😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,477 in Peristeri versus $1,322 in Muscat.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,225 in Peristeri versus $1,928 in Muscat.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,972 in Peristeri versus $2,533 in Muscat.
🌍Living in Peristeri is roughly 12% more expensive than in Muscat, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Peristeri is 11% above, Muscat is 1% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Peristeri
Muscat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.37€13.45
$5.29OMR 2.04
190.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.4€56.3
$25.50OMR 9.82
152.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.36€9.06
$7.99OMR 3.08
29.66%
Cappuccino
$4.36€3.81
$4.86OMR 1.87
-10.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26€1.97
$1.01OMR 0.39
123.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60€0.53
$0.34OMR 0.13
76.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.74€4.15
$12.41OMR 4.78
-61.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71€4.12
$11.66OMR 4.49
-59.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Peristeri
Muscat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77€1.55
$1.98OMR 0.76
-10.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.39€1.21
$1.23OMR 0.47
13.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.30€2.01
$1.70OMR 0.66
35.29%
Eggs
$3.99€3.49
$2.42OMR 0.93
64.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.13€9.74
$3.71OMR 1.43
200.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.10€7.96
$4.89OMR 1.88
86.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.73€12.01
$8.27OMR 3.18
66.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.22€1.94
$2.51OMR 0.97
-11.55%
Banana(1kg)
$2.12€1.86
$1.72OMR 0.66
23.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.57€1.37
$1.78OMR 0.69
-11.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30€2.01
$1.14OMR 0.44
101.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.22€1.06
$1.02OMR 0.39
19.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17€1.03
$0.98OMR 0.38
19.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.94€0.83
$1.09OMR 0.42
-13.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02€0.89
$0.52OMR 0.20
96.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.72€5.01
$6.28OMR 2.42
-8.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.19€5.42
$15.71OMR 6.05
-60.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11€1.85
$4.38OMR 1.68
-51.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94€2.57
$8.02OMR 3.09
-63.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Peristeri
Muscat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37€1.20
$1.27OMR 0.49
7.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.59€30.26
$63.0OMR 24.26
-45.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.01€3.51
$3.16OMR 1.22
26.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.80OMR 0.31
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.76€10.29
$10.20OMR 3.92
15.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.80
$0.64OMR 0.25
221.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K€25.0K
$22.5KOMR 8,654
26.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K€21.6K
$21.5KOMR 8,279
14.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peristeri
Muscat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217€190
$109OMR 41.78
100.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.86€19.13
$40.41OMR 15.55
-45.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.22€28.19
$68.5OMR 26.38
-52.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Peristeri
Muscat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.63€42.54
$48.75OMR 18.76
-0.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.22€22.94
$23.23OMR 8.94
12.87%
Cinema Ticket
$9.33€8.17
$10.28OMR 3.96
-9.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Peristeri
Muscat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$508€445
$190OMR 73.0
168.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,400€5,599
$10.0KOMR 3,861
-36.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Peristeri
Muscat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.0€57.7
$51.0OMR 19.62
29.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.25€28.21
$39.14OMR 15.07
-17.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.9€58.5
$77.6OMR 29.87
-13.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105€92.3
$87.6OMR 33.72
20.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Peristeri
Muscat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$529€463
$616OMR 237
-14.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456€399
$407OMR 157
12.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$798€698
$1,243OMR 478
-35.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$686€600
$714OMR 275
-3.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,900€2,537
$2,866OMR 1,103
1.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,375€2,078
$1,593OMR 613
49.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Peristeri
Muscat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$763€668
$1,576OMR 607
-51.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.42
5.15
-14.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Peristeri: July 14, 2026
Last update for Muscat: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $529 in Peristeri and $616 in Muscat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Muscat pays 107% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $64.0 in Peristeri vs $26.00 in Muscat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $230 per month, with Muscat cheaper across the board.
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
Peristeri vs Muscat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Peristeri and in Muscat?
Peristeri and Muscat differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($1,477 vs $1,322 including rent). Muscat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 107% lower in Muscat. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Peristeri and in Muscat?
Rent for a central apartment: $529 in Peristeri versus $616 in Muscat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Muscat – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $64.0 in Peristeri. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Peristeri or Muscat?
All in, you'll spend $1,477 per month in Peristeri versus $1,322 in Muscat – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,322 in Muscat versus $1,477 in Peristeri, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Muscat but tight or insufficient in Peristeri. The gap between the two cities makes Muscat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Peristeri and Muscat?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Peristeri or Muscat safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Peristeri and Muscat are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Peristeri or Muscat?
Expats usually find Muscat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Peristeri. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.