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 $493 per month in Ruwi vs $970 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $753 per month in Ruwi vs $1,309 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,013 per month in Ruwi vs $1,647 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

Ruwi is about 49% cheaper than Ar-rustaq, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ruwi and Ar-rustaq are more affordable than the global median – Ruwi 63% lower, Ar-rustaq 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 OMR 2.03

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.10 OMR 10.05

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.00 OMR 3.08

Cappuccino

$5.01 OMR 1.93

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)

$12.54 OMR 4.83

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 OMR 4.55

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 OMR 0.76

White Bread (500g)

$2.01 OMR 0.77

$1.24 OMR 0.48

62.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.67 OMR 0.64

-38.92%

Eggs

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$1.88 OMR 0.72

-35.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.05 OMR 0.79

$3.86 OMR 1.48

-46.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.96 OMR 0.76

$4.20 OMR 1.62

-53.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.92 OMR 1.90

$7.87 OMR 3.03

-37.48%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$2.30 OMR 0.89

-56.09%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$1.66 OMR 0.64

-41.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.83 OMR 0.71

-46.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.12 OMR 0.43

-8.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$1.03 OMR 0.40

-3.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

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

$0.51 OMR 0.20

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.47 OMR 2.49

Wine (Bottle)

$15.89 OMR 6.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.20 OMR 1.62

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.71 OMR 2.97

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 OMR 0.51

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 OMR 0.61

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 OMR 0.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.25 OMR 3.94

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

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

$22.5K OMR 8,645

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

$21.9K OMR 8,417

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

$106 OMR 40.86

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

$26.00 OMR 10.01

$40.96 OMR 15.77

-36.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.2 OMR 29.71

$70.0 OMR 26.96

10.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.58 OMR 0.99

Cinema Ticket

$9.25 OMR 3.56

$10.32 OMR 3.97

-10.37%

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

$132 OMR 51.0

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K OMR 5,080

$3,748 OMR 1,443

252.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.63 OMR 7.94

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.54 OMR 9.83

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.59 OMR 15.24

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.5 OMR 19.82

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 OMR 151

$159 OMR 61.2

146.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 OMR 98.2

$211 OMR 81.1

21.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$920 OMR 354

$385 OMR 148

139.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$573 OMR 221

$211 OMR 81.1

172.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,566 OMR 988

$4,394 OMR 1,692

-41.59%

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 Ar-rustaq: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $391 in Ruwi versus $159 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 71% higher in Ar-rustaq, 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 Ar-rustaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ar-rustaq is pricier by about 97%, 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 $740 per month in Ruwi and $1,455 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 $493 in Ruwi and $970 in Ar-rustaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 86% 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 $493 in Ruwi and $970 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.