Cost of Living Comparison Between Ruwi and Al-masna'ah Cost of Living Comparison Between Ruwi and Al-masna'ah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $492 per month in Ruwi vs $792 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A couple spends around $751 per month in Ruwi vs $1,184 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,010 per month in Ruwi vs $1,576 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

Ruwi is about 38% cheaper than Al-masna'ah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ruwi and Al-masna'ah are more affordable than the global median – Ruwi 63% lower, Al-masna'ah 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.32 OMR 2.05

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.28 OMR 10.12

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 OMR 3.02

Cappuccino

$4.83 OMR 1.86

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

$1.00 OMR 0.39

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.19 OMR 4.69

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.91 OMR 4.58

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$2.00 OMR 0.77

-1.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.05 OMR 0.79

$1.23 OMR 0.47

66.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$1.73 OMR 0.66

-42.77%

Eggs

$1.18 OMR 0.46

$2.47 OMR 0.95

-52.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.96 OMR 0.75

$3.74 OMR 1.44

-47.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$4.96 OMR 1.91

-60.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.13 OMR 1.98

$8.64 OMR 3.33

-40.63%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$2.60 OMR 1.00

-62.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.66 OMR 0.64

-38.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$1.84 OMR 0.71

-44.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$1.17 OMR 0.45

-17.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.02 OMR 0.39

-3.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.08 OMR 0.41

-9.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$0.55 OMR 0.21

78.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.46 OMR 2.49

Wine (Bottle)

$15.75 OMR 6.06

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.31 OMR 1.66

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.91 OMR 3.05

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 OMR 1.22

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 OMR 0.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.28 OMR 3.96

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

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

$22.7K OMR 8,747

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

$21.7K OMR 8,347

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

$105 OMR 40.48

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

$26.34 OMR 10.14

$40.58 OMR 15.62

-35.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.7 OMR 29.90

$70.4 OMR 27.10

10.34%

Cinema Ticket

$9.25 OMR 3.56

$10.49 OMR 4.04

-11.82%

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

$192 OMR 73.9

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K OMR 4,935

$9,815 OMR 3,779

30.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.42 OMR 19.03

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.67 OMR 14.89

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 OMR 30.62

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.4 OMR 34.79

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 OMR 149

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$259 OMR 99.8

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$905 OMR 348

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$569 OMR 219

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,409 OMR 1,698

$3,952 OMR 1,522

11.57%

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 25, 2026

Last update for Al-masna'ah: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 12% higher in Ruwi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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-masna'ah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $492 in Ruwi, $792 in Al-masna'ah – roughly 61% apart. Al-masna'ah costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $738 per month in Ruwi and $1,188 in Al-masna'ah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $492 in Ruwi and $792 in Al-masna'ah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 95% more in Al-masna'ah, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $492 in Ruwi and $792 in Al-masna'ah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Ruwi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ruwi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Al-masna'ah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.