Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Seeb Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Seeb

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,553 in Muscat versus $1,311 in Seeb.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,303 in Muscat versus $1,968 in Seeb.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,052 in Muscat versus $2,624 in Seeb.

Living in Muscat is roughly 18% more expensive than in Seeb, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Muscat is 14% above, Seeb is 4% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.31 OMR 2.05

$7.71 OMR 2.97

-31.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.16 OMR 13.15

$20.69 OMR 7.97

65.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.99 OMR 3.07

$8.03 OMR 3.09

-0.50%

Cappuccino

$4.77 OMR 1.84

$5.13 OMR 1.97

-7.02%

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

$0.84 OMR 0.32

$1.02 OMR 0.39

-17.65%

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

$10.61 OMR 4.08

21.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.96 OMR 4.99

$10.45 OMR 4.02

24.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.36 OMR 0.91

$3.14 OMR 1.21

-24.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

$1.27 OMR 0.49

-3.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 OMR 0.73

$2.56 OMR 0.98

-26.17%

Eggs

$2.88 OMR 1.11

$4.79 OMR 1.84

-39.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.54 OMR 2.90

$13.10 OMR 5.04

-42.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.78 OMR 2.61

$7.78 OMR 2.99

-12.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.76 OMR 4.14

$13.03 OMR 5.02

-17.42%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 OMR 1.32

$4.01 OMR 1.55

-14.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$2.67 OMR 1.03

-25.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 OMR 0.89

$3.99 OMR 1.53

-41.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$2.58 OMR 0.99

-52.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 OMR 0.44

$1.28 OMR 0.49

-10.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

$1.99 OMR 0.76

-38.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 OMR 0.69

$1.31 OMR 0.50

35.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 OMR 0.25

$0.53 OMR 0.21

24.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.66 OMR 2.57

$6.40 OMR 2.47

4.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.40 OMR 5.93

$12.89 OMR 4.96

19.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.48 OMR 2.11

$5.23 OMR 2.01

4.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.11 OMR 3.51

$8.85 OMR 3.41

2.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.33 OMR 0.51

$0.74 OMR 0.29

79.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.1 OMR 30.47

$38.69 OMR 14.90

104.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 OMR 1.22

$2.51 OMR 0.96

26.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.58 OMR 0.99

$0.68 OMR 0.26

279.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.67 OMR 2.95

$13.13 OMR 5.06

-41.58%

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

$23.4K OMR 8,992

8.79%

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

$22.8K OMR 8,786

$23.5K OMR 9,047

-2.88%

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

$169 OMR 65.2

$103 OMR 39.84

63.59%

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

$30.44 OMR 11.72

$26.42 OMR 10.17

15.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 OMR 27.41

$77.8 OMR 29.94

-8.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 OMR 23.72

$78.4 OMR 30.18

-21.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.88 OMR 11.12

Cinema Ticket

$10.55 OMR 4.06

$6.67 OMR 2.57

58.17%

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

$286 OMR 110

$386 OMR 148

-25.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K OMR 4,026

$7,921 OMR 3,050

32.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 OMR 21.38

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.21 OMR 16.64

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.3 OMR 35.14

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.1 OMR 36.59

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$674 OMR 259

$512 OMR 197

31.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 OMR 175

$387 OMR 149

17.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,361 OMR 524

$1,041 OMR 401

30.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$854 OMR 329

$788 OMR 303

8.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,821 OMR 1,086

$1,298 OMR 500

117.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,613 OMR 621

$1,026 OMR 395

57.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,674 OMR 645

$2,265 OMR 872

-26.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

5.00%

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

Last update for Muscat: September 15, 2026

Last update for Seeb: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $674 in Muscat and $512 in Seeb. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seeb pays 35% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Muscat vs $21.00 in Seeb. Groceries flip the comparison at $286 vs $345, 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 Seeb: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Muscat and Seeb differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($1,553 vs $1,311 including rent). Seeb is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 35% lower in Seeb. 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: $674 in Muscat versus $512 in Seeb. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Seeb – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $34.00 in Muscat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,553 per month in Muscat versus $1,311 in Seeb – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,311 in Seeb versus $1,553 in Muscat, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Seeb but tight or insufficient in Muscat. The gap between the two cities makes Seeb 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 Seeb 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 Seeb gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.