🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,331 in Muscat versus $1,489 in Peristeri.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,982 in Muscat versus $2,203 in Peristeri.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,633 in Muscat versus $2,917 in Peristeri.
🙂Living in Muscat costs roughly 11% less than in Peristeri, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Muscat is 1% below, Peristeri is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Muscat
Peristeri
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.29OMR 2.04
$15.57€13.39
-66.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.39OMR 10.16
$64.7€55.6
-59.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.84OMR 3.02
$10.46€9.00
-25.05%
Cappuccino
$4.95OMR 1.90
$4.28€3.68
15.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02OMR 0.39
$2.34€2.01
-56.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34OMR 0.13
$0.55€0.48
-38.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.16OMR 4.68
$4.52€3.89
169.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.87OMR 4.57
$4.66€4.01
154.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Muscat
Peristeri
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00OMR 0.77
$1.70€1.46
17.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.20OMR 0.46
$1.33€1.15
-9.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70OMR 0.65
$2.32€2.00
-26.72%
Eggs
$2.45OMR 0.94
$4.06€3.49
-39.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.84OMR 1.48
$11.42€9.83
-66.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.16OMR 1.98
$9.10€7.83
-43.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.46OMR 3.26
$13.74€11.82
-38.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.54OMR 0.98
$2.25€1.94
12.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72OMR 0.66
$2.16€1.86
-20.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77OMR 0.68
$1.51€1.30
17.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.13OMR 0.44
$2.40€2.06
-52.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00OMR 0.38
$1.25€1.08
-20.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02OMR 0.39
$1.17€1.01
-12.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03OMR 0.40
$0.95€0.82
8.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56OMR 0.22
$1.00€0.86
-44.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.22OMR 2.39
$5.80€4.99
7.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.55OMR 5.99
$6.47€5.56
140.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.25OMR 1.64
$2.00€1.72
112.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.90OMR 3.04
$3.00€2.58
163.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Muscat
Peristeri
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.27OMR 0.49
$1.35€1.16
-5.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$62.3OMR 23.99
$35.01€30.11
77.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.16OMR 1.22
$4.14€3.56
-23.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80OMR 0.31
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.34OMR 3.98
$11.62€10.00
-11.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60OMR 0.23
$2.07€1.78
-71.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KOMR 8,778
$29.4K€25.3K
-22.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8KOMR 8,405
$25.0K€21.5K
-12.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Muscat
Peristeri
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107OMR 41.32
$219€189
-51.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.60OMR 15.63
$22.34€19.21
81.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.5OMR 27.13
$33.40€28.73
110.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Muscat
Peristeri
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.24OMR 18.19
$48.59€41.79
-2.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.99OMR 8.85
$25.83€22.22
-10.99%
Cinema Ticket
$10.47OMR 4.03
$9.57€8.23
9.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Muscat
Peristeri
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$192OMR 74.1
$524€451
-63.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,757OMR 3,756
$6,520€5,609
49.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Muscat
Peristeri
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.7OMR 19.53
$64.5€55.5
-21.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.51OMR 15.21
$32.42€27.89
21.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.4OMR 30.56
$68.7€59.1
15.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0OMR 34.66
$105€90.6
-14.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Muscat
Peristeri
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619OMR 238
$530€456
16.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$410OMR 158
$468€403
-12.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,222OMR 470
$806€693
51.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730OMR 281
$699€602
4.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,666OMR 1,026
$3,101€2,667
-14.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,552OMR 597
$2,507€2,156
-38.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Muscat
Peristeri
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,654OMR 637
$781€672
111.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.15
4.42
16.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Muscat: May 31, 2026
Last update for Peristeri: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Muscat and $530 in Peristeri. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Muscat pays 112% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in Muscat vs $65.0 in Peristeri for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $270 per month, with Muscat 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 Peristeri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Muscat and Peristeri?
Muscat and Peristeri differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($1,331 vs $1,489 including rent). Muscat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Muscat or Peristeri?
Muscat pays 112% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Muscat and Peristeri?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Muscat versus $530 in Peristeri. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Muscat – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $65.0 in Peristeri. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Muscat or Peristeri?
All in, you'll spend $1,331 per month in Muscat versus $1,489 in Peristeri – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,331 in Muscat versus $1,489 in Peristeri, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Muscat but tight or insufficient in Peristeri. The gap between the two cities makes Muscat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Muscat and Peristeri?
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.
Is Muscat or Peristeri safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Muscat and Peristeri are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Muscat or Peristeri?
Expats usually find Muscat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Peristeri. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.