Cost of Living Comparison Between Nizwa and Muscat Cost of Living Comparison Between Nizwa and Muscat

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $582 in Nizwa versus $1,331 in Muscat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $787 in Nizwa versus $1,982 in Muscat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $993 in Nizwa versus $2,633 in Muscat.

Living in Nizwa costs roughly 56% less than in Muscat, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nizwa 57% lower, Muscat 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.54 OMR 0.98

$5.29 OMR 2.04

-51.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.21 OMR 10.09

$26.39 OMR 10.16

-0.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.84 OMR 1.48

$7.84 OMR 3.02

-51.02%

Cappuccino

$4.95 OMR 1.90

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

$0.87 OMR 0.33

$1.02 OMR 0.39

-14.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

$0.34 OMR 0.13

-20.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.16 OMR 4.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.87 OMR 4.57

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 OMR 0.51

$2.00 OMR 0.77

-34.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.20 OMR 0.46

5.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 OMR 0.68

$1.70 OMR 0.65

4.12%

Eggs

$2.13 OMR 0.82

$2.45 OMR 0.94

-13.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.83 OMR 1.47

$3.84 OMR 1.48

-0.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.02 OMR 3.09

$5.16 OMR 1.98

55.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.46 OMR 3.26

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 OMR 0.79

$2.54 OMR 0.98

-18.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

$1.72 OMR 0.66

-25.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 OMR 0.50

$1.77 OMR 0.68

-25.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.32 OMR 0.51

$1.13 OMR 0.44

16.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 OMR 0.41

$1.00 OMR 0.38

5.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 OMR 0.41

$1.02 OMR 0.39

3.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 OMR 0.19

$1.03 OMR 0.40

-51.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 OMR 0.31

$0.56 OMR 0.22

46.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.22 OMR 2.39

Wine (Bottle)

$15.55 OMR 5.99

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.25 OMR 1.64

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.90 OMR 3.04

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.3 OMR 23.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 OMR 1.22

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.34 OMR 3.98

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 OMR 0.23

$0.60 OMR 0.23

-1.67%

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

$22.8K OMR 8,778

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

$21.8K OMR 8,405

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

$130 OMR 49.97

$107 OMR 41.32

20.92%

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

$40.60 OMR 15.63

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.1 OMR 24.68

$70.5 OMR 27.13

-9.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.24 OMR 18.19

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.99 OMR 8.85

Cinema Ticket

$10.47 OMR 4.03

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

$192 OMR 74.1

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,757 OMR 3,756

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.7 OMR 19.53

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.51 OMR 15.21

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 OMR 30.56

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 OMR 34.66

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 OMR 102

$619 OMR 238

-57.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 OMR 78.6

$410 OMR 158

-50.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$389 OMR 150

$1,222 OMR 470

-68.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 OMR 102

$730 OMR 281

-63.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,666 OMR 1,026

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,552 OMR 597

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,309 OMR 504

$1,654 OMR 637

-20.86%

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 Nizwa: June 2, 2026

Last update for Muscat: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $265 in Nizwa and $619 in Muscat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Muscat pays 26% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $26.00 in Nizwa vs $26.00 in Muscat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $140 vs $231 per month, with Nizwa 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

Nizwa vs Muscat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nizwa and Muscat differ by about 129% in total monthly costs ($582 vs $1,331 including rent). Nizwa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Muscat earns 26% less. 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: $265 in Nizwa versus $619 in Muscat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Nizwa – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $26.00 in Muscat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $582 per month in Nizwa versus $1,331 in Muscat – a 129% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $582 in Nizwa versus $1,331 in Muscat, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nizwa but tight or insufficient in Muscat. The gap between the two cities makes Nizwa 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, Nizwa and Muscat 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 Nizwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 129% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.