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: $624 in Ruwi versus $923 in Al-Buraimi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $824 in Ruwi versus $1,351 in Al-Buraimi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,023 in Ruwi versus $1,778 in Al-Buraimi.

Living in Ruwi costs roughly 32% less than in Al-Buraimi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ruwi 55% lower, Al-Buraimi 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.07 OMR 1.95

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.24 OMR 5.10

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 OMR 3.02

Cappuccino

$4.87 OMR 1.87

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

$0.84 OMR 0.32

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.84 OMR 4.94

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.96 OMR 4.99

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$2.31 OMR 0.89

-14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 OMR 0.76

$1.24 OMR 0.48

58.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$1.53 OMR 0.59

-33.99%

Eggs

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$2.91 OMR 1.12

-58.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.02 OMR 0.78

$6.62 OMR 2.55

-69.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.99 OMR 0.77

$5.56 OMR 2.14

-64.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.87 OMR 1.87

$8.90 OMR 3.42

-45.28%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$2.12 OMR 0.82

-54.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$1.81 OMR 0.70

-43.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$2.06 OMR 0.79

-50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.25 OMR 0.48

-18.40%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.21 OMR 0.47

-19.01%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$0.84 OMR 0.33

17.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$0.66 OMR 0.25

56.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.06 OMR 1.95

Wine (Bottle)

$15.70 OMR 6.04

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.68 OMR 2.19

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.86 OMR 3.41

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.22 OMR 15.10

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 OMR 1.26

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.86 OMR 3.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 OMR 0.25

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

$25.3K OMR 9,741

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

$22.4K OMR 8,610

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

$76.7 OMR 29.53

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

$25.65 OMR 9.88

$31.38 OMR 12.08

-18.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.9 OMR 30.00

$69.1 OMR 26.59

12.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.0 OMR 24.63

Cinema Ticket

$8.93 OMR 3.44

$7.86 OMR 3.03

13.61%

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

$264 OMR 102

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K OMR 4,121

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.0 OMR 21.56

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.79 OMR 16.47

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.5 OMR 35.63

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.3 OMR 37.47

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$396 OMR 153

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$385 OMR 148

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$912 OMR 351

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 OMR 224

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,419 OMR 1,701

$3,575 OMR 1,376

23.63%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Al-Buraimi: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ruwi pays 24% 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, Sport & Entertainment, Eating Out, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear. The 48% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 24% 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 118% higher in Al-Buraimi. 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 $923 in Al-Buraimi – a 48% 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 48% less than in Al-Buraimi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.