Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Matrah Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Matrah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,331 in Muscat versus $223 in Matrah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,982 in Muscat versus $364 in Matrah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,633 in Muscat versus $506 in Matrah.

Living in Muscat is roughly 497% more expensive than Matrah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Muscat 1% lower, Matrah 83% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.29 OMR 2.04

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.39 OMR 10.16

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 OMR 3.02

Cappuccino

$4.95 OMR 1.90

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

$1.02 OMR 0.39

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.16 OMR 4.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.87 OMR 4.57

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$2.65 OMR 1.02

-24.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 OMR 0.46

$1.05 OMR 0.41

14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 OMR 0.65

$2.56 OMR 0.99

-33.59%

Eggs

$2.45 OMR 0.94

$4.66 OMR 1.79

-47.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.84 OMR 1.48

$5.14 OMR 1.98

-25.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.16 OMR 1.98

$5.26 OMR 2.02

-1.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.46 OMR 3.26

$8.02 OMR 3.09

5.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 OMR 0.98

$1.33 OMR 0.51

90.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 OMR 0.66

$1.83 OMR 0.70

-6.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 OMR 0.68

$2.31 OMR 0.89

-23.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 OMR 0.44

$1.28 OMR 0.49

-11.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 OMR 0.38

$1.06 OMR 0.41

-5.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.08 OMR 0.42

-5.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$0.50 OMR 0.19

106.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 OMR 0.22

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.22 OMR 2.39

Wine (Bottle)

$15.55 OMR 5.99

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.25 OMR 1.64

$4.23 OMR 1.63

0.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.90 OMR 3.04

$15.35 OMR 5.91

-48.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.3 OMR 23.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 OMR 1.22

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.34 OMR 3.98

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

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

$22.8K OMR 8,778

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

$21.8K OMR 8,405

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

$107 OMR 41.32

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

$40.60 OMR 15.63

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.5 OMR 27.13

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.24 OMR 18.19

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.99 OMR 8.85

Cinema Ticket

$10.47 OMR 4.03

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

$192 OMR 74.1

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,757 OMR 3,756

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.7 OMR 19.53

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.51 OMR 15.21

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 OMR 30.56

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 OMR 34.66

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 OMR 238

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 OMR 158

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,222 OMR 470

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 OMR 281

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

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 Matrah: June 2, 2026

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 Matrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Matrah wins on cost – living expenses run 497% lower than in Muscat. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Matrah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,997 in Muscat and $334 in Matrah 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 3% higher in Muscat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,331 per month in Muscat versus $223 in Matrah – a 497% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $223 in Matrah versus $1,331 in Muscat, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Matrah but tight or insufficient in Muscat. The gap between the two cities makes Matrah 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 Matrah 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 Matrah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 497% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.