Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Al-Buraimi Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Al-Buraimi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,428 in Sohar versus $1,009 in Al-Buraimi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,124 in Sohar versus $1,303 in Al-Buraimi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,820 in Sohar versus $1,596 in Al-Buraimi.

Living in Sohar is roughly 42% more expensive than in Al-Buraimi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sohar is 7% above, Al-Buraimi is 24% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.65 OMR 2.56

$5.28 OMR 2.03

25.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.08 OMR 8.11

$25.64 OMR 9.87

-17.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.12 OMR 3.51

$7.58 OMR 2.92

20.32%

Cappuccino

$7.01 OMR 2.70

$4.76 OMR 1.83

47.27%

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

$0.64 OMR 0.25

$1.01 OMR 0.39

-36.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

$0.34 OMR 0.13

-26.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.09 OMR 5.04

$12.37 OMR 4.76

5.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.16 OMR 5.45

$11.87 OMR 4.57

19.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 OMR 0.87

$1.99 OMR 0.76

14.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 OMR 0.41

$1.23 OMR 0.47

-13.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 OMR 1.28

$1.65 OMR 0.63

101.82%

Eggs

$2.73 OMR 1.05

$2.40 OMR 0.92

13.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.68 OMR 5.26

$3.81 OMR 1.46

259.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.89 OMR 3.42

$5.13 OMR 1.97

73.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.06 OMR 5.41

$8.77 OMR 3.38

60.32%

Apples (1kg)

$3.30 OMR 1.27

$2.51 OMR 0.97

31.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 OMR 0.81

$1.74 OMR 0.67

20.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 OMR 0.99

$1.85 OMR 0.71

39.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

$1.13 OMR 0.44

3.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.75 OMR 0.67

$1.02 OMR 0.39

71.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.71

$0.97 OMR 0.37

88.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$1.05 OMR 0.40

65.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$0.56 OMR 0.21

75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.85 OMR 2.25

$6.44 OMR 2.48

-9.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.86 OMR 9.95

$15.73 OMR 6.05

64.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.96 OMR 1.52

$4.42 OMR 1.70

-10.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.79 OMR 3.38

$7.79 OMR 3.00

12.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.62 OMR 1.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.3 OMR 19.73

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 OMR 1.28

$2.61 OMR 1.01

27.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 OMR 0.62

$0.53 OMR 0.21

201.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.37 OMR 3.99

$5.34 OMR 2.06

94.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

$0.59 OMR 0.23

1.69%

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

$18.2K OMR 7,014

$23.3K OMR 8,966

-21.77%

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

$20.6K OMR 7,921

$21.5K OMR 8,288

-4.43%

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

$102 OMR 39.10

$105 OMR 40.58

-3.64%

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

$29.28 OMR 11.27

$40.41 OMR 15.55

-27.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.1 OMR 33.52

$69.4 OMR 26.71

25.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 OMR 20.15

Cinema Ticket

$11.69 OMR 4.50

$10.24 OMR 3.94

14.16%

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

$267 OMR 103

$196 OMR 75.3

36.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,155 OMR 2,753

$9,765 OMR 3,758

-26.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 OMR 19.48

$50.4 OMR 19.41

0.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.88 OMR 16.89

$40.07 OMR 15.42

9.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 OMR 30.88

$79.8 OMR 30.70

0.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.41 OMR 17.86

$89.1 OMR 34.29

-47.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 OMR 191

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 OMR 148

$208 OMR 79.9

84.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$780 OMR 300

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$683 OMR 263

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,184 OMR 455

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$775 OMR 298

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,506 OMR 964

$3,590 OMR 1,382

-30.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.62

5.15

9.13%

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

Last update for Sohar: July 14, 2026

Last update for Al-Buraimi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al-Buraimi pays 43% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $21.00 in Sohar vs $26.00 in Al-Buraimi. Groceries flip the comparison at $347 vs $233, with Al-Buraimi cheaper for home cooking.

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

Sohar vs Al-Buraimi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Buraimi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 43% lower in Al-Buraimi. 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 49% higher in Sohar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,428 per month in Sohar versus $1,009 in Al-Buraimi – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,009 in Al-Buraimi versus $1,428 in Sohar, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Buraimi but tight or insufficient in Sohar. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Buraimi 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, Sohar and Al-Buraimi 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 Al-Buraimi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Sohar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.