Cost of Living Comparison Between Ruwi and Saham Cost of Living Comparison Between Ruwi and Saham

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $624 in Ruwi versus $960 in Saham.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $824 in Ruwi versus $1,432 in Saham.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,023 in Ruwi versus $1,904 in Saham.

Living in Ruwi costs roughly 35% less than in Saham, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ruwi 55% lower, Saham 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.32 OMR 2.05

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.16 OMR 12.77

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 OMR 3.07

Cappuccino

$4.90 OMR 1.89

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)

$12.87 OMR 4.95

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$13.25 OMR 5.10

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 OMR 0.76

$2.26 OMR 0.87

-12.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 OMR 0.76

$1.24 OMR 0.48

58.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$1.91 OMR 0.73

-47.12%

Eggs

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$2.84 OMR 1.09

-57.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.02 OMR 0.78

$7.55 OMR 2.91

-73.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.99 OMR 0.77

$6.71 OMR 2.58

-70.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.87 OMR 1.87

$10.72 OMR 4.13

-54.57%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$3.53 OMR 1.36

-72.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$1.91 OMR 0.73

-46.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$2.30 OMR 0.89

-55.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.24 OMR 0.48

-17.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.19 OMR 0.46

-17.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 OMR 0.50

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$1.84 OMR 0.71

-46.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$0.62 OMR 0.24

66.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.60 OMR 2.54

Wine (Bottle)

$15.65 OMR 6.03

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.56 OMR 2.14

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.69 OMR 3.34

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 OMR 1.24

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.53 OMR 0.97

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.76 OMR 2.99

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 OMR 0.23

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

$25.9K OMR 9,975

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

$22.3K OMR 8,593

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

$170 OMR 65.4

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

$25.65 OMR 9.88

$31.30 OMR 12.05

-18.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.9 OMR 30.00

$71.5 OMR 27.53

8.99%

Cinema Ticket

$8.93 OMR 3.44

$10.29 OMR 3.96

-13.22%

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

$286 OMR 110

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K OMR 4,025

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 OMR 22.07

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.21 OMR 16.64

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.6 OMR 35.25

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.1 OMR 36.21

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$396 OMR 153

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$385 OMR 148

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$912 OMR 351

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 OMR 224

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,419 OMR 1,701

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Saham: August 31, 2026

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 Saham: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ruwi and Saham differ by about 54% in total monthly costs ($624 vs $960 including rent). Ruwi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $936 in Ruwi and $1,440 in Saham to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 140% higher in Saham. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $624 per month in Ruwi versus $960 in Saham – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Ruwi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 Saham 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 54% less than in Saham. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.