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: $1,525 in Muscat versus $624 in Ruwi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,272 in Muscat versus $824 in Ruwi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,019 in Muscat versus $1,023 in Ruwi.

Living in Muscat is roughly 145% more expensive than in Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Muscat is 11% above, Ruwi is 55% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.34 OMR 2.06

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.00 OMR 13.09

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.74 OMR 2.98

Cappuccino

$4.73 OMR 1.82

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

$0.86 OMR 0.33

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 OMR 0.11

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.07 OMR 5.03

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.79 OMR 4.92

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 OMR 0.87

$1.98 OMR 0.76

13.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 OMR 0.48

$1.97 OMR 0.76

-36.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 OMR 0.73

$1.01 OMR 0.39

88.12%

Eggs

$2.94 OMR 1.13

$1.22 OMR 0.47

140.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.65 OMR 2.94

$2.02 OMR 0.78

278.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.57 OMR 2.53

$1.99 OMR 0.77

230.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.54 OMR 4.06

$4.87 OMR 1.87

116.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.41 OMR 1.31

$0.97 OMR 0.37

251.55%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$1.03 OMR 0.40

94.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 OMR 0.89

$1.03 OMR 0.40

125.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 OMR 0.46

$1.02 OMR 0.39

17.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$0.98 OMR 0.38

24.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 OMR 0.50

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.80 OMR 0.69

$0.99 OMR 0.38

81.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 OMR 0.26

$1.03 OMR 0.40

-34.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.30 OMR 2.43

Wine (Bottle)

$15.43 OMR 5.94

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.68 OMR 2.19

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.72 OMR 3.36

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.7 OMR 29.52

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 OMR 1.24

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.59 OMR 1.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.82 OMR 3.01

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

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

$25.1K OMR 9,665

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

$22.2K OMR 8,564

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

$170 OMR 65.5

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

$30.94 OMR 11.91

$25.65 OMR 9.88

20.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 OMR 26.92

$77.9 OMR 30.00

-10.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.7 OMR 24.14

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.20 OMR 11.24

Cinema Ticket

$10.34 OMR 3.98

$8.93 OMR 3.44

15.79%

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

$289 OMR 111

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K OMR 4,110

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 OMR 21.42

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.19 OMR 16.63

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.0 OMR 35.43

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.0 OMR 36.95

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$673 OMR 259

$396 OMR 153

69.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 OMR 175

$385 OMR 148

18.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,366 OMR 526

$912 OMR 351

49.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$857 OMR 330

$582 OMR 224

47.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,835 OMR 1,092

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,595 OMR 614

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,660 OMR 639

$4,419 OMR 1,701

-62.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Muscat: September 1, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $673 in Muscat and $396 in Ruwi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ruwi pays 166% 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 145% in total monthly costs ($1,525 vs $624 including rent). Ruwi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 166% 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: $673 in Muscat versus $396 in Ruwi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 140% higher in Muscat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,525 per month in Muscat versus $624 in Ruwi – a 145% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $624 in Ruwi versus $1,525 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 145% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.