Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Ruwi Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Ruwi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,322 in Muscat versus $510 in Ruwi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,928 in Muscat versus $774 in Ruwi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,533 in Muscat versus $1,039 in Ruwi.

Living in Muscat is roughly 159% more expensive than in Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Muscat 1% lower, Ruwi 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.29 OMR 2.04

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.50 OMR 9.82

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.99 OMR 3.08

Cappuccino

$4.86 OMR 1.87

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

$1.01 OMR 0.39

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

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

$2.02 OMR 0.78

-1.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

$1.95 OMR 0.75

-36.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 OMR 0.66

$0.98 OMR 0.38

73.47%

Eggs

$2.42 OMR 0.93

$1.18 OMR 0.46

105.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.71 OMR 1.43

$2.05 OMR 0.79

80.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 OMR 1.88

$2.05 OMR 0.79

138.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.27 OMR 3.18

$5.07 OMR 1.95

63.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.51 OMR 0.97

$0.99 OMR 0.38

153.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 OMR 0.66

$0.98 OMR 0.38

75.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 OMR 0.69

$1.02 OMR 0.39

74.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 OMR 0.44

$0.98 OMR 0.38

16.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.01 OMR 0.39

0.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$1.02 OMR 0.39

6.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 OMR 0.20

$0.99 OMR 0.38

-47.47%

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 24.26

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

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

$22.5K OMR 8,654

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

$21.5K OMR 8,279

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

$109 OMR 41.78

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

$40.41 OMR 15.55

$25.58 OMR 9.85

57.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.5 OMR 26.38

$78.5 OMR 30.22

-12.72%

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

$9.03 OMR 3.48

13.84%

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

$190 OMR 73.0

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K OMR 3,861

$12.8K OMR 4,911

-21.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 OMR 19.62

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.14 OMR 15.07

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 OMR 29.87

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.6 OMR 33.72

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 OMR 237

$387 OMR 149

59.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$407 OMR 157

$255 OMR 98.1

59.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 OMR 478

$900 OMR 346

38.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$714 OMR 275

$582 OMR 224

22.76%

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

$4,481 OMR 1,725

-64.82%

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 Ruwi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Muscat and $387 in Ruwi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ruwi pays 184% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Ruwi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Muscat and Ruwi differ by about 159% in total monthly costs ($1,322 vs $510 including rent). Ruwi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 184% lower in Ruwi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Muscat versus $387 in Ruwi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 93% higher in Muscat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,322 per month in Muscat versus $510 in Ruwi – a 159% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $510 in Ruwi versus $1,322 in Muscat, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ruwi but tight or insufficient in Muscat. The gap between the two cities makes Ruwi 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 Ruwi 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 Ruwi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 159% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.