Cost of Living Comparison Between Ruwi and Muscat Cost of Living Comparison Between Ruwi and Muscat

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $510 in Ruwi versus $1,322 in Muscat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $774 in Ruwi versus $1,928 in Muscat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,039 in Ruwi versus $2,533 in Muscat.

Living in Ruwi costs roughly 61% less than in Muscat, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ruwi 62% lower, Muscat 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.29 OMR 2.04

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.50 OMR 9.82

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.99 OMR 3.08

Cappuccino

$4.86 OMR 1.87

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

$1.01 OMR 0.39

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.41 OMR 4.78

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.66 OMR 4.49

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 OMR 0.78

$1.98 OMR 0.76

2.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 OMR 0.75

$1.23 OMR 0.47

58.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.70 OMR 0.66

-42.35%

Eggs

$1.18 OMR 0.46

$2.42 OMR 0.93

-51.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.05 OMR 0.79

$3.71 OMR 1.43

-44.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.05 OMR 0.79

$4.89 OMR 1.88

-58.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.07 OMR 1.95

$8.27 OMR 3.18

-38.69%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$2.51 OMR 0.97

-60.56%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.72 OMR 0.66

-43.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.78 OMR 0.69

-42.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.14 OMR 0.44

-14.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$1.02 OMR 0.39

-0.98%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.09 OMR 0.42

-6.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$0.52 OMR 0.20

90.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.28 OMR 2.42

Wine (Bottle)

$15.71 OMR 6.05

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.38 OMR 1.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 OMR 3.09

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.0 OMR 24.26

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 OMR 1.22

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.20 OMR 3.92

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 OMR 0.25

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

$22.5K OMR 8,654

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

$21.5K OMR 8,279

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

$109 OMR 41.78

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

$25.58 OMR 9.85

$40.41 OMR 15.55

-36.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.5 OMR 30.22

$68.5 OMR 26.38

14.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.75 OMR 18.76

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.23 OMR 8.94

Cinema Ticket

$9.03 OMR 3.48

$10.28 OMR 3.96

-12.16%

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

$190 OMR 73.0

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K OMR 4,911

$10.0K OMR 3,861

27.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 OMR 19.62

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.14 OMR 15.07

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 OMR 29.87

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.6 OMR 33.72

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 OMR 149

$616 OMR 237

-37.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 OMR 98.1

$407 OMR 157

-37.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$900 OMR 346

$1,243 OMR 478

-27.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 OMR 224

$714 OMR 275

-18.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,866 OMR 1,103

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,593 OMR 613

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,481 OMR 1,725

$1,576 OMR 607

184.26%

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 Muscat: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Ruwi and $616 in Muscat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ruwi pays 184% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Muscat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ruwi and Muscat differ by about 159% in total monthly costs ($510 vs $1,322 including rent). Ruwi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 184% higher in Ruwi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $387 in Ruwi versus $616 in Muscat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 93% higher in Muscat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $510 per month in Ruwi versus $1,322 in Muscat – a 159% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $510 in Ruwi versus $1,322 in Muscat, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ruwi but tight or insufficient in Muscat. The gap between the two cities makes Ruwi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Ruwi and Muscat are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ruwi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 159% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.