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: $1,428 in Sohar versus $355 in Al Ghubra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,124 in Sohar versus $473 in Al Ghubra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,820 in Sohar versus $591 in Al Ghubra.

Living in Sohar is roughly 303% more expensive than in Al Ghubra, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sohar is 7% above, Al Ghubra is 73% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.65 OMR 2.56

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.08 OMR 8.11

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.12 OMR 3.51

Cappuccino

$7.01 OMR 2.70

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

$0.64 OMR 0.25

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.09 OMR 5.04

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.16 OMR 5.45

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 OMR 0.87

$1.84 OMR 0.71

23.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 OMR 0.41

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 OMR 1.28

$2.13 OMR 0.82

56.34%

Eggs

$2.73 OMR 1.05

$5.10 OMR 1.96

-46.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.68 OMR 5.26

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.89 OMR 3.42

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.06 OMR 5.41

Apples (1kg)

$3.30 OMR 1.27

$2.11 OMR 0.81

56.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 OMR 0.81

$1.86 OMR 0.72

12.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 OMR 0.99

$1.83 OMR 0.70

40.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

$1.27 OMR 0.49

-7.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.75 OMR 0.67

$0.62 OMR 0.24

182.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.71

$0.68 OMR 0.26

169.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$0.54 OMR 0.21

81.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.85 OMR 2.25

Wine (Bottle)

$25.86 OMR 9.95

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.96 OMR 1.52

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.79 OMR 3.38

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

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 OMR 0.62

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.37 OMR 3.99

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

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

$18.2K OMR 7,014

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

$20.6K OMR 7,921

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

$102 OMR 39.10

$113 OMR 43.33

-9.77%

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

$29.28 OMR 11.27

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.1 OMR 33.52

$85.8 OMR 33.01

1.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 OMR 20.15

$43.51 OMR 16.74

20.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.04 OMR 14.25

Cinema Ticket

$11.69 OMR 4.50

$8.88 OMR 3.42

31.64%

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

$267 OMR 103

$182 OMR 69.9

46.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,155 OMR 2,753

$10.5K OMR 4,037

-31.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 OMR 19.48

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.88 OMR 16.89

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 OMR 30.88

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.41 OMR 17.86

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 OMR 191

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 OMR 148

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

$3,096 OMR 1,191

-19.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.62

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

Last update for Sohar: July 14, 2026

Last update for Al Ghubra: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al Ghubra pays 24% 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 303% in total monthly costs ($1,428 vs $355 including rent). Al Ghubra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 24% 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 $267 in Sohar versus $182 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 $1,428 per month in Sohar versus $355 in Al Ghubra – a 303% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $355 in Al Ghubra versus $1,428 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 303% less than in Sohar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.