Cost of Living Comparison Between Ruwi and 'ibri Cost of Living Comparison Between Ruwi and 'ibri

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $510 in Ruwi versus $841 in 'ibri.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $774 in Ruwi versus $1,335 in 'ibri.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,039 in Ruwi versus $1,829 in 'ibri.

Living in Ruwi costs roughly 39% less than in 'ibri, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ruwi 62% lower, 'ibri 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.54 OMR 0.98

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.56 OMR 9.84

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 OMR 2.57

Cappuccino

$3.20 OMR 1.23

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 OMR 0.24

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.18 OMR 1.99

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.62 OMR 4.47

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 OMR 0.78

$1.20 OMR 0.46

68.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 OMR 0.75

$0.81 OMR 0.31

140.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.73 OMR 0.67

-43.35%

Eggs

$1.18 OMR 0.45

$2.39 OMR 0.92

-50.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.05 OMR 0.79

$3.69 OMR 1.42

-44.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.05 OMR 0.79

$3.71 OMR 1.43

-44.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.07 OMR 1.95

$8.66 OMR 3.33

-41.45%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$2.52 OMR 0.97

-60.71%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.40 OMR 0.54

-30.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.86 OMR 0.72

-45.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$0.87 OMR 0.34

12.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$1.03 OMR 0.39

-1.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 OMR 0.24

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$0.76 OMR 0.29

34.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$0.53 OMR 0.20

86.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.84 OMR 2.25

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 OMR 5.89

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.20 OMR 1.62

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.74 OMR 2.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.54 OMR 0.98

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.49 OMR 4.04

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.62 OMR 0.24

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.1K OMR 8,875

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.0K OMR 8,479

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$79.1 OMR 30.44

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.58 OMR 9.84

$38.92 OMR 14.97

-34.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.5 OMR 30.21

$70.4 OMR 27.07

11.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.0 OMR 22.31

Cinema Ticket

$9.03 OMR 3.48

$8.88 OMR 3.42

1.69%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$193 OMR 74.3

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K OMR 4,910

$9,723 OMR 3,741

31.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.7 OMR 19.52

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.21 OMR 15.09

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.9 OMR 30.34

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 OMR 33.51

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 OMR 149

$206 OMR 79.3

87.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 OMR 98.1

$128 OMR 49.15

99.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$900 OMR 346

$491 OMR 189

83.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 OMR 224

$345 OMR 133

68.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,481 OMR 1,724

$2,972 OMR 1,144

50.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.15

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

Last update for Ruwi: July 13, 2026

Last update for 'ibri: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Ruwi and $206 in 'ibri. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ruwi pays 51% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local 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

Ruwi vs 'ibri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ruwi and 'ibri differ by about 65% in total monthly costs ($510 vs $841 including rent). Ruwi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 51% higher in Ruwi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $387 in Ruwi versus $206 in 'ibri. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 73% higher in 'ibri. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $510 per month in Ruwi versus $841 in 'ibri – a 65% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Ruwi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, Ruwi and 'ibri are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ruwi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in 'ibri. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.