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: $1,331 in Muscat versus $582 in Nizwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,982 in Muscat versus $787 in Nizwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,633 in Muscat versus $993 in Nizwa.

Living in Muscat is roughly 129% more expensive than 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

$2.54 OMR 0.98

108.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.39 OMR 10.16

$26.21 OMR 10.09

0.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 OMR 3.02

$3.84 OMR 1.48

104.17%

Cappuccino

$4.95 OMR 1.90

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

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$0.87 OMR 0.33

17.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

$0.27 OMR 0.10

25.93%

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

$1.31 OMR 0.51

52.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 OMR 0.46

$1.27 OMR 0.49

-5.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 OMR 0.65

$1.77 OMR 0.68

-3.95%

Eggs

$2.45 OMR 0.94

$2.13 OMR 0.82

15.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.84 OMR 1.48

$3.83 OMR 1.47

0.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.16 OMR 1.98

$8.02 OMR 3.09

-35.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.46 OMR 3.26

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 OMR 0.98

$2.06 OMR 0.79

23.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 OMR 0.66

$1.28 OMR 0.49

34.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 OMR 0.68

$1.31 OMR 0.50

35.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 OMR 0.44

$1.32 OMR 0.51

-14.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 OMR 0.38

$1.05 OMR 0.41

-4.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.06 OMR 0.41

-3.77%

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

$0.82 OMR 0.31

-31.71%

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

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.90 OMR 3.04

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

$0.59 OMR 0.23

1.69%

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

$130 OMR 49.97

-17.30%

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

$40.60 OMR 15.63

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.5 OMR 27.13

$64.1 OMR 24.68

9.94%

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

$265 OMR 102

133.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 OMR 158

$204 OMR 78.6

101.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,222 OMR 470

$389 OMR 150

214.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 OMR 281

$264 OMR 102

176.13%

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

$1,309 OMR 504

26.36%

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 Nizwa: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Muscat and $265 in Nizwa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Muscat pays 26% 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 $231 vs $140, 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 129% in total monthly costs ($1,331 vs $582 including rent). Nizwa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Muscat pays 26% more on average, 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: $619 in Muscat versus $265 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 $1,331 per month in Muscat versus $582 in Nizwa – a 129% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $582 in Nizwa versus $1,331 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 129% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.