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: $492 in Ruwi versus $819 in Adam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $760 in Ruwi versus $1,212 in Adam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,029 in Ruwi versus $1,605 in Adam.

Living in Ruwi costs roughly 40% less than in Adam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ruwi 63% lower, Adam 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.07 OMR 1.95

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.41 OMR 10.14

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.89 OMR 3.03

Cappuccino

$4.94 OMR 1.90

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

$1.01 OMR 0.39

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 OMR 0.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.39 OMR 4.76

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.77 OMR 4.52

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 OMR 0.75

$1.92 OMR 0.74

2.08%

White Bread (500g)

$2.06 OMR 0.79

$1.17 OMR 0.45

76.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.73 OMR 0.66

-43.35%

Eggs

$1.21 OMR 0.46

$2.35 OMR 0.90

-48.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.02 OMR 0.78

$3.72 OMR 1.43

-45.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.96 OMR 0.75

$4.86 OMR 1.87

-59.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.13 OMR 1.97

$8.77 OMR 3.37

-41.51%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$2.57 OMR 0.99

-62.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.66 OMR 0.64

-38.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$1.83 OMR 0.70

-45.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.18 OMR 0.45

-16.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$0.93 OMR 0.36

6.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 OMR 0.37

$1.04 OMR 0.40

-5.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 OMR 0.39

$0.56 OMR 0.21

83.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.44 OMR 2.47

Wine (Bottle)

$15.56 OMR 5.97

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.38 OMR 1.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.03 OMR 3.08

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 OMR 1.21

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.43 OMR 4.00

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 OMR 0.24

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

$22.7K OMR 8,730

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

$21.9K OMR 8,401

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

$107 OMR 41.04

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

$26.03 OMR 10.00

$40.67 OMR 15.62

-36.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.5 OMR 30.54

$69.9 OMR 26.84

13.77%

Cinema Ticket

$9.27 OMR 3.56

$10.36 OMR 3.98

-10.52%

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

$193 OMR 74.0

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K OMR 5,078

$10.0K OMR 3,842

32.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.69 OMR 19.08

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.32 OMR 15.10

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 OMR 30.05

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.3 OMR 33.53

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$390 OMR 150

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$257 OMR 98.8

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 OMR 343

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$576 OMR 221

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,570 OMR 987

$2,591 OMR 995

-0.81%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Adam: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Adam pays 1% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 66% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Adam earns 1% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 93% higher in Adam. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $492 per month in Ruwi versus $819 in Adam – a 66% 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 66% less than in Adam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.