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 $1,433 per month in Sohar vs $792 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,145 per month in Sohar vs $1,184 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,858 per month in Sohar vs $1,576 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

Sohar costs about 81% more than Al-masna'ah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sohar sits 8% above the global median, while Al-masna'ah is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.52 OMR 2.51

$5.32 OMR 2.05

22.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.79 OMR 8.00

$26.28 OMR 10.12

-20.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.98 OMR 3.46

$7.83 OMR 3.02

14.69%

Cappuccino

$6.98 OMR 2.69

$4.83 OMR 1.86

44.51%

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

$0.70 OMR 0.27

$1.00 OMR 0.39

-30.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

$0.34 OMR 0.13

-20.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.24 OMR 5.10

$12.19 OMR 4.69

8.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.55 OMR 5.60

$11.91 OMR 4.58

22.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 OMR 0.84

$2.00 OMR 0.77

9.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 OMR 0.40

$1.23 OMR 0.47

-14.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.22 OMR 1.24

$1.73 OMR 0.66

86.13%

Eggs

$2.68 OMR 1.03

$2.47 OMR 0.95

8.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.79 OMR 5.31

$3.74 OMR 1.44

268.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.00 OMR 3.47

$4.96 OMR 1.91

81.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.39 OMR 5.54

$8.64 OMR 3.33

66.55%

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 OMR 1.26

$2.60 OMR 1.00

25.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 OMR 0.84

$1.66 OMR 0.64

31.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.53 OMR 0.97

$1.84 OMR 0.71

37.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$1.02 OMR 0.39

70.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.79 OMR 0.69

$0.98 OMR 0.38

82.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 OMR 0.65

$1.08 OMR 0.41

55.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$0.55 OMR 0.21

76.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.83 OMR 2.24

$6.46 OMR 2.49

-9.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$26.53 OMR 10.21

$15.75 OMR 6.06

68.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.84 OMR 1.48

$4.31 OMR 1.66

-10.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.41 OMR 3.24

$7.91 OMR 3.05

6.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 OMR 0.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.4 OMR 19.77

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 OMR 1.26

$3.17 OMR 1.22

2.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 OMR 0.61

$0.75 OMR 0.29

110.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.51 OMR 4.05

$10.28 OMR 3.96

2.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

$0.60 OMR 0.23

1.67%

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

$18.1K OMR 6,969

$22.7K OMR 8,747

-20.33%

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

$20.0K OMR 7,716

$21.7K OMR 8,347

-7.56%

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

$101 OMR 38.86

$105 OMR 40.48

-4.00%

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

$29.59 OMR 11.39

$40.58 OMR 15.62

-27.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.7 OMR 33.36

$70.4 OMR 27.10

23.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 OMR 20.05

Cinema Ticket

$11.56 OMR 4.45

$10.49 OMR 4.04

10.20%

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

$265 OMR 102

$192 OMR 73.9

37.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,989 OMR 2,691

$9,815 OMR 3,779

-28.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 OMR 19.46

$49.42 OMR 19.03

2.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.89 OMR 16.90

$38.67 OMR 14.89

13.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.0 OMR 30.41

$79.5 OMR 30.62

-0.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.09 OMR 17.75

$90.4 OMR 34.79

-48.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 OMR 187

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$380 OMR 146

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$758 OMR 292

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$684 OMR 263

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,168 OMR 450

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$792 OMR 305

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,486 OMR 957

$3,952 OMR 1,522

-37.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.62

5.15

9.13%

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

Last update for Sohar: July 25, 2026

Last update for Al-masna'ah: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 59% 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 $26.00 in Al-masna'ah. Groceries tell a different story – $347 in Sohar vs $232 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: $1,433 in Sohar, $792 in Al-masna'ah – roughly 81% apart. Sohar costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,149 per month in Sohar and $1,188 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 $1,433 in Sohar and $792 in Al-masna'ah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $265 per month in Sohar and $192 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 $792, than in Sohar at $1,433. 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.