Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Al-hamra' Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Al-hamra'

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,430 per month in Sohar vs $954 in Al-hamra', rent included.

A couple spends around $2,090 per month in Sohar vs $1,425 in Al-hamra', rent included.

A family of three spends $2,750 per month in Sohar vs $1,896 in Al-hamra', rent included.

Sohar costs about 50% more than Al-hamra', driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.56 OMR 2.53

$5.15 OMR 1.98

27.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.53 OMR 7.90

$34.48 OMR 13.27

-40.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.86 OMR 3.41

$7.66 OMR 2.95

15.67%

Cappuccino

$4.89 OMR 1.88

$4.85 OMR 1.87

0.82%

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

$0.69 OMR 0.27

$0.84 OMR 0.32

-17.86%

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

$13.09 OMR 5.04

-0.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.15 OMR 5.45

$12.87 OMR 4.95

9.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 OMR 0.85

$2.32 OMR 0.89

-5.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 OMR 0.41

$1.29 OMR 0.50

-17.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.18 OMR 1.22

$1.89 OMR 0.73

68.25%

Eggs

$2.83 OMR 1.09

$2.99 OMR 1.15

-5.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.76 OMR 5.30

$7.53 OMR 2.90

82.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.08 OMR 3.49

$6.60 OMR 2.54

37.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.25 OMR 5.49

$10.71 OMR 4.12

33.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 OMR 1.25

$3.45 OMR 1.33

-5.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 OMR 0.82

$1.98 OMR 0.76

7.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.49 OMR 0.96

$2.39 OMR 0.92

4.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 OMR 0.47

$1.26 OMR 0.48

-3.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 OMR 0.69

$1.20 OMR 0.46

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 OMR 0.68

$1.22 OMR 0.47

45.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 OMR 0.66

$1.85 OMR 0.71

-7.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 OMR 0.36

$0.61 OMR 0.24

52.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.90 OMR 2.27

$6.57 OMR 2.53

-10.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$26.28 OMR 10.12

$15.69 OMR 6.04

67.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.86 OMR 1.49

$5.44 OMR 2.09

-29.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.61 OMR 3.31

$8.99 OMR 3.46

-4.23%

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

$2.67 OMR 1.03

-43.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.30 OMR 3.97

$7.67 OMR 2.95

34.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 OMR 0.23

$0.60 OMR 0.23

-1.67%

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

$18.1K OMR 6,959

$25.0K OMR 9,632

-27.75%

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

$20.1K OMR 7,727

$23.0K OMR 8,842

-12.61%

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

$104 OMR 40.01

$175 OMR 67.5

-40.70%

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

$29.51 OMR 11.36

$30.71 OMR 11.82

-3.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$89.7 OMR 34.53

$70.3 OMR 27.06

27.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.03 OMR 18.49

Cinema Ticket

$11.87 OMR 4.57

$10.20 OMR 3.93

16.37%

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

$301 OMR 116

$288 OMR 111

4.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,971 OMR 2,684

$10.5K OMR 4,036

-33.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 OMR 19.43

$56.8 OMR 21.86

-11.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.86 OMR 17.27

$43.75 OMR 16.84

2.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 OMR 30.21

$89.3 OMR 34.39

-12.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 OMR 17.70

$95.4 OMR 36.73

-51.80%

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

$4,302 OMR 1,656

-42.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.33

5.25

20.57%

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

Last update for Sohar: August 30, 2026

Last update for Al-hamra': August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 75% higher in Al-hamra', 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 $21.00 in Sohar versus $34.00 in Al-hamra'. Groceries tell a different story – $347 in Sohar vs $286 in Al-hamra' – so Al-hamra' 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

Sohar vs Al-hamra': Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sohar is pricier by about 50%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,145 per month in Sohar and $1,431 in Al-hamra'. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,430 in Sohar and $954 in Al-hamra'. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $301 per month in Sohar and $288 in Al-hamra'. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-hamra', where all-in costs run around $954, than in Sohar at $1,430. In Al-hamra' it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sohar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-hamra' – 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 Al-hamra'. 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.