Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Sur Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Sur

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,519 in Muscat versus $1,142 in Sur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,303 in Muscat versus $1,655 in Sur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,087 in Muscat versus $2,168 in Sur.

Living in Muscat is roughly 33% more expensive than in Sur, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Muscat is 10% above, Sur is 17% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.22 OMR 2.01

$3.81 OMR 1.47

37.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.29 OMR 13.20

$25.90 OMR 9.97

32.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.88 OMR 3.04

$7.83 OMR 3.01

0.64%

Cappuccino

$4.79 OMR 1.84

$4.97 OMR 1.91

-3.62%

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

$0.89 OMR 0.34

$0.75 OMR 0.29

18.67%

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

$12.88 OMR 4.96

-1.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.96 OMR 4.99

$13.09 OMR 5.04

-0.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.36 OMR 0.91

$1.60 OMR 0.61

47.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.29 OMR 0.50

-1.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 OMR 0.71

$1.70 OMR 0.66

8.24%

Eggs

$2.85 OMR 1.10

$2.00 OMR 0.77

42.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 OMR 2.90

$7.68 OMR 2.96

-1.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.80 OMR 2.62

$6.63 OMR 2.55

2.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.36 OMR 3.99

$9.19 OMR 3.54

12.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 OMR 1.32

$2.31 OMR 0.89

48.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 OMR 0.75

$1.27 OMR 0.49

52.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 OMR 0.93

$1.06 OMR 0.41

127.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 OMR 0.49

$0.74 OMR 0.29

70.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 OMR 0.46

$0.80 OMR 0.31

48.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$0.51 OMR 0.19

143.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

$1.52 OMR 0.58

21.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 OMR 0.24

$0.50 OMR 0.19

22.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.45 OMR 2.48

$6.30 OMR 2.43

2.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.36 OMR 5.91

$15.73 OMR 6.06

-2.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 OMR 2.09

$5.66 OMR 2.18

-4.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.04 OMR 3.48

$8.73 OMR 3.36

3.55%

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

$3.19 OMR 1.23

3.76%

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

$8.01 OMR 3.08

-1.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 OMR 0.24

$0.58 OMR 0.22

8.62%

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

$25.0K OMR 9,621

$25.3K OMR 9,753

-1.36%

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

$23.0K OMR 8,865

$22.6K OMR 8,693

1.98%

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

$173 OMR 66.4

$78.9 OMR 30.39

118.53%

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

$31.32 OMR 12.06

$23.85 OMR 9.18

31.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.0 OMR 26.56

$70.3 OMR 27.06

-1.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.5 OMR 24.05

$86.5 OMR 33.30

-27.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.49 OMR 11.35

Cinema Ticket

$10.31 OMR 3.97

$10.25 OMR 3.94

0.59%

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

$293 OMR 113

$292 OMR 112

0.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K OMR 4,121

$6,501 OMR 2,503

64.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 OMR 21.36

$55.5 OMR 21.38

-0.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.08 OMR 16.97

$42.74 OMR 16.46

3.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.7 OMR 34.91

$91.0 OMR 35.05

-0.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.1 OMR 36.25

$94.9 OMR 36.54

-0.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$665 OMR 256

$262 OMR 101

153.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$457 OMR 176

$268 OMR 103

70.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,340 OMR 516

$475 OMR 183

182.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$848 OMR 327

$387 OMR 149

118.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,837 OMR 1,092

$568 OMR 219

399.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 OMR 612

$520 OMR 200

205.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,698 OMR 654

$2,671 OMR 1,028

-36.42%

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 Sur: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $665 in Muscat and $262 in Sur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sur pays 57% 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 $26.00 in Sur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $247 per month, with Sur 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 Sur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Muscat and Sur differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($1,519 vs $1,142 including rent). Sur is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 57% lower in Sur. 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: $665 in Muscat versus $262 in Sur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% 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 $1,142 in Sur – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,142 in Sur versus $1,519 in Muscat, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sur but tight or insufficient in Muscat. The gap between the two cities makes Sur 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 Sur 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 Sur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.