Cost of Living Comparison Between Ruwi and Adam Cost of Living Comparison Between Ruwi and Adam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $624 in Ruwi versus $945 in Adam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $819 in Ruwi versus $1,398 in Adam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,014 in Ruwi versus $1,851 in Adam.

Living in Ruwi costs roughly 34% less than in Adam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ruwi 55% lower, Adam 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.14 OMR 1.98

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.14 OMR 12.76

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.72 OMR 2.97

Cappuccino

$4.96 OMR 1.91

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

$0.85 OMR 0.33

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.02 OMR 5.01

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.95 OMR 4.98

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 OMR 0.79

$2.23 OMR 0.86

-8.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 OMR 0.75

$1.23 OMR 0.47

58.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$1.88 OMR 0.72

-45.21%

Eggs

$1.18 OMR 0.45

$2.86 OMR 1.10

-58.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.04 OMR 0.78

$7.48 OMR 2.88

-72.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.04 OMR 0.78

$6.84 OMR 2.63

-70.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.98 OMR 1.92

$10.51 OMR 4.05

-52.62%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$3.40 OMR 1.31

-71.18%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$1.90 OMR 0.73

-48.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$2.34 OMR 0.90

-57.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.39

$1.27 OMR 0.49

-18.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.19 OMR 0.46

-14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.77 OMR 0.68

-42.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$0.66 OMR 0.25

46.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.54 OMR 2.52

Wine (Bottle)

$15.74 OMR 6.06

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.53 OMR 2.13

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.13 OMR 3.52

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 OMR 1.27

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.57 OMR 0.99

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 OMR 2.99

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 OMR 0.24

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

$25.6K OMR 9,862

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

$22.3K OMR 8,569

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

$172 OMR 66.2

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

$26.38 OMR 10.15

$31.18 OMR 12.00

-15.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.4 OMR 30.54

$69.6 OMR 26.80

13.99%

Cinema Ticket

$9.04 OMR 3.48

$10.52 OMR 4.05

-14.07%

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

$289 OMR 111

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.3K OMR 3,975

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 OMR 21.91

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.63 OMR 16.79

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 OMR 34.99

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.5 OMR 36.39

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 OMR 149

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 OMR 151

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$926 OMR 357

$264 OMR 102

250.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$579 OMR 223

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,449 OMR 1,712

$2,640 OMR 1,016

68.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

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

Last update for Ruwi: September 6, 2026

Last update for Adam: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ruwi pays 69% 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 Adam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ruwi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Eating Out, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear. The 51% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 69% higher in Ruwi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 140% higher in Adam. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $624 per month in Ruwi versus $945 in Adam – a 51% 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 Adam 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 51% less than in Adam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.