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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Saham is roughly 54% more expensive than in Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

$2.26 OMR 0.87

$1.98 OMR 0.76

14.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.97 OMR 0.76

-37.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 OMR 0.73

$1.01 OMR 0.39

89.11%

Eggs

$2.84 OMR 1.09

$1.22 OMR 0.47

132.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.55 OMR 2.91

$2.02 OMR 0.78

273.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.71 OMR 2.58

$1.99 OMR 0.77

237.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.72 OMR 4.13

$4.87 OMR 1.87

120.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.53 OMR 1.36

$0.97 OMR 0.37

263.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 OMR 0.73

$1.03 OMR 0.40

85.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 OMR 0.89

$1.03 OMR 0.40

123.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.02 OMR 0.39

21.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 OMR 0.46

$0.98 OMR 0.38

21.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 OMR 0.50

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.84 OMR 0.71

$0.99 OMR 0.38

85.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 OMR 0.24

$1.03 OMR 0.40

-39.81%

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)

$31.30 OMR 12.05

$25.65 OMR 9.88

22.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.5 OMR 27.53

$77.9 OMR 30.00

-8.25%

Cinema Ticket

$10.29 OMR 3.96

$8.93 OMR 3.44

15.23%

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 Saham: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: 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

Saham vs Ruwi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

You'd need roughly $1,440 in Saham and $936 in Ruwi 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 $960 per month in Saham versus $624 in Ruwi – 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, Saham and Ruwi 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.