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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $632 per month in Ruwi vs $980 in Ibra, rent included.

A couple spends around $828 per month in Ruwi vs $1,447 in Ibra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,025 per month in Ruwi vs $1,914 in Ibra, rent included.

Ruwi is about 36% cheaper than Ibra, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ruwi and Ibra are more affordable than the global median – Ruwi 54% lower, Ibra 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.22 OMR 2.01

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.91 OMR 13.06

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.64 OMR 2.94

Cappuccino

$4.97 OMR 1.91

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

$0.84 OMR 0.32

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.18 OMR 5.07

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.92 OMR 4.97

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 OMR 0.79

$2.31 OMR 0.89

-11.26%

White Bread (500g)

$2.01 OMR 0.77

$1.29 OMR 0.50

55.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$1.82 OMR 0.70

-43.41%

Eggs

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$2.86 OMR 1.10

-57.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$7.81 OMR 3.01

-74.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.02 OMR 0.78

$6.61 OMR 2.55

-69.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.03 OMR 1.94

$10.66 OMR 4.10

-52.81%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$3.46 OMR 1.33

-71.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$1.97 OMR 0.76

-50.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$2.35 OMR 0.90

-58.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.21 OMR 0.47

-19.01%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$1.16 OMR 0.45

-12.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$1.77 OMR 0.68

-41.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$0.66 OMR 0.26

53.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.66 OMR 2.56

Wine (Bottle)

$15.86 OMR 6.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.52 OMR 2.13

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.86 OMR 3.41

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 OMR 1.28

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.64 OMR 1.02

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.97 OMR 3.07

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 OMR 0.25

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

$25.5K OMR 9,814

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

$22.7K OMR 8,737

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

$175 OMR 67.3

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

$25.82 OMR 9.94

$30.87 OMR 11.89

-16.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.0 OMR 30.41

$70.0 OMR 26.94

12.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.36 OMR 12.07

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.38 OMR 7.08

Cinema Ticket

$9.16 OMR 3.53

$6.93 OMR 2.67

32.18%

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

$285 OMR 110

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K OMR 4,039

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.6 OMR 21.40

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.17 OMR 16.62

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 OMR 34.79

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.8 OMR 36.13

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$393 OMR 151

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 OMR 149

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$909 OMR 350

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$563 OMR 217

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,409 OMR 1,697

$4,177 OMR 1,608

5.55%

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 15, 2026

Last update for Ibra: September 14, 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 55% 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 $947 per month in Ruwi and $1,470 in Ibra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $632 in Ruwi and $980 in Ibra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 139% 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 $632 in Ruwi and $980 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.