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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $945 per month in Shinas vs $1,437 in Sohar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Shinas vs $2,112 in Sohar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,872 per month in Shinas vs $2,788 in Sohar, rent included.

Shinas is about 34% cheaper than Sohar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Shinas sits 31% below the global median, while Sohar is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.18 OMR 2.00

$6.31 OMR 2.43

-17.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.11 OMR 13.13

$20.77 OMR 8.00

64.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.88 OMR 3.03

$8.98 OMR 3.46

-12.25%

Cappuccino

$4.81 OMR 1.85

$4.98 OMR 1.92

-3.41%

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

$0.91 OMR 0.35

$0.65 OMR 0.25

40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

$0.30 OMR 0.12

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.22 OMR 5.09

$13.23 OMR 5.09

-0.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.93 OMR 4.98

$14.05 OMR 5.41

-7.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 OMR 0.86

$2.19 OMR 0.84

2.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 OMR 0.48

$1.10 OMR 0.42

13.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

$3.31 OMR 1.28

-44.11%

Eggs

$2.89 OMR 1.11

$2.74 OMR 1.06

5.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.57 OMR 2.91

$13.58 OMR 5.23

-44.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.56 OMR 2.53

$9.30 OMR 3.58

-29.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.60 OMR 4.08

$14.17 OMR 5.45

-25.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 OMR 1.31

$3.32 OMR 1.28

2.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$2.12 OMR 0.82

-5.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.34 OMR 0.90

$2.53 OMR 0.97

-7.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.17 OMR 0.45

8.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 OMR 0.46

$1.74 OMR 0.67

-31.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.83 OMR 0.71

-32.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 OMR 0.71

$1.71 OMR 0.66

8.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 OMR 0.24

$0.91 OMR 0.35

-30.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.54 OMR 2.52

$5.83 OMR 2.24

12.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.36 OMR 5.92

$26.03 OMR 10.02

-40.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.69 OMR 2.19

$3.92 OMR 1.51

45.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.81 OMR 3.39

$8.36 OMR 3.22

5.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.67 OMR 1.03

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.6 OMR 20.25

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.33 OMR 1.28

$3.19 OMR 1.23

4.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 OMR 1.02

$1.54 OMR 0.59

72.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.88 OMR 3.03

$10.34 OMR 3.98

-23.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

$0.65 OMR 0.25

-7.69%

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

$25.2K OMR 9,699

$18.2K OMR 7,024

38.08%

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

$22.3K OMR 8,594

$20.4K OMR 7,855

9.40%

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

$169 OMR 65.1

$102 OMR 39.32

65.56%

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

$31.37 OMR 12.08

$28.74 OMR 11.06

9.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.5 OMR 27.14

$87.8 OMR 33.79

-19.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.22 OMR 18.95

Cinema Ticket

$10.22 OMR 3.93

$11.67 OMR 4.49

-12.43%

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

$286 OMR 110

$303 OMR 117

-5.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K OMR 4,050

$7,016 OMR 2,701

49.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.0 OMR 21.95

$51.7 OMR 19.90

10.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.68 OMR 16.82

$43.92 OMR 16.91

-0.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.1 OMR 35.44

$79.8 OMR 30.72

15.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.0 OMR 37.34

$47.18 OMR 18.16

105.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 OMR 189

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 OMR 147

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$824 OMR 317

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$684 OMR 263

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,164 OMR 448

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$765 OMR 295

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,067 OMR 1,181

$2,513 OMR 968

22.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

6.33

-17.06%

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

Last update for Shinas: September 8, 2026

Last update for Sohar: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 22% 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 $34.00 in Shinas versus $21.00 in Sohar. Groceries tell a different story – $284 in Shinas vs $347 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 52% 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 $1,417 per month in Shinas and $2,156 in Sohar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $945 in Shinas and $1,437 in Sohar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $286 per month in Shinas and $303 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 $945, than in Sohar at $1,437. 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.