Cost of Living Comparison Between Ruwi and Al-Buraimi Cost of Living Comparison Between Ruwi and Al-Buraimi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $510 in Ruwi versus $1,009 in Al-Buraimi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $774 in Ruwi versus $1,303 in Al-Buraimi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,039 in Ruwi versus $1,596 in Al-Buraimi.

Living in Ruwi costs roughly 49% less than in Al-Buraimi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ruwi 62% lower, Al-Buraimi 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 OMR 2.03

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.64 OMR 9.87

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.58 OMR 2.92

Cappuccino

$4.76 OMR 1.83

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

$1.01 OMR 0.39

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.37 OMR 4.76

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.87 OMR 4.57

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 OMR 0.78

$1.99 OMR 0.76

1.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 OMR 0.75

$1.23 OMR 0.47

58.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.65 OMR 0.63

-40.61%

Eggs

$1.18 OMR 0.45

$2.40 OMR 0.92

-50.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.05 OMR 0.79

$3.81 OMR 1.46

-46.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.05 OMR 0.79

$5.13 OMR 1.97

-60.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.07 OMR 1.95

$8.77 OMR 3.38

-42.19%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$2.51 OMR 0.97

-60.56%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.74 OMR 0.67

-43.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.85 OMR 0.71

-44.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.13 OMR 0.44

-13.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$1.02 OMR 0.39

-0.98%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.05 OMR 0.40

-2.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$0.56 OMR 0.21

76.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.44 OMR 2.48

Wine (Bottle)

$15.73 OMR 6.05

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.42 OMR 1.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.79 OMR 3.00

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 OMR 1.01

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 OMR 0.21

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.34 OMR 2.06

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 OMR 0.23

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

$23.3K OMR 8,966

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

$21.5K OMR 8,288

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

$105 OMR 40.58

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

$25.58 OMR 9.84

$40.41 OMR 15.55

-36.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.5 OMR 30.21

$69.4 OMR 26.71

13.11%

Cinema Ticket

$9.03 OMR 3.48

$10.24 OMR 3.94

-11.82%

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

$196 OMR 75.3

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K OMR 4,910

$9,765 OMR 3,758

30.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.4 OMR 19.41

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.07 OMR 15.42

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.8 OMR 30.70

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.1 OMR 34.29

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 OMR 149

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 OMR 98.1

$208 OMR 79.9

22.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$900 OMR 346

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 OMR 224

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,481 OMR 1,724

$3,590 OMR 1,382

24.81%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Al-Buraimi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ruwi pays 25% 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 Al-Buraimi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ruwi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 98% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 25% 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 96% higher in Al-Buraimi. 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 $1,009 in Al-Buraimi – a 98% 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 Al-Buraimi 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 98% less than in Al-Buraimi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.