Cost of Living Comparison Between Ruwi and Ibra Cost of Living Comparison Between Ruwi and Ibra

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $510 per month in Ruwi vs $847 in Ibra, rent included.

A couple spends around $774 per month in Ruwi vs $1,270 in Ibra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,039 per month in Ruwi vs $1,693 in Ibra, rent included.

Ruwi is about 40% cheaper than Ibra, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ruwi and Ibra are more affordable than the global median – Ruwi 62% lower, Ibra 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 OMR 1.99

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.23 OMR 10.09

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.73 OMR 2.98

Cappuccino

$4.93 OMR 1.90

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

$1.01 OMR 0.39

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 OMR 0.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.37 OMR 4.76

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.64 OMR 4.48

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 OMR 0.78

$2.01 OMR 0.77

0.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 OMR 0.75

$1.24 OMR 0.48

57.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.66 OMR 0.64

-40.96%

Eggs

$1.18 OMR 0.46

$2.37 OMR 0.91

-50.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.05 OMR 0.79

$3.80 OMR 1.46

-46.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.05 OMR 0.79

$4.98 OMR 1.92

-58.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.07 OMR 1.95

$8.35 OMR 3.22

-39.28%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$2.61 OMR 1.00

-62.07%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.73 OMR 0.66

-43.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.85 OMR 0.71

-44.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.18 OMR 0.46

-16.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.08 OMR 0.42

-5.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$0.52 OMR 0.20

90.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.29 OMR 2.42

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 OMR 6.07

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.41 OMR 1.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.86 OMR 3.02

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 OMR 1.20

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.31 OMR 3.97

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 OMR 0.25

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

$23.2K OMR 8,939

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

$21.8K OMR 8,389

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

$107 OMR 41.17

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

$25.58 OMR 9.85

$41.12 OMR 15.83

-37.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.5 OMR 30.22

$69.0 OMR 26.57

13.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.11 OMR 11.97

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 OMR 7.06

Cinema Ticket

$9.03 OMR 3.48

$7.09 OMR 2.73

27.36%

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

$196 OMR 75.6

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K OMR 4,911

$9,833 OMR 3,785

29.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 OMR 19.64

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.28 OMR 15.12

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 OMR 30.13

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 OMR 33.46

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 OMR 149

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 OMR 98.1

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$900 OMR 346

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 OMR 224

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,481 OMR 1,725

$4,220 OMR 1,624

6.17%

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 Ibra: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 6% 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 Ibra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ibra costs about 66% more than Ruwi, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $765 per month in Ruwi and $1,270 in Ibra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $510 in Ruwi and $847 in Ibra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 95% more in Ibra, 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 $847 in Ibra, 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, Ibra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.