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: $817 in Shinas versus $493 in Ruwi.

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

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

Living in Shinas is roughly 66% more expensive than Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

$1.93 OMR 0.74

$1.97 OMR 0.76

-2.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 OMR 0.45

$2.01 OMR 0.77

-41.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 OMR 0.67

$1.02 OMR 0.39

69.61%

Eggs

$2.38 OMR 0.92

$1.22 OMR 0.47

95.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.73 OMR 1.43

$2.05 OMR 0.79

81.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 OMR 1.91

$1.96 OMR 0.76

153.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.62 OMR 3.32

$4.92 OMR 1.90

75.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 OMR 1.01

$1.01 OMR 0.39

159.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 OMR 0.67

$0.97 OMR 0.37

78.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 OMR 0.68

$0.98 OMR 0.38

80.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

$1.02 OMR 0.39

14.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$0.99 OMR 0.38

2.02%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 OMR 0.40

$0.98 OMR 0.38

6.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 OMR 0.20

$1.02 OMR 0.39

-49.02%

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)

$41.81 OMR 16.10

$26.00 OMR 10.01

60.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.7 OMR 27.21

$77.2 OMR 29.71

-8.41%

Cinema Ticket

$10.28 OMR 3.96

$9.25 OMR 3.56

11.14%

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

$196 OMR 75.3

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,761 OMR 3,758

$13.2K OMR 5,080

-26.02%

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)

$3,087 OMR 1,188

$2,566 OMR 988

20.28%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: June 2, 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

Shinas vs Ruwi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Shinas pays 20% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

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