Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Ibra Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Ibra

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,553 per month in Muscat vs $980 in Ibra, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,303 per month in Muscat vs $1,447 in Ibra, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,052 per month in Muscat vs $1,914 in Ibra, rent included.

Muscat costs about 58% more than Ibra, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Muscat sits 14% above the global median, while Ibra is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.31 OMR 2.05

$5.22 OMR 2.01

1.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.16 OMR 13.15

$33.91 OMR 13.06

0.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.99 OMR 3.07

$7.64 OMR 2.94

4.58%

Cappuccino

$4.77 OMR 1.84

$4.97 OMR 1.91

-4.02%

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

$0.84 OMR 0.32

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 OMR 0.11

$0.27 OMR 0.10

7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.94 OMR 4.98

$13.18 OMR 5.07

-1.82%

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

$2.31 OMR 0.89

2.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

$1.29 OMR 0.50

-4.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 OMR 0.73

$1.82 OMR 0.70

3.85%

Eggs

$2.88 OMR 1.11

$2.86 OMR 1.10

0.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.54 OMR 2.90

$7.81 OMR 3.01

-3.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.78 OMR 2.61

$6.61 OMR 2.55

2.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.76 OMR 4.14

$10.66 OMR 4.10

0.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 OMR 1.32

$3.46 OMR 1.33

-0.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$1.97 OMR 0.76

0.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 OMR 0.89

$2.35 OMR 0.90

-1.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$1.21 OMR 0.47

0.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 OMR 0.44

$1.16 OMR 0.45

-0.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

$1.27 OMR 0.49

-3.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 OMR 0.69

$1.77 OMR 0.68

0.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 OMR 0.25

$0.66 OMR 0.26

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.66 OMR 2.57

$6.66 OMR 2.56

Wine (Bottle)

$15.40 OMR 5.93

$15.86 OMR 6.10

-2.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.48 OMR 2.11

$5.52 OMR 2.13

-0.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.11 OMR 3.51

$8.86 OMR 3.41

2.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.33 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.1 OMR 30.47

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 OMR 1.22

$3.32 OMR 1.28

-4.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.58 OMR 0.99

$2.64 OMR 1.02

-2.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.67 OMR 2.95

$7.97 OMR 3.07

-3.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 OMR 0.23

$0.64 OMR 0.25

-7.81%

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

$25.4K OMR 9,783

$25.5K OMR 9,814

-0.31%

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

$22.8K OMR 8,786

$22.7K OMR 8,737

0.56%

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

$169 OMR 65.2

$175 OMR 67.3

-3.09%

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

$30.44 OMR 11.72

$30.87 OMR 11.89

-1.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 OMR 27.41

$70.0 OMR 26.94

1.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 OMR 23.72

$31.36 OMR 12.07

96.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.88 OMR 11.12

$18.38 OMR 7.08

57.13%

Cinema Ticket

$10.55 OMR 4.06

$6.93 OMR 2.67

52.24%

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

$286 OMR 110

$285 OMR 110

0.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K OMR 4,026

$10.5K OMR 4,039

-0.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 OMR 21.38

$55.6 OMR 21.40

-0.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.21 OMR 16.64

$43.17 OMR 16.62

0.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.3 OMR 35.14

$90.4 OMR 34.79

1.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.1 OMR 36.59

$93.8 OMR 36.13

1.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$674 OMR 259

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 OMR 175

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,361 OMR 524

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$854 OMR 329

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,821 OMR 1,086

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,613 OMR 621

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,674 OMR 645

$4,177 OMR 1,608

-59.92%

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 15, 2026

Last update for Ibra: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 150% higher in Ibra, 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 $34.00 in Muscat versus $34.00 in Ibra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $286 – making Muscat the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Ibra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Muscat costs about 58% more than Ibra, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,329 per month in Muscat and $1,470 in Ibra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,553 in Muscat and $980 in Ibra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $286 per month in Muscat and $285 in Ibra. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ibra, where all-in costs run around $980, than in Muscat at $1,553. In Ibra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Muscat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ibra – 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 Ibra. 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.