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 $624 per month in Ruwi vs $934 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $819 per month in Ruwi vs $1,412 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,014 per month in Ruwi vs $1,890 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

Ruwi is about 33% cheaper than Ar-rustaq, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ruwi and Ar-rustaq are more affordable than the global median – Ruwi 55% lower, Ar-rustaq 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 OMR 2.03

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.12 OMR 13.13

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.61 OMR 2.93

Cappuccino

$4.88 OMR 1.88

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

$0.85 OMR 0.33

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 OMR 0.11

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.01 OMR 5.01

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$13.14 OMR 5.06

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 OMR 0.79

$2.27 OMR 0.87

-10.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 OMR 0.75

$1.28 OMR 0.49

52.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$1.83 OMR 0.70

-43.72%

Eggs

$1.18 OMR 0.45

$2.86 OMR 1.10

-58.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.04 OMR 0.78

$7.47 OMR 2.88

-72.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.04 OMR 0.78

$6.70 OMR 2.58

-69.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.98 OMR 1.92

$10.59 OMR 4.08

-52.97%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$3.51 OMR 1.35

-72.08%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$2.00 OMR 0.77

-51.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$2.42 OMR 0.93

-59.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$1.19 OMR 0.46

-13.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.21 OMR 0.47

-15.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.85 OMR 0.71

-44.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$0.62 OMR 0.24

56.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.32 OMR 2.43

Wine (Bottle)

$15.53 OMR 5.98

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 OMR 2.09

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 OMR 3.47

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 OMR 1.23

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.68 OMR 1.03

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 OMR 3.09

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

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

$25.2K OMR 9,695

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

$22.4K OMR 8,606

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

$174 OMR 66.9

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

$26.38 OMR 10.16

$30.45 OMR 11.72

-13.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.4 OMR 30.55

$69.1 OMR 26.60

14.85%

Cinema Ticket

$9.04 OMR 3.48

$10.37 OMR 3.99

-12.83%

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

$288 OMR 111

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K OMR 4,064

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 OMR 21.44

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.38 OMR 16.70

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 OMR 34.47

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.3 OMR 37.44

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 OMR 149

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 OMR 151

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$926 OMR 357

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$579 OMR 223

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,449 OMR 1,713

$4,389 OMR 1,690

1.35%

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: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ar-rustaq: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 1% 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 50%, 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 $937 per month in Ruwi and $1,401 in Ar-rustaq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $624 in Ruwi and $934 in Ar-rustaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 140% 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 $624 in Ruwi and $934 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.