Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Shinas Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Shinas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,322 in Muscat versus $795 in Shinas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,928 in Muscat versus $1,196 in Shinas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,533 in Muscat versus $1,596 in Shinas.

Living in Muscat is roughly 66% more expensive than in Shinas, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Muscat 1% lower, Shinas 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.29 OMR 2.04

$5.26 OMR 2.02

0.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.50 OMR 9.82

$25.73 OMR 9.90

-0.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.99 OMR 3.08

$7.96 OMR 3.07

0.38%

Cappuccino

$4.86 OMR 1.87

$5.00 OMR 1.92

-2.80%

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

$0.31 OMR 0.12

9.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.41 OMR 4.78

$12.28 OMR 4.73

1.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.66 OMR 4.49

$11.76 OMR 4.53

-0.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$1.99 OMR 0.77

-0.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

$1.18 OMR 0.45

4.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 OMR 0.66

$1.65 OMR 0.64

3.03%

Eggs

$2.42 OMR 0.93

$2.36 OMR 0.91

2.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.71 OMR 1.43

$3.84 OMR 1.48

-3.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 OMR 1.88

$5.09 OMR 1.96

-3.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.27 OMR 3.18

$8.77 OMR 3.37

-5.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.51 OMR 0.97

$2.54 OMR 0.98

-1.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 OMR 0.66

$1.73 OMR 0.67

-0.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 OMR 0.69

$1.77 OMR 0.68

0.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 OMR 0.44

$1.13 OMR 0.44

0.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$0.97 OMR 0.37

5.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$1.05 OMR 0.40

3.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 OMR 0.20

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.28 OMR 2.42

$6.29 OMR 2.42

-0.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.71 OMR 6.05

$15.38 OMR 5.92

2.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.38 OMR 1.68

$4.22 OMR 1.62

3.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 OMR 3.09

$7.96 OMR 3.06

0.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.0 OMR 24.26

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 OMR 1.22

$3.09 OMR 1.19

2.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.20 OMR 3.92

$10.36 OMR 3.99

-1.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 OMR 0.25

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

$22.5K OMR 8,654

$23.0K OMR 8,838

-2.08%

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

$21.5K OMR 8,279

$21.8K OMR 8,391

-1.33%

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

$109 OMR 41.78

$107 OMR 41.02

1.86%

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

$40.41 OMR 15.55

$40.69 OMR 15.66

-0.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.5 OMR 26.38

$71.0 OMR 27.32

-3.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.75 OMR 18.76

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.23 OMR 8.94

Cinema Ticket

$10.28 OMR 3.96

$10.41 OMR 4.01

-1.25%

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

$190 OMR 73.0

$194 OMR 74.7

-2.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K OMR 3,861

$9,771 OMR 3,761

2.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 OMR 19.62

$51.0 OMR 19.63

-0.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.14 OMR 15.07

$39.66 OMR 15.26

-1.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 OMR 29.87

$80.0 OMR 30.81

-3.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.6 OMR 33.72

$87.7 OMR 33.74

-0.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 OMR 237

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$407 OMR 157

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 OMR 478

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$714 OMR 275

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,866 OMR 1,103

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,593 OMR 613

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,576 OMR 607

$3,106 OMR 1,195

-49.24%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Shinas: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Shinas pays 97% 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 $26.00 in Shinas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $230 per month, with Muscat 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 Shinas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Muscat and Shinas differ by about 66% in total monthly costs ($1,322 vs $795 including rent). Shinas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 97% lower in Shinas. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

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 $1,322 per month in Muscat versus $795 in Shinas – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $795 in Shinas versus $1,322 in Muscat, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Shinas but tight or insufficient in Muscat. The gap between the two cities makes Shinas 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 Shinas 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 Shinas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.