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: $1,338 in Muscat versus $287 in Seeb.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,954 in Muscat versus $466 in Seeb.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,569 in Muscat versus $646 in Seeb.

Living in Muscat is roughly 367% more expensive than in Seeb, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Muscat is 1% above, Seeb is 78% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 OMR 2.02

$7.92 OMR 3.05

-33.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.76 OMR 9.92

$15.47 OMR 5.95

66.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.85 OMR 3.02

$7.70 OMR 2.97

1.95%

Cappuccino

$4.83 OMR 1.86

$4.62 OMR 1.78

4.55%

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

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$0.81 OMR 0.31

24.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 OMR 0.12

$0.27 OMR 0.10

18.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.40 OMR 4.77

$10.22 OMR 3.93

21.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.90 OMR 4.58

$10.37 OMR 3.99

14.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

Eggs

$2.37 OMR 0.91

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.76 OMR 1.45

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.95 OMR 1.91

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.57 OMR 3.30

Apples (1kg)

$2.51 OMR 0.96

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 OMR 0.64

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 OMR 0.68

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 OMR 0.40

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 OMR 0.22

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.23 OMR 2.40

Wine (Bottle)

$15.50 OMR 5.96

$12.93 OMR 4.98

19.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 OMR 1.60

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.90 OMR 3.04

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.31 OMR 0.51

$0.76 OMR 0.29

72.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.7 OMR 23.76

$39.67 OMR 15.27

55.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 OMR 1.22

$2.31 OMR 0.89

37.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 OMR 0.31

$0.53 OMR 0.21

54.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.49 OMR 4.04

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

$0.59 OMR 0.23

1.69%

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

$22.9K OMR 8,820

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

$22.0K OMR 8,472

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

$106 OMR 40.64

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

$41.28 OMR 15.89

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 OMR 26.92

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.51 OMR 18.67

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.39 OMR 9.00

Cinema Ticket

$10.54 OMR 4.06

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

$193 OMR 74.3

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,748 OMR 3,752

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.70 OMR 19.13

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.31 OMR 15.13

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.2 OMR 30.49

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 OMR 34.76

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$618 OMR 238

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 OMR 156

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,241 OMR 478

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$734 OMR 282

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,884 OMR 1,110

$1,290 OMR 497

123.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,603 OMR 617

$1,041 OMR 401

53.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,588 OMR 611

$2,291 OMR 882

-30.71%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Seeb: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Seeb pays 44% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $26.00 in Muscat vs $15.00 in Seeb for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $229 vs $26.00 per month, with Seeb cheaper across the board.

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 367% in total monthly costs ($1,338 vs $287 including rent). Seeb is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 44% 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 787% higher in Muscat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,338 per month in Muscat versus $287 in Seeb – a 367% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $287 in Seeb versus $1,338 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 367% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.