Cost of Living Comparison Between Ruwi and Sur Cost of Living Comparison Between Ruwi and Sur

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $493 in Ruwi versus $1,105 in Sur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $753 in Ruwi versus $1,581 in Sur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,013 in Ruwi versus $2,056 in Sur.

Living in Ruwi costs roughly 55% less than in Sur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ruwi 63% lower, Sur 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.86 OMR 1.49

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.74 OMR 9.91

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.74 OMR 2.98

Cappuccino

$4.85 OMR 1.87

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

$0.72 OMR 0.28

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.16 OMR 4.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.80 OMR 4.54

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 OMR 0.76

$1.58 OMR 0.61

24.68%

White Bread (500g)

$2.01 OMR 0.77

$1.22 OMR 0.47

64.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$1.74 OMR 0.67

-41.38%

Eggs

$1.22 OMR 0.47

$2.03 OMR 0.78

-39.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.05 OMR 0.79

$3.82 OMR 1.47

-46.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.96 OMR 0.76

$5.04 OMR 1.94

-61.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.92 OMR 1.90

$8.29 OMR 3.19

-40.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$2.37 OMR 0.91

-57.38%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$1.32 OMR 0.51

-26.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.06 OMR 0.41

-7.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$0.75 OMR 0.29

36.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$0.77 OMR 0.29

28.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$1.03 OMR 0.40

-4.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 OMR 0.39

$0.54 OMR 0.21

88.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.36 OMR 2.45

Wine (Bottle)

$15.81 OMR 6.09

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.32 OMR 1.66

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.90 OMR 3.04

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 OMR 1.22

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 OMR 0.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.55 OMR 4.06

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 OMR 0.22

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

$23.3K OMR 8,953

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

$21.4K OMR 8,231

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

$79.8 OMR 30.73

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

$26.00 OMR 10.01

$23.22 OMR 8.94

11.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.2 OMR 29.71

$70.3 OMR 27.05

9.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.1 OMR 33.13

Cinema Ticket

$9.25 OMR 3.56

$10.47 OMR 4.03

-11.65%

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

$195 OMR 75.0

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K OMR 5,080

$6,463 OMR 2,488

104.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 OMR 19.63

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.75 OMR 15.30

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.1 OMR 30.05

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.6 OMR 33.73

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 OMR 151

$258 OMR 99.2

51.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 OMR 98.2

$265 OMR 102

-3.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$920 OMR 354

$468 OMR 180

96.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$573 OMR 221

$391 OMR 150

46.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$571 OMR 220

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$522 OMR 201

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,566 OMR 988

$2,659 OMR 1,024

-3.50%

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 Sur: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $391 in Ruwi and $258 in Sur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sur pays 4% 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 Sur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ruwi and Sur differ by about 124% in total monthly costs ($493 vs $1,105 including rent). Ruwi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Sur earns 4% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $391 in Ruwi versus $258 in Sur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 82% higher in Sur. 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 $1,105 in Sur – a 124% 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 Sur 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 124% less than in Sur. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.