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: $493 in Ruwi versus $817 in Shinas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $753 in Ruwi versus $1,214 in Shinas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,013 in Ruwi versus $1,610 in Shinas.

Living in Ruwi costs roughly 40% less than in Shinas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ruwi 63% lower, Shinas 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 OMR 1.99

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.55 OMR 9.84

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.58 OMR 2.92

Cappuccino

$4.76 OMR 1.83

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

$1.06 OMR 0.41

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.19 OMR 4.69

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.81 OMR 4.55

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 OMR 0.76

$1.93 OMR 0.74

2.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.01 OMR 0.77

$1.18 OMR 0.45

70.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.73 OMR 0.67

-41.04%

Eggs

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$2.38 OMR 0.92

-48.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.05 OMR 0.79

$3.73 OMR 1.43

-45.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.96 OMR 0.76

$4.96 OMR 1.91

-60.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.92 OMR 1.90

$8.62 OMR 3.32

-42.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$2.62 OMR 1.01

-61.45%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$1.73 OMR 0.67

-43.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.77 OMR 0.68

-44.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.17 OMR 0.45

-12.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$1.01 OMR 0.39

-1.98%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.04 OMR 0.40

-5.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$0.52 OMR 0.20

96.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.44 OMR 2.48

Wine (Bottle)

$15.86 OMR 6.11

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.37 OMR 1.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.75 OMR 2.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 OMR 1.23

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 OMR 0.30

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.29 OMR 3.96

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 OMR 0.23

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

$22.8K OMR 8,779

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

$21.7K OMR 8,368

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

$106 OMR 40.81

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

$26.00 OMR 10.01

$41.81 OMR 16.10

-37.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.2 OMR 29.71

$70.7 OMR 27.21

9.18%

Cinema Ticket

$9.25 OMR 3.56

$10.28 OMR 3.96

-10.02%

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

$196 OMR 75.3

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K OMR 5,080

$9,761 OMR 3,758

35.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.2 OMR 19.32

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.84 OMR 15.34

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 OMR 30.00

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 OMR 34.17

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 OMR 151

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 OMR 98.2

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$920 OMR 354

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$573 OMR 221

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,566 OMR 988

$3,087 OMR 1,188

-16.86%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Shinas: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Shinas pays 20% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 66% in total monthly costs ($493 vs $817 including rent). Ruwi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Shinas earns 20% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

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 $493 per month in Ruwi versus $817 in Shinas – a 66% 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 66% less than in Shinas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.