Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Duqm Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Duqm

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,519 in Muscat versus $302 in Duqm.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,303 in Muscat versus $508 in Duqm.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,087 in Muscat versus $714 in Duqm.

Living in Muscat is roughly 402% more expensive than in Duqm, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Muscat is 10% above, Duqm is 78% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.22 OMR 2.01

$4.74 OMR 1.83

10.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.29 OMR 13.20

$13.21 OMR 5.09

159.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.88 OMR 3.03

Cappuccino

$4.79 OMR 1.84

$2.36 OMR 0.91

102.97%

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

$0.89 OMR 0.34

$0.54 OMR 0.21

64.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 OMR 0.11

$0.34 OMR 0.13

-14.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.75 OMR 4.91

$7.73 OMR 2.98

64.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.96 OMR 4.99

$12.92 OMR 4.97

0.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.36 OMR 0.91

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 OMR 0.71

$2.67 OMR 1.03

-31.09%

Eggs

$2.85 OMR 1.10

$2.86 OMR 1.10

-0.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 OMR 2.90

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.80 OMR 2.62

$5.30 OMR 2.04

28.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.36 OMR 3.99

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 OMR 1.32

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 OMR 0.75

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 OMR 0.93

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 OMR 0.49

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 OMR 0.46

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$0.76 OMR 0.29

63.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 OMR 0.24

$0.18 OMR 0.07

238.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.45 OMR 2.48

Wine (Bottle)

$15.36 OMR 5.91

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 OMR 2.09

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.04 OMR 3.48

$12.90 OMR 4.97

-29.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.7 OMR 29.51

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 OMR 1.28

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 OMR 1.01

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.90 OMR 3.04

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 OMR 0.24

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

$25.0K OMR 9,618

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

$23.0K OMR 8,863

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

$173 OMR 66.4

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

$31.32 OMR 12.05

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.0 OMR 26.56

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.5 OMR 24.04

$79.2 OMR 30.48

-21.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.49 OMR 11.35

Cinema Ticket

$10.31 OMR 3.97

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

$293 OMR 113

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K OMR 4,120

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 OMR 21.36

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.08 OMR 16.97

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.7 OMR 34.90

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.1 OMR 36.24

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 326

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

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 Duqm: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $34.00 in Muscat vs $13.00 in Duqm for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $95.0 per month, with Duqm 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 Duqm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Duqm is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 402% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,278 in Muscat and $453 in Duqm to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 199% higher in Muscat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Duqm – a meal for two runs $13.00 versus $34.00 in Muscat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $302 in Duqm versus $1,519 in Muscat, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Duqm but tight or insufficient in Muscat. The gap between the two cities makes Duqm 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 Duqm 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 Duqm gentler on the wallet – expenses run 402% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.