Cost of Living Comparison Between Oman and ChinaCost of Living Comparison Between Oman and China
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $712 in Oman versus $712 in China.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,042 in Oman versus $1,131 in China.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,371 in Oman versus $1,550 in China.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: Oman47% lower, China47% lower.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Oman: monthly costs span $0 to $1,448, compared to $532–$1,187 in China. City choice carries more weight in Oman.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oman
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.19OMR 1.99
$2.75¥18.80
88.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.02OMR 9.99
$24.07¥165
8.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.61OMR 2.92
$4.84¥33.11
57.23%
Cappuccino
$5.00OMR 1.92
$2.97¥20.29
68.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79OMR 0.30
$0.45¥3.05
75.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28OMR 0.11
$0.29¥2.00
-3.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.74OMR 4.51
$1.00¥6.85
1074.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.65OMR 4.86
$2.06¥14.11
514.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oman
China
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97OMR 0.76
$1.82¥12.46
8.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.23OMR 0.47
$1.62¥11.07
-24.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.79OMR 0.69
$0.91¥6.20
96.70%
Eggs
$2.42OMR 0.93
$1.54¥10.55
57.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.06OMR 1.94
$13.32¥91.1
-62.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.15OMR 1.98
$3.27¥22.38
57.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.87OMR 3.41
$10.56¥72.2
-16.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45OMR 0.94
$1.76¥12.01
39.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70OMR 0.65
$1.30¥8.91
30.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.81OMR 0.70
$1.45¥9.93
24.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.13OMR 0.43
$1.19¥8.16
-5.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.06OMR 0.41
$0.71¥4.83
49.30%
Onion(1kg)
$0.98OMR 0.38
$0.91¥6.23
7.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03OMR 0.40
$0.57¥3.89
80.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58OMR 0.22
$0.53¥3.65
9.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.27OMR 2.41
$3.50¥23.97
79.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56OMR 5.97
$11.85¥81.1
31.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.35OMR 1.67
$0.84¥5.72
417.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.19OMR 3.15
$1.68¥11.49
387.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Oman
China
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.34OMR 0.51
$0.44¥3.00
204.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.1OMR 22.32
$20.76¥142
179.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.83OMR 1.09
$1.36¥9.28
108.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76OMR 0.29
$0.35¥2.43
117.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.53OMR 4.04
$6.65¥45.47
58.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.61OMR 0.23
$1.17¥7.99
-47.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7KOMR 8,318
$19.1K¥130.8K
13.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5KOMR 8,246
$17.1K¥117.2K
25.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oman
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$101OMR 38.62
$52.0¥355
93.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.68OMR 15.24
$9.65¥66.0
311.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.9OMR 27.98
$11.16¥76.3
552.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oman
China
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.76OMR 18.72
$40.48¥277
20.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.63OMR 8.69
$14.75¥101
53.42%
Cinema Ticket
$10.26OMR 3.94
$6.35¥43.45
61.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oman
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$194OMR 74.4
$410¥2,803
-52.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,547OMR 3,282
$17.8K¥121.8K
-52.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oman
China
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.98OMR 17.66
$46.08¥315
-0.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.18OMR 15.05
$32.86¥225
19.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.2OMR 29.66
$71.2¥487
8.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.3OMR 29.29
$75.3¥515
1.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oman
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$524OMR 201
$430¥2,942
21.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$358OMR 137
$261¥1,784
37.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,001OMR 385
$914¥6,254
9.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$640OMR 246
$542¥3,711
17.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,296OMR 882
$5,177¥35.4K
-55.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,382OMR 531
$2,630¥18.0K
-47.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oman
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,349OMR 902
$1,060¥7,250
121.62%
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: April 20, 2026
Last update for China: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $110 in Oman, $287 in China. Capital cities: $614 in Muscat vs $891 in Beijing (Pekin).
💰National salary averages: $2,907 in Oman, $833 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 249% 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 $860 per month in China and $724 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.