Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Nizwa Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Nizwa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,322 in Muscat versus $580 in Nizwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,928 in Muscat versus $793 in Nizwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,533 in Muscat versus $1,007 in Nizwa.

Living in Muscat is roughly 128% more expensive than in Nizwa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Muscat 1% lower, Nizwa 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.29 OMR 2.04

$2.66 OMR 1.02

98.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.50 OMR 9.81

$25.58 OMR 9.84

-0.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.99 OMR 3.07

$3.99 OMR 1.54

100.25%

Cappuccino

$4.86 OMR 1.87

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

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$0.82 OMR 0.31

23.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

$0.27 OMR 0.10

25.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.41 OMR 4.78

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.66 OMR 4.49

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$1.34 OMR 0.51

47.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

$1.33 OMR 0.51

-7.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 OMR 0.66

$1.79 OMR 0.69

-5.03%

Eggs

$2.42 OMR 0.93

$2.23 OMR 0.86

8.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.71 OMR 1.43

$3.89 OMR 1.50

-4.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 OMR 1.88

$7.72 OMR 2.97

-36.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.27 OMR 3.18

Apples (1kg)

$2.51 OMR 0.97

$2.04 OMR 0.78

23.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 OMR 0.66

$1.27 OMR 0.49

35.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 OMR 0.69

$1.33 OMR 0.51

33.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 OMR 0.44

$1.32 OMR 0.51

-13.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.07 OMR 0.41

-4.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.03 OMR 0.40

-4.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$0.54 OMR 0.21

101.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 OMR 0.20

$0.75 OMR 0.29

-30.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.28 OMR 2.42

Wine (Bottle)

$15.71 OMR 6.05

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.38 OMR 1.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 OMR 3.09

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.0 OMR 24.25

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 OMR 1.22

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.20 OMR 3.92

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 OMR 0.25

$0.63 OMR 0.24

1.59%

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

$22.5K OMR 8,652

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

$21.5K OMR 8,277

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

$109 OMR 41.77

$132 OMR 50.8

-17.68%

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

$40.41 OMR 15.55

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.5 OMR 26.37

$65.5 OMR 25.21

4.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.75 OMR 18.76

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.23 OMR 8.94

Cinema Ticket

$10.28 OMR 3.96

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

$190 OMR 73.0

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K OMR 3,860

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 OMR 19.62

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.14 OMR 15.06

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 OMR 29.86

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.6 OMR 33.71

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 OMR 237

$264 OMR 102

133.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$407 OMR 157

$209 OMR 80.5

94.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 OMR 478

$393 OMR 151

215.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$714 OMR 275

$261 OMR 100

173.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,866 OMR 1,103

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,593 OMR 613

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,576 OMR 607

$1,323 OMR 509

19.13%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Nizwa: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Muscat and $264 in Nizwa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Muscat pays 19% 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: $26.00 in Muscat vs $26.00 in Nizwa. Groceries flip the comparison at $230 vs $139, with Nizwa cheaper for home cooking.

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 Nizwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Muscat and Nizwa differ by about 128% in total monthly costs ($1,322 vs $580 including rent). Nizwa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 19% higher in Muscat, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Muscat versus $264 in Nizwa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Nizwa – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $26.00 in Muscat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,322 per month in Muscat versus $580 in Nizwa – a 128% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $580 in Nizwa versus $1,322 in Muscat, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nizwa but tight or insufficient in Muscat. The gap between the two cities makes Nizwa 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 Nizwa 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 Nizwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 128% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.