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: $1,553 in Muscat versus $931 in Saham.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,303 in Muscat versus $1,394 in Saham.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,052 in Muscat versus $1,857 in Saham.

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

The two cities straddle the global median: Muscat is 14% above, Saham is 32% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.31 OMR 2.05

$5.23 OMR 2.01

1.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.16 OMR 13.15

$33.21 OMR 12.79

2.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.99 OMR 3.07

$7.74 OMR 2.98

3.23%

Cappuccino

$4.77 OMR 1.84

$4.79 OMR 1.84

-0.42%

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

$0.84 OMR 0.32

$0.85 OMR 0.33

-1.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 OMR 0.11

$0.27 OMR 0.10

7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.94 OMR 4.98

$13.19 OMR 5.08

-1.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.96 OMR 4.99

$13.12 OMR 5.05

-1.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.36 OMR 0.91

$2.26 OMR 0.87

4.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

$1.29 OMR 0.50

-4.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 OMR 0.73

$1.81 OMR 0.69

4.42%

Eggs

$2.88 OMR 1.11

$2.94 OMR 1.13

-2.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.54 OMR 2.90

$7.65 OMR 2.95

-1.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.78 OMR 2.61

$6.56 OMR 2.52

3.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.76 OMR 4.14

$10.68 OMR 4.11

0.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 OMR 1.32

$3.54 OMR 1.36

-3.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$1.99 OMR 0.77

-0.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 OMR 0.89

$2.40 OMR 0.92

-3.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$1.20 OMR 0.46

1.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 OMR 0.44

$1.16 OMR 0.45

-0.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

$1.23 OMR 0.48

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 OMR 0.69

$1.86 OMR 0.72

-4.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 OMR 0.25

$0.67 OMR 0.26

-1.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.66 OMR 2.57

$6.50 OMR 2.50

2.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.40 OMR 5.93

$15.81 OMR 6.09

-2.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.48 OMR 2.11

$5.63 OMR 2.17

-2.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.11 OMR 3.51

$8.76 OMR 3.37

4.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.33 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.1 OMR 30.47

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 OMR 1.22

$3.21 OMR 1.24

-1.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.58 OMR 0.99

$2.68 OMR 1.03

-3.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.67 OMR 2.95

$8.03 OMR 3.09

-4.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 OMR 0.23

$0.60 OMR 0.23

-1.67%

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

$25.4K OMR 9,783

$25.8K OMR 9,941

-1.59%

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

$22.8K OMR 8,786

$22.4K OMR 8,621

1.91%

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

$169 OMR 65.2

$169 OMR 65.1

0.11%

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

$30.44 OMR 11.72

$30.89 OMR 11.89

-1.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 OMR 27.41

$71.0 OMR 27.32

0.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 OMR 23.72

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.88 OMR 11.12

Cinema Ticket

$10.55 OMR 4.06

$10.52 OMR 4.05

0.29%

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

$286 OMR 110

-0.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K OMR 4,026

$10.5K OMR 4,034

-0.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 OMR 21.38

$55.9 OMR 21.50

-0.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.21 OMR 16.64

$43.31 OMR 16.67

-0.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.3 OMR 35.14

$91.3 OMR 35.15

-0.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.1 OMR 36.59

$95.6 OMR 36.80

-0.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$674 OMR 259

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 OMR 175

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,361 OMR 524

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$854 OMR 329

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,821 OMR 1,086

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,613 OMR 621

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,674 OMR 645

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 15, 2026

Last update for Saham: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $34.00 in Muscat vs $33.00 in Saham. Groceries flip the comparison at $286 vs $286, with Muscat 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 ($1,553 vs $931 including rent). Saham is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,329 in Muscat and $1,397 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.

Shoppers in Muscat pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,553 per month in Muscat versus $931 in Saham – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $931 in Saham versus $1,553 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.