFA 1,021
-64.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K OMR 8,654
$36.9K F CFA 21.2M
-39.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5K OMR 8,279
$50.1K F CFA 28.7M
-57.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Muscat
Dakar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$109 OMR 41.78
$140 F CFA 80.1K
-22.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.41 OMR 15.55
$9.57 F CFA 5,488
322.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.5 OMR 26.38
$49.00 F CFA 28.1K
39.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Muscat
Dakar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.75 OMR 18.76
$55.5 F CFA 31.8K
-12.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.23 OMR 8.94
$21.51 F CFA 12.3K
8.00%
Cinema Ticket
$10.28 OMR 3.96
$8.75 F CFA 5,019
17.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Muscat
Dakar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$190 OMR 73.0
$268 F CFA 153.5K
-29.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.0K OMR 3,861
$7,349 F CFA 4.2M
36.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Muscat
Dakar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.0 OMR 19.62
$68.1 F CFA 39.1K
-25.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.14 OMR 15.07
$43.58 F CFA 25.0K
-10.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.6 OMR 29.87
$105 F CFA 60.1K
-25.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6 OMR 33.72
$128 F CFA 73.7K
-31.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Muscat
Dakar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 OMR 237
$931 F CFA 533.8K
-33.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$407 OMR 157
$369 F CFA 211.5K
10.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,243 OMR 478
$1,907 F CFA 1.1M
-34.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$714 OMR 275
$933 F CFA 534.8K
-23.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,866 OMR 1,103
$5,047 F CFA 2.9M
-43.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,593 OMR 613
$1,444 F CFA 828.4K
10.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Muscat
Dakar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,576 OMR 607
$420 F CFA 241.0K
275.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.15
8.25
-37.58%

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

Last update for Muscat: July 13, 2026

Last update for Dakar: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Muscat and $931 in Dakar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Muscat pays 275% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $26.00 in Muscat vs $52.0 in Dakar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $279 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 Dakar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city pays better: Muscat or Dakar?
Average pay runs 275% higher in Muscat, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Muscat and in Dakar?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Muscat versus $931 in Dakar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Muscat and Dakar?
Childcare runs $190 in Muscat versus $268 in Dakar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Dakar – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $26.00 in Muscat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,318 in Dakar versus $1,322 in Muscat, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dakar but tight or insufficient in Muscat. The gap between the two cities makes Dakar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Muscat and Dakar?
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.
Is Muscat or Dakar safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Muscat and Dakar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
How do I decide between Muscat and Dakar?
It comes down to priorities – Dakar wins on affordability, Muscat on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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