Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Saham Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Saham

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,346 in Muscat versus $806 in Saham.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,982 in Muscat versus $1,206 in Saham.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,619 in Muscat versus $1,605 in Saham.

Living in Muscat is roughly 67% more expensive than Saham, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Muscat is 1% above, Saham is 40% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.36 OMR 2.06

$5.32 OMR 2.04

0.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.15 OMR 10.04

$26.06 OMR 10.01

0.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.94 OMR 3.05

$7.92 OMR 3.04

0.25%

Cappuccino

$5.03 OMR 1.93

$5.00 OMR 1.92

0.60%

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

$1.05 OMR 0.40

$1.06 OMR 0.41

-0.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 OMR 0.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.51 OMR 4.81

$12.12 OMR 4.65

3.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.65 OMR 4.47

$11.86 OMR 4.55

-1.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 OMR 0.74

$1.89 OMR 0.73

2.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$1.19 OMR 0.46

2.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 OMR 0.66

Eggs

$2.37 OMR 0.91

$2.44 OMR 0.94

-2.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.67 OMR 1.41

$3.70 OMR 1.42

-0.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 OMR 1.95

$5.16 OMR 1.98

-1.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.40 OMR 3.23

$8.42 OMR 3.23

-0.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.52 OMR 0.97

$2.62 OMR 1.01

-3.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 OMR 0.66

$1.68 OMR 0.64

1.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 OMR 0.68

$1.76 OMR 0.68

0.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 OMR 0.44

$1.12 OMR 0.43

0.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 OMR 0.38

$0.96 OMR 0.37

4.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$1.02 OMR 0.39

-4.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 OMR 0.41

$1.07 OMR 0.41

0.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 OMR 0.21

$0.53 OMR 0.20

3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.36 OMR 2.44

$6.26 OMR 2.41

1.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.50 OMR 5.95

$15.89 OMR 6.10

-2.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.37 OMR 1.68

$4.20 OMR 1.61

4.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.99 OMR 3.07

$7.70 OMR 2.96

3.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.0 OMR 23.81

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 OMR 1.18

$3.13 OMR 1.20

-2.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 OMR 0.29

$0.75 OMR 0.29

2.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.47 OMR 4.02

$10.58 OMR 4.06

-1.04%

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)

$22.6K OMR 8,695

$22.9K OMR 8,791

-1.10%

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

$21.4K OMR 8,228

$21.3K OMR 8,197

0.38%

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

$109 OMR 41.88

$108 OMR 41.63

0.60%

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

$41.31 OMR 15.86

$41.62 OMR 15.98

-0.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.8 OMR 26.41

$69.6 OMR 26.71

-1.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.18 OMR 18.50

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.11 OMR 8.87

Cinema Ticket

$10.27 OMR 3.94

$10.53 OMR 4.05

-2.47%

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

$189 OMR 72.7

$194 OMR 74.4

-2.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,697 OMR 3,723

$9,676 OMR 3,716

0.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 OMR 19.56

$50.6 OMR 19.43

0.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.59 OMR 15.20

$39.41 OMR 15.13

0.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 OMR 30.48

$78.7 OMR 30.24

0.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.4 OMR 34.69

$89.4 OMR 34.34

1.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$611 OMR 235

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 OMR 158

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,230 OMR 472

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$733 OMR 281

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,609 OMR 1,002

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,545 OMR 593

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,746 OMR 670

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Saham: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $26.00 in Muscat vs $26.00 in Saham. Groceries flip the comparison at $230 vs $229, with Saham 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 Saham: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Muscat and Saham differ by about 67% in total monthly costs ($1,346 vs $806 including rent). Saham is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,019 in Muscat and $1,209 in Saham to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Muscat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,346 per month in Muscat versus $806 in Saham – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $806 in Saham versus $1,346 in Muscat, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Saham but tight or insufficient in Muscat. The gap between the two cities makes Saham 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 Saham 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 Saham gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.