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: $493 in Ruwi versus $1,011 in Al-Buraimi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $753 in Ruwi versus $1,298 in Al-Buraimi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,013 in Ruwi versus $1,586 in Al-Buraimi.

Living in Ruwi costs roughly 51% less than in Al-Buraimi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ruwi 63% lower, Al-Buraimi 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.12 OMR 1.97

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.59 OMR 9.85

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 OMR 2.98

Cappuccino

$4.96 OMR 1.91

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

$1.06 OMR 0.41

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 OMR 0.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.15 OMR 4.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.65 OMR 4.49

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 OMR 0.76

$2.00 OMR 0.77

-1.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.01 OMR 0.77

$1.23 OMR 0.48

63.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.74 OMR 0.67

-41.38%

Eggs

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$2.47 OMR 0.95

-50.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.05 OMR 0.79

$3.87 OMR 1.49

-47.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.96 OMR 0.76

$5.08 OMR 1.96

-61.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.92 OMR 1.90

$8.79 OMR 3.38

-44.03%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$2.61 OMR 1.00

-61.30%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$1.73 OMR 0.67

-43.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.84 OMR 0.71

-46.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.18 OMR 0.45

-13.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$0.97 OMR 0.37

2.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.09 OMR 0.42

-10.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$0.56 OMR 0.21

82.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.54 OMR 2.52

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 OMR 6.07

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.32 OMR 1.66

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.74 OMR 2.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 OMR 1.00

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.14 OMR 1.98

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 OMR 0.25

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

$22.5K OMR 8,664

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

$21.6K OMR 8,300

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

$105 OMR 40.56

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

$26.00 OMR 10.01

$41.88 OMR 16.12

-37.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.2 OMR 29.71

$69.6 OMR 26.80

10.88%

Cinema Ticket

$9.25 OMR 3.56

$10.36 OMR 3.99

-10.71%

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

$193 OMR 74.2

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K OMR 5,080

$9,914 OMR 3,817

33.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.99 OMR 19.25

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.43 OMR 15.18

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.0 OMR 30.42

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.2 OMR 33.97

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 OMR 151

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 OMR 98.2

$206 OMR 79.4

23.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$920 OMR 354

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$573 OMR 221

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,566 OMR 988

$3,613 OMR 1,391

-28.97%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Al-Buraimi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al-Buraimi pays 41% 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 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 105% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Al-Buraimi earns 41% 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 97% higher in Al-Buraimi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $493 per month in Ruwi versus $1,011 in Al-Buraimi – a 105% 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 105% less than in Al-Buraimi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.