Cost of Living Comparison Between Ruwi and Shinas Cost of Living Comparison Between Ruwi and Shinas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $510 in Ruwi versus $795 in Shinas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $774 in Ruwi versus $1,196 in Shinas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,039 in Ruwi versus $1,596 in Shinas.

Living in Ruwi costs roughly 36% less than in Shinas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ruwi 62% lower, Shinas 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.26 OMR 2.02

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.73 OMR 9.90

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 OMR 3.06

Cappuccino

$5.00 OMR 1.92

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

$1.05 OMR 0.40

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 OMR 0.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.28 OMR 4.73

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.76 OMR 4.53

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 OMR 0.78

$1.99 OMR 0.77

1.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 OMR 0.75

$1.18 OMR 0.45

65.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.65 OMR 0.64

-40.61%

Eggs

$1.18 OMR 0.45

$2.36 OMR 0.91

-50.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.05 OMR 0.79

$3.84 OMR 1.48

-46.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.05 OMR 0.79

$5.09 OMR 1.96

-59.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.07 OMR 1.95

$8.77 OMR 3.37

-42.19%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$2.54 OMR 0.98

-61.02%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.73 OMR 0.67

-43.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.77 OMR 0.68

-42.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.13 OMR 0.44

-13.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$0.97 OMR 0.37

4.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.05 OMR 0.40

-2.86%

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)

$15.38 OMR 5.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.22 OMR 1.62

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.96 OMR 3.06

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 OMR 1.19

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.36 OMR 3.99

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 OMR 0.25

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

$23.0K OMR 8,836

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

$21.8K OMR 8,388

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

$107 OMR 41.01

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

$25.58 OMR 9.84

$40.69 OMR 15.66

-37.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.5 OMR 30.21

$71.0 OMR 27.31

10.62%

Cinema Ticket

$9.03 OMR 3.48

$10.41 OMR 4.01

-13.26%

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

$194 OMR 74.7

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K OMR 4,910

$9,771 OMR 3,760

30.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 OMR 19.62

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.66 OMR 15.26

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 OMR 30.80

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.7 OMR 33.73

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 1,724

$3,106 OMR 1,195

44.29%

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 Shinas: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ruwi pays 44% 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 Shinas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ruwi and Shinas differ by about 56% in total monthly costs ($510 vs $795 including rent). Ruwi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 44% higher in Ruwi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 94% higher in Shinas. 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 $795 in Shinas – a 56% 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 Shinas 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 56% less than in Shinas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.