For one person, living is cheaper in China: $791 a month against $1,432 in Oman, rent and utilities included – about $7,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Oman and in China actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,432 in Oman versus $791 in China.
Oman $1,432
China $791
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Oman versus $1,251 in China.
Oman $2,089
China $1,251
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,745 in Oman versus $1,711 in China.
Oman $2,745
China $1,711
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Oman: monthly costs span $44 to $1,544, compared to $465–$1,222 in China. City choice carries more weight in Oman.
🌍
Living in Oman is roughly 81% more expensive than in China on average.
📊
Oman (5% above) and China (42% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Oman
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.58OMR 2.15
$2.98¥19.84
87.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.75OMR 9.91
$22.09¥147
16.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.32OMR 3.59
$5.20¥34.66
79.23%
Cappuccino
$5.08OMR 1.96
$2.97¥19.77
71.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85OMR 0.33
$0.48¥3.19
77.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27OMR 0.10
$0.30¥2.01
-10.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.97OMR 4.99
$1.08¥7.19
1100.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.93OMR 4.98
$2.28¥15.18
467.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oman
China
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.32OMR 0.89
$1.80¥11.98
28.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.20OMR 0.46
$1.68¥11.17
-28.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.10OMR 0.81
$0.92¥6.14
128.26%
Eggs
$2.86OMR 1.10
$1.61¥10.75
77.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.11OMR 3.12
$13.38¥89.2
-39.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.99OMR 2.69
$3.35¥22.31
108.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.33OMR 3.98
$11.35¥75.7
-8.99%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28OMR 1.26
$1.82¥12.14
80.22%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05OMR 0.79
$1.31¥8.71
56.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.23OMR 0.86
$1.49¥9.91
49.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.24OMR 0.48
$1.27¥8.49
-2.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17OMR 0.45
$0.71¥4.74
64.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18OMR 0.45
$0.93¥6.22
26.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57OMR 0.60
$0.62¥4.12
153.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68OMR 0.26
$0.56¥3.75
21.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.23OMR 2.40
$3.78¥25.19
64.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.82OMR 6.09
$12.13¥80.9
30.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.79OMR 2.23
$0.83¥5.55
597.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.91OMR 3.81
$1.68¥11.23
489.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Oman
China
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.28OMR 0.49
$0.29¥1.92
341.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.3OMR 30.53
$17.83¥119
344.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.32OMR 1.28
$1.49¥9.91
122.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.26OMR 0.49
$0.37¥2.50
240.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.01OMR 3.09
$7.10¥47.31
12.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63OMR 0.24
$1.26¥8.39
-50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KOMR 9,774
$19.4K¥129.6K
30.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4KOMR 8,238
$17.5K¥116.9K
22.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oman
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121OMR 46.60
$54.6¥364
121.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.03OMR 12.33
$8.73¥58.2
266.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.5OMR 29.07
$11.07¥73.8
582.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oman
China
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.9OMR 22.69
$40.77¥272
44.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.33OMR 10.14
$14.48¥96.5
81.84%
Cinema Ticket
$9.93OMR 3.82
$6.78¥45.19
46.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oman
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$365OMR 140
$517¥3,443
-29.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,746OMR 3,367
$19.8K¥132.0K
-55.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oman
China
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.8OMR 19.94
$46.53¥310
11.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.08OMR 17.36
$35.66¥238
26.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.3OMR 32.84
$77.0¥513
10.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.8OMR 30.73
$80.3¥535
-0.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oman
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$581OMR 224
$386¥2,572
50.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$394OMR 152
$235¥1,563
67.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$993OMR 382
$822¥5,478
20.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$655OMR 252
$453¥3,020
44.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,410OMR 928
$4,697¥31.3K
-48.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,435OMR 553
$2,372¥15.8K
-39.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oman
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,604OMR 1,002
$1,093¥7,286
138.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.09
3.46
47.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oman: October 26, 2026
Last update for China: October 24, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Oman
$394 27.5%
China
$235 29.6% ↓ 40.4%$159
🛒Groceries & Markets
Oman
$290 20.2%
China
$210 26.5% ↓ 27.5%$80
🍽Eating Out
Oman
$229 16%
China
$88 11.1% ↓ 61.5%$141
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oman
$229 16%
China
$74 9.4% ↓ 67.5%$154
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Oman
$118 8.2%
China
$108 13.6% ↓ 8.6%$10
🚌Getting Around
Oman
$94 6.6%
China
$22 2.8% ↓ 76.2%$72
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Oman
$79 5.5%
China
$54 6.9% ↓ 31.1%$24
🏠Accommodation & Living
Oman
$655 23.8%
China
$453 26.5% ↓ 30.8%$201
🛒Groceries & Markets
Oman
$634 23.1%
China
$483 28.3% ↓ 23.7%$150
🍽Eating Out
Oman
$560 20.4%
China
$284 16.6% ↓ 49.3%$276
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oman
$261 9.5%
China
$83 4.9% ↓ 68.1%$178
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Oman
$262 9.5%
China
$239 14% ↓ 8.6%$23
🚌Getting Around
Oman
$191 7%
China
$45 2.6% ↓ 76.3%$145
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Oman
$184 6.7%
China
$123 7.2% ↓ 33%$61
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $407 in Oman, $298 in China. Capital cities: $720 in Muscat vs $933 in Beijing (Pekin).
💰National salary averages: $3,172 in Oman, $873 in China. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 37% higher in Oman.
⭐Dining out costs 50% more in Oman.
⭐Public transport is 194% more expensive in Oman.
⭐Salaries are about 3.6 times higher in Oman, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Oman.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 $791 per month in China and $1,432 in Oman, there’s a 81% 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 cheaper in China: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. 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 for a central one-bedroom averages $407 in Oman and $298 in China. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How do I choose between living in China and in Oman?
It depends on what you’re after: China wins on affordability; Oman may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.