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: $1,519 in Muscat versus $945 in Shinas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,303 in Muscat versus $1,408 in Shinas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,087 in Muscat versus $1,872 in Shinas.

Living in Muscat is roughly 61% more expensive than in Shinas, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Muscat is 10% above, Shinas is 31% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.22 OMR 2.01

$5.18 OMR 2.00

0.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.29 OMR 13.20

$34.11 OMR 13.13

0.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.88 OMR 3.04

$7.88 OMR 3.03

Cappuccino

$4.79 OMR 1.84

$4.81 OMR 1.85

-0.42%

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

$0.89 OMR 0.34

$0.91 OMR 0.35

-2.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 OMR 0.11

$0.27 OMR 0.10

7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.75 OMR 4.91

$13.22 OMR 5.09

-3.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.96 OMR 4.99

$12.93 OMR 4.98

0.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.36 OMR 0.91

$2.24 OMR 0.86

5.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.25 OMR 0.48

1.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 OMR 0.71

$1.85 OMR 0.71

-0.54%

Eggs

$2.85 OMR 1.10

$2.89 OMR 1.11

-1.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 OMR 2.90

$7.57 OMR 2.91

-0.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.80 OMR 2.62

$6.56 OMR 2.53

3.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.36 OMR 3.99

$10.60 OMR 4.08

-2.26%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 OMR 1.32

$3.40 OMR 1.31

0.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 OMR 0.75

$2.00 OMR 0.77

-3.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 OMR 0.93

$2.34 OMR 0.90

2.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 OMR 0.49

$1.27 OMR 0.49

-0.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 OMR 0.46

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

$1.86 OMR 0.71

-0.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 OMR 0.24

$0.63 OMR 0.24

-3.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.45 OMR 2.48

$6.54 OMR 2.52

-1.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.36 OMR 5.91

$15.36 OMR 5.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 OMR 2.09

$5.69 OMR 2.19

-4.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.04 OMR 3.48

$8.81 OMR 3.39

2.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 OMR 0.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.7 OMR 29.52

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 OMR 1.28

$3.33 OMR 1.28

-0.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 OMR 1.01

$2.66 OMR 1.02

-1.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.90 OMR 3.04

$7.88 OMR 3.03

0.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 OMR 0.24

$0.60 OMR 0.23

5.00%

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

$25.0K OMR 9,621

$25.2K OMR 9,699

-0.81%

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

$23.0K OMR 8,865

$22.3K OMR 8,594

3.16%

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

$173 OMR 66.4

$169 OMR 65.1

2.03%

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

$31.32 OMR 12.06

$31.37 OMR 12.08

-0.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.0 OMR 26.56

$70.5 OMR 27.14

-2.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.5 OMR 24.05

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.49 OMR 11.35

Cinema Ticket

$10.31 OMR 3.97

$10.22 OMR 3.93

0.88%

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

$293 OMR 113

$286 OMR 110

2.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K OMR 4,121

$10.5K OMR 4,050

1.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 OMR 21.36

$57.0 OMR 21.95

-2.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.08 OMR 16.97

$43.68 OMR 16.82

0.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.7 OMR 34.91

$92.1 OMR 35.44

-1.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.1 OMR 36.25

$97.0 OMR 37.34

-2.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$665 OMR 256

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$457 OMR 176

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,340 OMR 516

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$848 OMR 327

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,837 OMR 1,092

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 OMR 612

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,698 OMR 654

$3,067 OMR 1,181

-44.62%

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 6, 2026

Last update for Shinas: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Shinas pays 81% 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 $34.00 in Shinas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $284 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 61% in total monthly costs ($1,519 vs $945 including rent). Shinas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 81% 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.

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 $1,519 per month in Muscat versus $945 in Shinas – a 61% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $945 in Shinas versus $1,519 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 61% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.