Cost of Living Comparison Between Ruwi and Ar-rustaq Cost of Living Comparison Between Ruwi and Ar-rustaq

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $510 per month in Ruwi vs $966 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $774 per month in Ruwi vs $1,335 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,039 per month in Ruwi vs $1,705 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

Ruwi is about 47% cheaper than Ar-rustaq, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ruwi and Ar-rustaq are more affordable than the global median – Ruwi 62% lower, Ar-rustaq 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.13 OMR 1.97

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.59 OMR 9.85

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.95 OMR 3.06

Cappuccino

$4.75 OMR 1.83

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

$0.50 OMR 0.19

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.36 OMR 4.76

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.66 OMR 4.49

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 OMR 0.78

$1.93 OMR 0.74

4.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 OMR 0.75

$1.22 OMR 0.47

59.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.68 OMR 0.65

-41.67%

Eggs

$1.18 OMR 0.46

$1.91 OMR 0.73

-38.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.05 OMR 0.79

$3.67 OMR 1.41

-44.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.05 OMR 0.79

$4.26 OMR 1.64

-51.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.07 OMR 1.95

$7.72 OMR 2.97

-34.33%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$2.28 OMR 0.88

-56.58%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.75 OMR 0.67

-44.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.84 OMR 0.71

-44.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.12 OMR 0.43

-12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$0.95 OMR 0.37

6.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.04 OMR 0.40

-1.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$0.53 OMR 0.21

86.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.48 OMR 2.49

Wine (Bottle)

$15.88 OMR 6.11

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.20 OMR 1.62

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.62 OMR 2.93

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 OMR 0.49

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 OMR 0.61

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.47 OMR 4.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 OMR 0.25

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

$22.5K OMR 8,649

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

$21.5K OMR 8,261

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

$106 OMR 40.84

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

$25.58 OMR 9.85

$40.86 OMR 15.73

-37.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.5 OMR 30.22

$69.3 OMR 26.69

13.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.56 OMR 0.98

Cinema Ticket

$9.03 OMR 3.48

$10.45 OMR 4.02

-13.59%

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

$129 OMR 49.74

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K OMR 4,911

$3,739 OMR 1,439

241.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.56 OMR 7.92

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.17 OMR 10.07

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.16 OMR 15.07

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.4 OMR 20.17

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 OMR 149

$154 OMR 59.2

151.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 OMR 98.1

$208 OMR 80.1

22.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$900 OMR 346

$397 OMR 153

126.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 OMR 224

$212 OMR 81.5

174.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,481 OMR 1,725

$4,373 OMR 1,683

2.47%

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 Ar-rustaq: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $387 in Ruwi versus $154 in Ar-rustaq. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 2% 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 Ar-rustaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ar-rustaq is pricier by about 89%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $765 per month in Ruwi and $1,449 in Ar-rustaq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ruwi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $510 in Ruwi and $966 in Ar-rustaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 85% more in Ar-rustaq, 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 $510 in Ruwi and $966 in Ar-rustaq, 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, Ar-rustaq makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.