Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Ar-rustaq Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Ar-rustaq

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,428 per month in Sohar vs $966 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,124 per month in Sohar vs $1,335 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,820 per month in Sohar vs $1,705 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

Sohar costs about 48% more than Ar-rustaq, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sohar sits 7% above the global median, while Ar-rustaq is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.65 OMR 2.56

$5.13 OMR 1.97

29.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.08 OMR 8.11

$25.59 OMR 9.85

-17.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.12 OMR 3.51

$7.95 OMR 3.06

14.72%

Cappuccino

$7.01 OMR 2.70

$4.75 OMR 1.83

47.58%

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

$0.64 OMR 0.25

$0.50 OMR 0.19

28.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

$0.27 OMR 0.10

-7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.09 OMR 5.04

$12.36 OMR 4.76

5.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.16 OMR 5.45

$11.66 OMR 4.49

21.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 OMR 0.87

$1.93 OMR 0.74

17.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 OMR 0.41

$1.22 OMR 0.47

-13.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 OMR 1.28

$1.68 OMR 0.65

98.21%

Eggs

$2.73 OMR 1.05

$1.91 OMR 0.73

42.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.68 OMR 5.26

$3.67 OMR 1.41

272.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.89 OMR 3.42

$4.26 OMR 1.64

108.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.06 OMR 5.41

$7.72 OMR 2.97

82.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.30 OMR 1.27

$2.28 OMR 0.88

44.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 OMR 0.81

$1.75 OMR 0.67

20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 OMR 0.99

$1.84 OMR 0.71

40.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

$1.12 OMR 0.43

4.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.75 OMR 0.67

$0.95 OMR 0.37

84.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.71

$0.99 OMR 0.38

84.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$1.04 OMR 0.40

67.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$0.53 OMR 0.21

84.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.85 OMR 2.25

$6.48 OMR 2.49

-9.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.86 OMR 9.95

$15.88 OMR 6.11

62.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.96 OMR 1.52

$4.20 OMR 1.62

-5.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.79 OMR 3.38

$7.62 OMR 2.93

15.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.62 OMR 1.01

$1.26 OMR 0.49

107.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.3 OMR 19.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 OMR 1.28

$1.58 OMR 0.61

111.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 OMR 0.62

$0.80 OMR 0.31

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.37 OMR 3.99

$10.47 OMR 4.03

-0.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

$0.64 OMR 0.25

-6.25%

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

$18.2K OMR 7,016

$22.5K OMR 8,649

-18.88%

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

$20.6K OMR 7,923

$21.5K OMR 8,261

-4.09%

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

$102 OMR 39.11

$106 OMR 40.84

-4.24%

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

$29.28 OMR 11.27

$40.86 OMR 15.73

-28.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.1 OMR 33.53

$69.3 OMR 26.69

25.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 OMR 20.15

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.56 OMR 0.98

Cinema Ticket

$11.69 OMR 4.50

$10.45 OMR 4.02

11.87%

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

$267 OMR 103

$129 OMR 49.74

106.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,155 OMR 2,754

$3,739 OMR 1,439

91.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 OMR 19.48

$20.56 OMR 7.92

146.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.88 OMR 16.89

$26.17 OMR 10.07

67.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 OMR 30.88

$39.16 OMR 15.07

104.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.41 OMR 17.86

$52.4 OMR 20.17

-11.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 OMR 191

$154 OMR 59.2

223.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 OMR 148

$208 OMR 80.1

84.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$780 OMR 300

$397 OMR 153

96.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$683 OMR 263

$212 OMR 81.5

222.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,184 OMR 456

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$775 OMR 298

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,506 OMR 965

$4,373 OMR 1,683

-42.70%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Ar-rustaq: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $497 in Sohar versus $154 in Ar-rustaq. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 75% higher in Ar-rustaq, 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 Ar-rustaq. Groceries tell a different story – $347 in Sohar vs $220 in Ar-rustaq – so Ar-rustaq 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 Ar-rustaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sohar is pricier by about 48%, 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 $2,142 per month in Sohar and $1,449 in Ar-rustaq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ar-rustaq, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,428 in Sohar and $966 in Ar-rustaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $267 per month in Sohar and $129 in Ar-rustaq. 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 Ar-rustaq, where all-in costs run around $966, than in Sohar at $1,428. In Ar-rustaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sohar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ar-rustaq – 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 Ar-rustaq. 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.