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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Shinas is roughly 56% more expensive than in Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shinas 41% lower, Ruwi 62% 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 3.07

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)

$1.99 OMR 0.77

$2.02 OMR 0.78

-1.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 OMR 0.45

$1.95 OMR 0.75

-39.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 OMR 0.64

$0.98 OMR 0.38

68.37%

Eggs

$2.36 OMR 0.91

$1.18 OMR 0.46

100.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.84 OMR 1.48

$2.05 OMR 0.79

87.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.09 OMR 1.96

$2.05 OMR 0.79

148.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.77 OMR 3.37

$5.07 OMR 1.95

72.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 OMR 0.98

$0.99 OMR 0.38

156.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 OMR 0.67

$0.98 OMR 0.38

76.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 OMR 0.68

$1.02 OMR 0.39

73.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 OMR 0.44

$0.98 OMR 0.38

15.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$1.01 OMR 0.39

-3.96%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 OMR 0.40

$1.02 OMR 0.39

2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 OMR 0.20

$0.99 OMR 0.38

-47.47%

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 8,838

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

$21.8K OMR 8,391

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

$107 OMR 41.02

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

$40.69 OMR 15.66

$25.58 OMR 9.85

59.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.0 OMR 27.32

$78.5 OMR 30.22

-9.60%

Cinema Ticket

$10.41 OMR 4.01

$9.03 OMR 3.48

15.28%

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

$194 OMR 74.7

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,771 OMR 3,761

$12.8K OMR 4,911

-23.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 OMR 19.63

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.66 OMR 15.26

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 OMR 30.81

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.7 OMR 33.74

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)

$3,106 OMR 1,195

$4,481 OMR 1,725

-30.69%

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 Shinas: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: July 13, 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

Shinas vs Ruwi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

On paper, salaries run 44% 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.

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 $795 per month in Shinas versus $510 in Ruwi – 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, Shinas 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 56% less than in Shinas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.