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: $1,356 in Muscat versus $821 in Saham.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,953 in Muscat versus $1,220 in Saham.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,550 in Muscat versus $1,619 in Saham.

Living in Muscat is roughly 65% more expensive than Saham, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Muscat is 2% above, Saham is 38% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.29 OMR 2.03

$5.06 OMR 1.95

4.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.72 OMR 9.90

$25.76 OMR 9.91

-0.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.89 OMR 3.03

$7.73 OMR 2.98

2.07%

Cappuccino

$4.96 OMR 1.91

$4.76 OMR 1.83

4.20%

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

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$1.05 OMR 0.40

-3.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.42 OMR 4.78

$12.57 OMR 4.84

-1.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.66 OMR 4.49

$11.55 OMR 4.44

0.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 OMR 0.45

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 OMR 0.64

$1.66 OMR 0.64

0.60%

Eggs

$2.43 OMR 0.94

$2.44 OMR 0.94

-0.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.86 OMR 1.48

$3.76 OMR 1.45

2.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.13 OMR 1.97

$5.13 OMR 1.98

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 OMR 3.35

$8.30 OMR 3.19

4.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.47 OMR 0.95

$2.58 OMR 0.99

-4.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 OMR 0.64

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

$1.83 OMR 0.70

1.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 OMR 0.43

$1.16 OMR 0.45

-3.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 OMR 0.37

$1.03 OMR 0.40

-7.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.38

$1.03 OMR 0.40

-5.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 OMR 0.41

$1.03 OMR 0.40

3.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 OMR 0.21

$0.56 OMR 0.22

-1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.31 OMR 2.43

$6.41 OMR 2.47

-1.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.78 OMR 6.07

$15.64 OMR 6.02

0.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.23 OMR 1.63

$4.39 OMR 1.69

-3.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 OMR 3.09

$7.59 OMR 2.92

5.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.5 OMR 23.67

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 OMR 1.17

$3.03 OMR 1.16

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 OMR 0.29

$0.75 OMR 0.29

1.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.50 OMR 4.04

$10.61 OMR 4.08

-1.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

$0.64 OMR 0.24

-6.25%

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

$22.6K OMR 8,706

$23.0K OMR 8,860

-1.74%

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

$21.3K OMR 8,214

$21.3K OMR 8,197

0.21%

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

$106 OMR 40.72

$108 OMR 41.65

-2.24%

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

$41.61 OMR 16.01

$40.64 OMR 15.64

2.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.5 OMR 26.74

$69.4 OMR 26.69

0.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.22 OMR 18.17

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.00 OMR 8.85

Cinema Ticket

$10.29 OMR 3.96

$10.27 OMR 3.95

0.19%

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

$192 OMR 73.9

$191 OMR 73.4

0.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,964 OMR 3,834

$10.0K OMR 3,858

-0.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.41 OMR 19.01

$50.8 OMR 19.56

-2.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.11 OMR 15.05

$39.37 OMR 15.15

-0.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 OMR 29.92

$79.9 OMR 30.75

-2.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 OMR 33.53

$87.7 OMR 33.76

-0.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$611 OMR 235

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$406 OMR 156

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,238 OMR 476

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$727 OMR 280

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,642 OMR 1,017

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,563 OMR 601

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,684 OMR 648

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: June 16, 2026

Last update for Saham: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $26.00 in Muscat vs $26.00 in Saham. Groceries flip the comparison at $231 vs $230, 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 65% in total monthly costs ($1,356 vs $821 including rent). Saham is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,034 in Muscat and $1,232 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 $1,356 per month in Muscat versus $821 in Saham – a 65% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $821 in Saham versus $1,356 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 65% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.