Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Al Ghubra Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Al Ghubra

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,430 in Sohar versus $90.2 in Al Ghubra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,090 in Sohar versus $158 in Al Ghubra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,750 in Sohar versus $227 in Al Ghubra.

Living in Sohar is roughly 1485% more expensive than in Al Ghubra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sohar is 4% above, Al Ghubra is 93% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.56 OMR 2.53

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.53 OMR 7.90

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.86 OMR 3.41

Cappuccino

$4.89 OMR 1.88

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

$0.69 OMR 0.27

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 OMR 0.11

$0.27 OMR 0.10

3.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.04 OMR 5.02

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.15 OMR 5.45

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 OMR 0.85

$2.56 OMR 0.99

-14.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 OMR 0.41

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.18 OMR 1.22

Eggs

$2.83 OMR 1.09

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.76 OMR 5.30

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.08 OMR 3.49

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.25 OMR 5.49

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 OMR 1.25

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 OMR 0.82

Oranges (1kg)

$2.49 OMR 0.96

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 OMR 0.47

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 OMR 0.69

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 OMR 0.68

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 OMR 0.66

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 OMR 0.36

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.90 OMR 2.27

Wine (Bottle)

$26.28 OMR 10.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.86 OMR 1.49

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.61 OMR 3.31

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 OMR 0.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.5 OMR 19.81

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.22 OMR 1.24

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 OMR 0.58

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.30 OMR 3.97

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 OMR 0.23

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

$18.1K OMR 6,959

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

$20.1K OMR 7,727

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

$104 OMR 40.01

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

$29.51 OMR 11.36

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$89.7 OMR 34.53

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.03 OMR 18.49

$44.27 OMR 17.04

8.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.71 OMR 13.75

Cinema Ticket

$11.87 OMR 4.57

$9.01 OMR 3.47

31.74%

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

$301 OMR 116

$178 OMR 68.7

68.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,971 OMR 2,684

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 OMR 19.43

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.86 OMR 17.27

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 OMR 30.21

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 OMR 17.70

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 OMR 187

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 OMR 146

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$806 OMR 310

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$682 OMR 263

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,188 OMR 457

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$784 OMR 302

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,465 OMR 949

$3,127 OMR 1,204

-21.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.33

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

Last update for Sohar: August 30, 2026

Last update for Al Ghubra: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al Ghubra pays 27% 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

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

Sohar and Al Ghubra differ by about 1485% in total monthly costs ($1,430 vs $90.2 including rent). Al Ghubra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 27% lower in Al Ghubra. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $301 in Sohar versus $178 in Al Ghubra. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $1,430 per month in Sohar versus $90.2 in Al Ghubra – a 1485% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $90.2 in Al Ghubra versus $1,430 in Sohar, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al Ghubra but tight or insufficient in Sohar. The gap between the two cities makes Al Ghubra 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 Ghubra 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 Ghubra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1485% less than in Sohar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.