Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Al-qabil Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Al-qabil

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,476 in Sohar versus $46.66 in Al-qabil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,133 in Sohar versus $70.0 in Al-qabil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,790 in Sohar versus $94.1 in Al-qabil.

Living in Sohar is roughly 3063% more expensive than Al-qabil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sohar is 10% above, Al-qabil is 97% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.62 OMR 2.54

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.47 OMR 7.86

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.03 OMR 3.47

Cappuccino

$6.66 OMR 2.56

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

$0.64 OMR 0.25

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.09

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.08 OMR 5.02

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.22 OMR 5.46

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 OMR 0.85

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 OMR 0.43

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.17 OMR 1.22

Eggs

$2.83 OMR 1.08

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.66 OMR 5.25

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.26 OMR 3.56

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.41 OMR 5.53

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 OMR 1.28

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 OMR 0.83

Oranges (1kg)

$2.54 OMR 0.98

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 OMR 0.45

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 OMR 0.69

Onion (1kg)

$1.86 OMR 0.71

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.65 OMR 0.63

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 OMR 0.35

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.82 OMR 2.24

Wine (Bottle)

$26.37 OMR 10.13

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.94 OMR 1.51

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.71 OMR 3.34

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.67 OMR 1.03

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.0 OMR 20.35

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 OMR 1.28

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 OMR 0.62

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.48 OMR 4.02

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 OMR 0.24

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

$18.4K OMR 7,075

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

$20.2K OMR 7,744

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

$103 OMR 39.65

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

$29.27 OMR 11.24

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.6 OMR 33.24

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.5 OMR 20.15

$26.08 OMR 10.02

101.23%

Cinema Ticket

$11.47 OMR 4.40

$10.33 OMR 3.97

11.04%

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

$267 OMR 103

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,019 OMR 2,695

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 OMR 19.99

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.89 OMR 16.85

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.2 OMR 30.42

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.49 OMR 18.24

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)

$776 OMR 298

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$672 OMR 258

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,153 OMR 443

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$772 OMR 296

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,442 OMR 938

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Al-qabil: April 27, 2026

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-qabil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-qabil is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 3063% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,214 in Sohar and $70.0 in Al-qabil to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

At $46.66 in Al-qabil versus $1,476 in Sohar, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-qabil but tight or insufficient in Sohar. The gap between the two cities makes Al-qabil 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-qabil 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-qabil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3063% less than in Sohar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.