Cost of Living Comparison Between Shinas and Sohar Cost of Living Comparison Between Shinas and Sohar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $817 per month in Shinas vs $1,441 in Sohar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,214 per month in Shinas vs $2,151 in Sohar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,610 per month in Shinas vs $2,862 in Sohar, rent included.

Shinas is about 43% cheaper than Sohar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Shinas sits 39% below the global median, while Sohar is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 OMR 1.99

$6.53 OMR 2.51

-20.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.55 OMR 9.84

$21.05 OMR 8.10

21.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.58 OMR 2.92

$8.87 OMR 3.41

-14.54%

Cappuccino

$4.76 OMR 1.83

$6.62 OMR 2.55

-28.10%

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

$1.06 OMR 0.41

$0.65 OMR 0.25

63.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 OMR 0.13

$0.27 OMR 0.10

25.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.19 OMR 4.69

$12.74 OMR 4.91

-4.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.81 OMR 4.55

$14.10 OMR 5.43

-16.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 OMR 0.74

$2.24 OMR 0.86

-13.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 OMR 0.45

$1.11 OMR 0.43

6.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 OMR 0.67

$3.22 OMR 1.24

-46.27%

Eggs

$2.38 OMR 0.92

$2.82 OMR 1.09

-15.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.73 OMR 1.43

$13.59 OMR 5.23

-72.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 OMR 1.91

$9.31 OMR 3.58

-46.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.62 OMR 3.32

$14.40 OMR 5.54

-40.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 OMR 1.01

$3.21 OMR 1.24

-18.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 OMR 0.67

$2.11 OMR 0.81

-18.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 OMR 0.68

$2.55 OMR 0.98

-30.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

$1.18 OMR 0.46

-0.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 OMR 0.39

$1.74 OMR 0.67

-41.95%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$1.86 OMR 0.72

-46.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 OMR 0.40

$1.72 OMR 0.66

-39.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 OMR 0.20

$0.99 OMR 0.38

-47.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.44 OMR 2.48

$6.14 OMR 2.36

4.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.86 OMR 6.11

$26.43 OMR 10.18

-39.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.37 OMR 1.68

$4.00 OMR 1.54

9.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.75 OMR 2.98

$8.47 OMR 3.26

-8.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.66 OMR 1.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.9 OMR 20.00

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 OMR 1.23

$3.16 OMR 1.21

0.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 OMR 0.30

$1.53 OMR 0.59

-48.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.29 OMR 3.96

$10.51 OMR 4.05

-2.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 OMR 0.23

$0.60 OMR 0.23

-1.67%

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

$22.8K OMR 8,779

$18.1K OMR 6,963

26.08%

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

$21.7K OMR 8,368

$20.8K OMR 8,000

4.60%

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

$106 OMR 40.81

$101 OMR 38.93

4.82%

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

$41.81 OMR 16.10

$29.04 OMR 11.18

43.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.7 OMR 27.21

$87.4 OMR 33.63

-19.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 OMR 19.86

Cinema Ticket

$10.28 OMR 3.96

$11.78 OMR 4.54

-12.73%

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

$196 OMR 75.3

$269 OMR 104

-27.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,761 OMR 3,758

$7,119 OMR 2,741

37.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.2 OMR 19.32

$51.6 OMR 19.88

-2.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.84 OMR 15.34

$43.42 OMR 16.72

-8.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 OMR 30.00

$78.3 OMR 30.14

-0.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 OMR 34.17

$46.95 OMR 18.08

89.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 OMR 187

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 OMR 149

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$753 OMR 290

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$669 OMR 257

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,154 OMR 444

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$774 OMR 298

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,087 OMR 1,188

$2,455 OMR 945

25.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.15

5.62

-8.36%

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

Last update for Shinas: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sohar: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 26% higher in Shinas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Shinas versus $21.00 in Sohar. Groceries tell a different story – $230 in Shinas vs $351 in Sohar – so Shinas wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Sohar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sohar costs about 76% more than Shinas, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,226 per month in Shinas and $2,161 in Sohar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $817 in Shinas and $1,441 in Sohar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $196 per month in Shinas and $269 in Sohar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shinas, where all-in costs run around $817, than in Sohar at $1,441. In Shinas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sohar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Shinas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Shinas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sohar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.