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: $716 in Oman versus $713 in China.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,050 in Oman versus $1,132 in China.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,384 in Oman versus $1,551 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
$5.21 OMR 2.01
$2.86 ¥19.42
82.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.41 OMR 10.17
$23.29 ¥158
13.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.85 OMR 3.02
$4.83 ¥32.76
62.53%
Cappuccino
$4.94 OMR 1.90
$3.04 ¥20.59
62.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 OMR 0.30
$0.45 ¥3.04
75.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 OMR 0.12
$0.27 ¥1.82
11.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.62 OMR 4.48
$0.99 ¥6.73
1073.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.85 OMR 4.95
$2.03 ¥13.78
533.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oman
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 OMR 0.72
$1.75 ¥11.89
7.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.19 OMR 0.46
$1.67 ¥11.35
-28.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.79 OMR 0.69
$0.97 ¥6.58
84.54%
Eggs
$2.37 OMR 0.91
$1.54 ¥10.48
53.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.93 OMR 1.90
$13.30 ¥90.2
-62.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.07 OMR 1.95
$3.21 ¥21.76
57.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.79 OMR 3.38
$10.79 ¥73.2
-18.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.42 OMR 0.93
$1.81 ¥12.31
33.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 OMR 0.66
$1.31 ¥8.87
31.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 OMR 0.69
$1.50 ¥10.18
19.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 OMR 0.44
$1.14 ¥7.76
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.05 OMR 0.40
$0.73 ¥4.92
43.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 OMR 0.39
$0.87 ¥5.87
17.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 OMR 0.40
$0.57 ¥3.86
82.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 OMR 0.21
$0.54 ¥3.65
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.00 OMR 2.31
$3.53 ¥23.96
69.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.39 OMR 5.93
$11.71 ¥79.4
31.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.37 OMR 1.68
$0.84 ¥5.68
420.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.17 OMR 3.15
$1.67 ¥11.32
389.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Oman
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.32 OMR 0.51
$0.41 ¥2.76
221.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.6 OMR 22.94
$20.78 ¥141
186.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.80 OMR 1.08
$1.36 ¥9.24
105.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 OMR 0.31
$0.33 ¥2.22
145.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.58 OMR 4.07
$6.86 ¥46.54
54.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 OMR 0.25
$1.12 ¥7.60
-42.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K OMR 8,407
$19.2K ¥130.2K
13.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K OMR 8,411
$16.9K ¥114.8K
29.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oman
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 OMR 38.76
$51.8 ¥351
94.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.82 OMR 15.33
$9.85 ¥66.8
304.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.6 OMR 28.35
$11.13 ¥75.5
561.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oman
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.76 OMR 18.77
$39.10 ¥265
24.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.38 OMR 8.62
$14.89 ¥101
50.30%
Cinema Ticket
$10.17 OMR 3.91
$6.25 ¥42.37
62.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oman
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$194 OMR 74.8
$404 ¥2,741
-51.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,511 OMR 3,277
$17.8K ¥120.9K
-52.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oman
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.37 OMR 17.85
$46.11 ¥313
0.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.06 OMR 15.04
$32.27 ¥219
21.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.1 OMR 29.69
$72.7 ¥493
6.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.5 OMR 28.68
$72.9 ¥494
2.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oman
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$528 OMR 203
$445 ¥3,019
18.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$361 OMR 139
$255 ¥1,732
41.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$967 OMR 372
$927 ¥6,285
4.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$635 OMR 245
$532 ¥3,611
19.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,239 OMR 862
$4,943 ¥33.5K
-54.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,363 OMR 525
$2,492 ¥16.9K
-45.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oman
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,512 OMR 967
$1,057 ¥7,170
137.60%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for China: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $110 in Oman, $286 in China. Capital cities: $620 in Muscat vs $913 in Beijing (Pekin).

National salary averages: $2,910 in Oman, $862 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 160% higher in China.

Dining out costs 11% more in China.

Public transport is 100% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 238% higher in Oman, giving Oman stronger purchasing power.

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 $871 per month in China and $733 in Oman, there's a 19% 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?
Oman is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 beats 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 vs Oman?
In Oman, $1,500 covers most cities easily. In China, it works in regional areas but 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 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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