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: $1,322 in Muscat versus $1,103 in Sur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,928 in Muscat versus $1,577 in Sur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,533 in Muscat versus $2,050 in Sur.

Living in Muscat is roughly 20% more expensive than in Sur, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Muscat 1% lower, Sur 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.29 OMR 2.04

$3.95 OMR 1.52

33.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.50 OMR 9.82

$25.63 OMR 9.87

-0.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.99 OMR 3.08

$7.76 OMR 2.99

2.96%

Cappuccino

$4.86 OMR 1.87

$4.82 OMR 1.85

0.83%

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

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$0.72 OMR 0.28

40.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

$0.27 OMR 0.10

25.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.41 OMR 4.78

$12.51 OMR 4.82

-0.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.66 OMR 4.49

$11.86 OMR 4.56

-1.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$1.59 OMR 0.61

24.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 OMR 0.66

$1.67 OMR 0.64

1.80%

Eggs

$2.42 OMR 0.93

$2.00 OMR 0.77

21.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.71 OMR 1.43

$3.84 OMR 1.48

-3.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 OMR 1.88

$4.91 OMR 1.89

-0.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.27 OMR 3.18

$8.60 OMR 3.31

-3.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.51 OMR 0.97

$2.36 OMR 0.91

6.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 OMR 0.66

$1.27 OMR 0.49

35.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 OMR 0.69

$1.06 OMR 0.41

67.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 OMR 0.44

$0.81 OMR 0.31

40.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$0.82 OMR 0.31

24.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$0.50 OMR 0.19

96.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$1.08 OMR 0.42

0.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 OMR 0.20

$0.51 OMR 0.19

1.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.28 OMR 2.42

$6.23 OMR 2.40

0.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.71 OMR 6.05

$15.90 OMR 6.12

-1.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.38 OMR 1.68

$4.36 OMR 1.68

0.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 OMR 3.09

$8.01 OMR 3.08

0.12%

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

$3.16 OMR 1.21

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

$0.76 OMR 0.29

5.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.20 OMR 3.92

$10.25 OMR 3.95

-0.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 OMR 0.25

$0.53 OMR 0.20

20.75%

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

$22.5K OMR 8,654

$22.5K OMR 8,655

-0.01%

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

$21.5K OMR 8,279

$21.8K OMR 8,409

-1.55%

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

$109 OMR 41.78

$79.0 OMR 30.40

37.45%

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

$40.41 OMR 15.55

$23.13 OMR 8.90

74.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.5 OMR 26.38

$70.0 OMR 26.95

-2.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.75 OMR 18.76

$85.9 OMR 33.07

-43.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.23 OMR 8.94

Cinema Ticket

$10.28 OMR 3.96

$10.25 OMR 3.95

0.29%

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

$190 OMR 73.0

$192 OMR 73.8

-1.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K OMR 3,861

$6,388 OMR 2,459

57.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 OMR 19.62

$51.2 OMR 19.71

-0.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.14 OMR 15.07

$39.04 OMR 15.03

0.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 OMR 29.87

$78.4 OMR 30.18

-1.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.6 OMR 33.72

$87.7 OMR 33.74

-0.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 OMR 237

$258 OMR 99.5

138.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$407 OMR 157

$265 OMR 102

53.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 OMR 478

$470 OMR 181

164.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$714 OMR 275

$384 OMR 148

85.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,866 OMR 1,103

$565 OMR 218

406.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,593 OMR 613

$525 OMR 202

203.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,576 OMR 607

$2,657 OMR 1,023

-40.67%

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 Sur: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Muscat and $258 in Sur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sur pays 69% 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 Sur. Groceries flip the comparison at $230 vs $216, with Sur 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 Sur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Muscat and Sur differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($1,322 vs $1,103 including rent). Sur is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 69% 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: $616 in Muscat versus $258 in Sur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Muscat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,322 per month in Muscat versus $1,103 in Sur – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,103 in Sur versus $1,322 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 20% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.