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: $788 in Oman versus $720 in China.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,177 in Oman versus $1,148 in China.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,566 in Oman versus $1,576 in China.

Living in Oman is roughly 9% more expensive than in China on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Oman 43% lower, China 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oman
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.05 OMR 1.94
$2.93 ¥19.60
72.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.26 OMR 10.11
$22.72 ¥152
15.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.88 OMR 3.42
$5.07 ¥33.95
75.15%
Cappuccino
$4.83 OMR 1.86
$2.94 ¥19.70
64.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 OMR 0.31
$0.48 ¥3.21
70.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 OMR 0.11
$0.30 ¥2.02
-6.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.97 OMR 4.99
$1.06 ¥7.10
1123.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.87 OMR 4.95
$2.25 ¥15.07
472.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oman
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.32 OMR 0.89
$1.79 ¥11.99
29.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.21 OMR 0.47
$1.70 ¥11.35
-28.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 OMR 0.75
$0.96 ¥6.45
102.08%
Eggs
$2.70 OMR 1.04
$1.61 ¥10.79
67.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.00 OMR 3.08
$13.60 ¥91.1
-41.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.76 OMR 2.60
$3.41 ¥22.84
98.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.01 OMR 4.24
$11.07 ¥74.2
-0.54%
Apples (1kg)
$3.17 OMR 1.22
$1.81 ¥12.09
75.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.92 OMR 0.74
$1.30 ¥8.74
47.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 OMR 0.85
$1.48 ¥9.91
48.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.22 OMR 0.47
$1.30 ¥8.72
-6.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.22 OMR 0.47
$0.72 ¥4.82
69.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.25 OMR 0.48
$0.94 ¥6.31
32.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.54 OMR 0.59
$0.61 ¥4.08
152.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 OMR 0.26
$0.56 ¥3.73
19.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.09 OMR 2.34
$3.67 ¥24.58
65.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.76 OMR 6.07
$11.90 ¥79.7
32.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.60 OMR 2.16
$0.83 ¥5.56
574.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.56 OMR 3.68
$1.65 ¥11.08
479.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Oman
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.28 OMR 0.49
$0.29 ¥1.92
341.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 OMR 29.99
$22.61 ¥151
244.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.16 OMR 1.22
$1.45 ¥9.72
117.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.28 OMR 0.49
$0.34 ¥2.31
276.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.87 OMR 3.03
$7.27 ¥48.72
8.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.59 OMR 0.23
$1.23 ¥8.26
-52.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K OMR 10.0K
$19.5K ¥130.9K
33.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K OMR 8,558
$17.2K ¥115.5K
28.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oman
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 OMR 47.86
$55.5 ¥371
124.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.34 OMR 12.45
$8.51 ¥57.0
280.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.6 OMR 28.71
$10.81 ¥72.4
590.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oman
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.6 OMR 21.03
$40.02 ¥268
36.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84 OMR 10.33
$14.80 ¥99.1
81.35%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92 OMR 3.82
$6.73 ¥45.09
47.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oman
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$268 OMR 103
$454 ¥3,042
-41.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,928 OMR 3,436
$19.5K ¥130.8K
-54.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oman
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.1 OMR 20.06
$44.95 ¥301
15.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.81 OMR 17.63
$35.81 ¥240
27.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 OMR 33.15
$76.8 ¥514
12.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.6 OMR 31.79
$77.3 ¥518
6.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oman
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$533 OMR 205
$385 ¥2,581
38.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$395 OMR 152
$242 ¥1,623
63.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$991 OMR 381
$837 ¥5,603
18.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$705 OMR 271
$474 ¥3,177
48.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,396 OMR 922
$4,619 ¥30.9K
-48.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,424 OMR 548
$2,316 ¥15.5K
-38.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oman
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,713 OMR 1,044
$1,062 ¥7,110
155.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.09
3.47
46.69%

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

Last update for Oman: September 8, 2026

Last update for China: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $117 in Oman, $295 in China. Capital cities: $665 in Muscat vs $957 in Beijing (Pekin).

National salary averages: $3,165 in Oman, $865 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 152% higher in China.

Public transport is 55% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 266% 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 $852 per month in China and $760 in Oman, there's a 12% 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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