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: $1,441 in Sohar versus $345 in Al Ghubra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,151 in Sohar versus $465 in Al Ghubra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,862 in Sohar versus $585 in Al Ghubra.

Living in Sohar is roughly 317% more expensive than Al Ghubra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sohar is 8% above, Al Ghubra is 74% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 OMR 2.51

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.05 OMR 8.10

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 OMR 3.41

Cappuccino

$6.62 OMR 2.55

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

$0.65 OMR 0.25

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.74 OMR 4.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.10 OMR 5.43

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 OMR 0.86

$1.87 OMR 0.72

19.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 OMR 0.43

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.22 OMR 1.24

$2.12 OMR 0.82

51.89%

Eggs

$2.82 OMR 1.09

$5.18 OMR 1.99

-45.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.59 OMR 5.23

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.31 OMR 3.58

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.40 OMR 5.54

Apples (1kg)

$3.21 OMR 1.24

$2.12 OMR 0.82

51.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 OMR 0.81

$1.87 OMR 0.72

12.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 OMR 0.98

$1.85 OMR 0.71

37.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 OMR 0.46

$1.31 OMR 0.51

-9.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$0.68 OMR 0.26

155.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.86 OMR 0.72

$0.68 OMR 0.26

173.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 OMR 0.66

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$0.50 OMR 0.19

98.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.14 OMR 2.36

Wine (Bottle)

$26.43 OMR 10.18

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.00 OMR 1.54

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.47 OMR 3.26

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)

$3.16 OMR 1.21

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 OMR 0.59

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.51 OMR 4.05

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

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

$18.1K OMR 6,963

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

$20.8K OMR 8,000

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

$101 OMR 38.93

$113 OMR 43.36

-10.22%

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

$29.04 OMR 11.18

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 OMR 33.63

$84.3 OMR 32.46

3.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 OMR 19.86

$43.59 OMR 16.78

18.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.90 OMR 14.21

Cinema Ticket

$11.78 OMR 4.54

$9.02 OMR 3.47

30.60%

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

$269 OMR 104

$185 OMR 71.1

45.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,119 OMR 2,741

$10.6K OMR 4,066

-32.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 OMR 19.88

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.42 OMR 16.72

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 OMR 30.14

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.95 OMR 18.08

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)

$2,455 OMR 945

$2,669 OMR 1,028

-8.02%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Al Ghubra: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al Ghubra pays 9% 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 317% in total monthly costs ($1,441 vs $345 including rent). Al Ghubra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Al Ghubra earns 9% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $269 in Sohar versus $185 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 $1,441 per month in Sohar versus $345 in Al Ghubra – a 317% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $345 in Al Ghubra versus $1,441 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 317% less than in Sohar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.