Cost of Living Comparison Between Seeb and Ruwi Cost of Living Comparison Between Seeb and Ruwi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,301 in Seeb versus $624 in Ruwi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,949 in Seeb versus $819 in Ruwi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,596 in Seeb versus $1,014 in Ruwi.

Living in Seeb is roughly 108% more expensive than in Ruwi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Seeb 6% lower, Ruwi 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.62 OMR 2.93

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.77 OMR 7.99

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 OMR 2.98

Cappuccino

$5.28 OMR 2.03

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

$1.06 OMR 0.41

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.27 OMR 3.95

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.20 OMR 3.93

Milk (1 liter)

$3.15 OMR 1.21

$2.04 OMR 0.79

54.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 OMR 0.52

$1.95 OMR 0.75

-31.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.54 OMR 0.98

$1.03 OMR 0.40

146.60%

Eggs

$4.57 OMR 1.76

$1.18 OMR 0.45

287.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 OMR 4.95

$2.04 OMR 0.78

530.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.93 OMR 3.05

$2.04 OMR 0.78

288.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.12 OMR 5.05

$4.98 OMR 1.92

163.45%

Apples (1kg)

$3.96 OMR 1.53

$0.98 OMR 0.38

304.08%

Banana (1kg)

$2.61 OMR 1.01

$0.97 OMR 0.37

169.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.94 OMR 1.52

$0.99 OMR 0.38

297.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.67 OMR 1.03

$1.03 OMR 0.40

159.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 OMR 0.49

$1.02 OMR 0.39

23.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 OMR 0.76

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

$1.02 OMR 0.39

25.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 OMR 0.19

$0.97 OMR 0.37

-48.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.32 OMR 2.43

Wine (Bottle)

$12.75 OMR 4.91

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.22 OMR 2.01

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 OMR 3.40

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 OMR 0.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.44 OMR 15.18

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.38 OMR 0.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 OMR 0.26

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.22 OMR 5.09

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 OMR 0.24

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

$23.0K OMR 8,856

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

$23.8K OMR 9,181

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

$102 OMR 39.43

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

$25.98 OMR 10.00

$26.38 OMR 10.16

-1.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.6 OMR 29.89

$79.4 OMR 30.55

-2.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.4 OMR 30.20

Cinema Ticket

$6.44 OMR 2.48

$9.04 OMR 3.48

-28.76%

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

$388 OMR 149

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,939 OMR 3,057

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$522 OMR 201

$387 OMR 149

34.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 OMR 148

$391 OMR 151

-1.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,047 OMR 403

$926 OMR 357

12.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$786 OMR 303

$579 OMR 223

35.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,322 OMR 509

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,030 OMR 397

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,219 OMR 854

$4,449 OMR 1,713

-50.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Seeb: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $522 in Seeb and $387 in Ruwi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ruwi pays 100% 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

Seeb vs Ruwi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seeb and Ruwi differ by about 108% in total monthly costs ($1,301 vs $624 including rent). Ruwi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 100% lower in Ruwi. 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: $522 in Seeb versus $387 in Ruwi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 190% higher in Seeb. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,301 per month in Seeb versus $624 in Ruwi – a 108% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $624 in Ruwi versus $1,301 in Seeb, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ruwi but tight or insufficient in Seeb. The gap between the two cities makes Ruwi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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, Seeb 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 108% less than in Seeb. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.