Cost of Living Comparison Between Oman and China Cost of Living Comparison Between Oman and China

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $710 in Oman versus $712 in China.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,050 in Oman versus $1,131 in China.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,389 in Oman versus $1,549 in China.

Both countries sit below the global median: Oman 47% lower, China 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oman
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.35 OMR 2.06
$2.77 ¥18.72
93.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.45 OMR 10.18
$24.05 ¥162
9.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.65 OMR 2.94
$4.73 ¥31.93
61.73%
Cappuccino
$4.80 OMR 1.85
$3.08 ¥20.78
55.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 OMR 0.33
$0.44 ¥3.00
95.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 OMR 0.12
$0.29 ¥1.98
3.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.78 OMR 4.54
$1.01 ¥6.80
1066.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.76 OMR 4.91
$2.08 ¥14.03
513.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oman
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 OMR 0.73
$1.83 ¥12.39
3.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 OMR 0.48
$1.62 ¥10.94
-23.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 OMR 0.72
$0.97 ¥6.58
93.81%
Eggs
$2.42 OMR 0.93
$1.61 ¥10.90
50.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.00 OMR 1.93
$13.34 ¥90.1
-62.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.26 OMR 2.02
$3.37 ¥22.75
56.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.15 OMR 3.52
$10.68 ¥72.2
-14.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.44 OMR 0.94
$1.81 ¥12.26
34.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 OMR 0.67
$1.25 ¥8.44
38.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 OMR 0.71
$1.46 ¥9.88
27.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 OMR 0.44
$1.15 ¥7.73
-0.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.06 OMR 0.41
$0.73 ¥4.92
45.21%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 OMR 0.38
$0.89 ¥5.99
10.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 OMR 0.40
$0.60 ¥4.05
73.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 OMR 0.21
$0.53 ¥3.59
1.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.97 OMR 2.30
$3.39 ¥22.93
76.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.35 OMR 5.91
$11.73 ¥79.3
30.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.27 OMR 1.64
$0.77 ¥5.23
454.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.99 OMR 3.08
$1.63 ¥10.98
390.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Oman
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.32 OMR 0.51
$0.41 ¥2.77
221.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.1 OMR 23.13
$21.24 ¥143
182.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 OMR 1.12
$1.35 ¥9.13
115.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 OMR 0.29
$0.36 ¥2.40
105.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.30 OMR 3.97
$6.70 ¥45.26
53.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.59 OMR 0.23
$1.18 ¥7.98
-50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K OMR 8,404
$19.8K ¥133.4K
10.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K OMR 8,446
$16.5K ¥111.7K
32.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oman
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$98.0 OMR 37.75
$51.7 ¥349
89.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.40 OMR 15.17
$10.09 ¥68.2
290.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.2 OMR 27.80
$11.38 ¥76.9
534.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oman
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.38 OMR 19.01
$39.24 ¥265
25.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.14 OMR 8.52
$14.84 ¥100
49.19%
Cinema Ticket
$9.88 OMR 3.80
$6.30 ¥42.56
56.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oman
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$188 OMR 72.4
$414 ¥2,795
-54.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,729 OMR 3,361
$17.4K ¥117.6K
-49.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oman
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.76 OMR 17.62
$46.77 ¥316
-2.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.99 OMR 15.01
$33.08 ¥223
17.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 OMR 30.15
$70.9 ¥479
10.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.9 OMR 28.84
$74.5 ¥503
0.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oman
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$539 OMR 207
$440 ¥2,972
22.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 OMR 142
$253 ¥1,707
45.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$998 OMR 384
$911 ¥6,153
9.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$635 OMR 244
$531 ¥3,584
19.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,290 OMR 882
$4,778 ¥32.3K
-52.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,418 OMR 546
$2,403 ¥16.2K
-40.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oman
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,548 OMR 981
$1,058 ¥7,144
140.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.06
4.06
24.63%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Oman: July 27, 2026

Last update for China: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $110 in Oman, $287 in China. Capital cities: $618 in Muscat vs $909 in Beijing (Pekin).

National salary averages: $3,051 in Oman, $857 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 161% higher in China.

Dining out costs 11% more in China.

Public transport is 100% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 256% higher in Oman, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Oman.

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
Oman vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Oman?
At $873 per month in China and $717 in Oman, there's a 22% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: China or Oman?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Oman: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
How do rents compare between China and Oman?
Rent in China is consistently higher than in Oman across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
How far does $1,500 go in China compared to Oman?
In Oman, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in China it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in China and in Oman?
It depends on what you're after: Oman wins on affordability; China may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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