Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Al-masna'ah Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Al-masna'ah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,437 per month in Sohar vs $931 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,112 per month in Sohar vs $1,409 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,788 per month in Sohar vs $1,887 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

Sohar costs about 54% more than Al-masna'ah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sohar sits 4% above the global median, while Al-masna'ah is 33% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.31 OMR 2.43

$5.31 OMR 2.04

18.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.77 OMR 8.00

$33.62 OMR 12.94

-38.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.98 OMR 3.45

$7.63 OMR 2.94

17.69%

Cappuccino

$4.98 OMR 1.92

$4.94 OMR 1.90

0.81%

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

$0.65 OMR 0.25

$0.90 OMR 0.35

-27.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 OMR 0.12

$0.29 OMR 0.11

3.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.23 OMR 5.09

$12.78 OMR 4.92

3.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.05 OMR 5.41

$12.87 OMR 4.95

9.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 OMR 0.84

$2.29 OMR 0.88

-4.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 OMR 0.42

$1.29 OMR 0.50

-14.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 OMR 1.27

$1.87 OMR 0.72

77.01%

Eggs

$2.74 OMR 1.06

$2.86 OMR 1.10

-4.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.58 OMR 5.23

$7.57 OMR 2.91

79.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.30 OMR 3.58

$6.92 OMR 2.66

34.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.17 OMR 5.45

$10.49 OMR 4.04

35.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 OMR 1.28

$3.54 OMR 1.36

-6.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 OMR 0.82

$1.99 OMR 0.77

6.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.53 OMR 0.97

$2.34 OMR 0.90

8.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

$1.24 OMR 0.48

-5.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$1.21 OMR 0.47

43.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.71

$1.27 OMR 0.49

44.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 OMR 0.66

$1.79 OMR 0.69

-4.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 OMR 0.35

$0.63 OMR 0.24

44.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.83 OMR 2.24

$6.52 OMR 2.51

-10.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$26.03 OMR 10.02

$15.33 OMR 5.90

69.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.92 OMR 1.51

$5.43 OMR 2.09

-27.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.36 OMR 3.22

$8.82 OMR 3.39

-5.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.67 OMR 1.03

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.6 OMR 20.25

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 OMR 1.23

$3.34 OMR 1.28

-4.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 OMR 0.59

$2.68 OMR 1.03

-42.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.34 OMR 3.98

$7.71 OMR 2.97

34.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 OMR 0.25

$0.61 OMR 0.23

6.56%

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

$18.2K OMR 7,023

$25.7K OMR 9,908

-29.12%

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

$20.4K OMR 7,853

$22.9K OMR 8,801

-10.76%

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

$102 OMR 39.31

$174 OMR 66.8

-41.16%

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

$28.74 OMR 11.06

$30.57 OMR 11.77

-5.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.8 OMR 33.78

$71.0 OMR 27.32

23.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.22 OMR 18.94

Cinema Ticket

$11.67 OMR 4.49

$10.41 OMR 4.01

12.10%

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

$303 OMR 117

$282 OMR 108

7.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,016 OMR 2,700

$10.6K OMR 4,089

-33.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 OMR 19.90

$56.8 OMR 21.87

-9.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.92 OMR 16.90

$43.98 OMR 16.93

-0.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.8 OMR 30.71

$91.6 OMR 35.26

-12.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.18 OMR 18.16

$96.2 OMR 37.02

-50.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 OMR 189

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 OMR 147

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$824 OMR 317

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$684 OMR 263

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,164 OMR 448

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$765 OMR 294

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,513 OMR 967

$3,968 OMR 1,527

-36.65%

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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Al-masna'ah: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 58% higher in Al-masna'ah, 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-masna'ah. Groceries tell a different story – $347 in Sohar vs $285 in Al-masna'ah – so Al-masna'ah 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-masna'ah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,437 in Sohar, $931 in Al-masna'ah – roughly 54% apart. Sohar costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,156 per month in Sohar and $1,396 in Al-masna'ah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,437 in Sohar and $931 in Al-masna'ah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Sohar and $282 in Al-masna'ah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Al-masna'ah, where all-in costs run around $931, than in Sohar at $1,437. In Al-masna'ah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sohar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-masna'ah – 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-masna'ah. 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.