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 $818 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A couple spends around $760 per month in Ruwi vs $1,219 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,029 per month in Ruwi vs $1,619 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

Ruwi is about 40% 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 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.09 OMR 1.95

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.23 OMR 10.07

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.59 OMR 2.92

Cappuccino

$4.95 OMR 1.90

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)

$12.52 OMR 4.81

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.83 OMR 4.54

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 OMR 0.75

$1.91 OMR 0.73

2.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.06 OMR 0.79

$1.18 OMR 0.45

74.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.71 OMR 0.66

-42.69%

Eggs

$1.21 OMR 0.46

$2.39 OMR 0.92

-49.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.02 OMR 0.78

$3.81 OMR 1.46

-46.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.96 OMR 0.75

$5.12 OMR 1.97

-61.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.13 OMR 1.97

$8.66 OMR 3.33

-40.76%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$2.57 OMR 0.99

-62.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.67 OMR 0.64

-38.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$1.76 OMR 0.67

-43.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.14 OMR 0.44

-14.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 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)

$6.45 OMR 2.48

Wine (Bottle)

$15.42 OMR 5.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.33 OMR 1.66

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.58 OMR 2.91

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 OMR 1.19

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 OMR 0.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.28 OMR 3.95

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 OMR 0.25

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

$22.5K OMR 8,634

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

$22.0K OMR 8,434

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

$109 OMR 41.69

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

$26.03 OMR 10.00

$41.99 OMR 16.12

-38.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.5 OMR 30.54

$70.2 OMR 26.94

13.35%

Cinema Ticket

$9.27 OMR 3.56

$10.59 OMR 4.07

-12.46%

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

$190 OMR 73.1

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K OMR 5,078

$9,774 OMR 3,753

35.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.1 OMR 19.25

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.12 OMR 15.02

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.1 OMR 30.38

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 OMR 34.14

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

$4,049 OMR 1,555

-36.53%

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 Al-masna'ah: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 58% higher in Al-masna'ah, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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, $818 in Al-masna'ah – roughly 66% 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 $1,227 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 $818 in Al-masna'ah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 92% 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 $818 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.