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 $1,441 per month in Sohar vs $970 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,151 per month in Sohar vs $1,309 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,862 per month in Sohar vs $1,647 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

Sohar costs about 49% more than Ar-rustaq, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sohar sits 8% above the global median, while Ar-rustaq is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 OMR 2.51

$5.28 OMR 2.03

23.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.05 OMR 8.10

$26.10 OMR 10.05

-19.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 OMR 3.41

$8.00 OMR 3.08

10.87%

Cappuccino

$6.62 OMR 2.55

$5.01 OMR 1.93

32.14%

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

$0.65 OMR 0.25

$0.50 OMR 0.19

30.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.74 OMR 4.91

$12.54 OMR 4.83

1.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.10 OMR 5.43

$11.82 OMR 4.55

19.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 OMR 0.86

$1.97 OMR 0.76

13.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 OMR 0.43

$1.24 OMR 0.48

-10.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.22 OMR 1.24

$1.67 OMR 0.64

92.81%

Eggs

$2.82 OMR 1.09

$1.88 OMR 0.72

50.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.59 OMR 5.23

$3.86 OMR 1.48

252.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.31 OMR 3.58

$4.20 OMR 1.62

121.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.40 OMR 5.54

$7.87 OMR 3.03

82.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.21 OMR 1.24

$2.30 OMR 0.89

39.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 OMR 0.81

$1.66 OMR 0.64

27.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 OMR 0.98

$1.83 OMR 0.71

39.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 OMR 0.46

$1.12 OMR 0.43

5.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$1.03 OMR 0.40

68.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.86 OMR 0.72

$1.03 OMR 0.40

80.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 OMR 0.66

$1.09 OMR 0.42

57.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$0.51 OMR 0.20

94.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.14 OMR 2.36

$6.47 OMR 2.49

-5.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$26.43 OMR 10.18

$15.89 OMR 6.12

66.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.00 OMR 1.54

$4.20 OMR 1.62

-4.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.47 OMR 3.26

$7.71 OMR 2.97

9.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.66 OMR 1.02

$1.32 OMR 0.51

101.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.9 OMR 20.00

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 OMR 1.21

$1.58 OMR 0.61

100.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 OMR 0.59

$0.75 OMR 0.29

104.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.51 OMR 4.05

$10.25 OMR 3.94

2.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

$0.61 OMR 0.23

-1.64%

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

$18.1K OMR 6,963

$22.5K OMR 8,645

-19.46%

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

$20.8K OMR 8,000

$21.9K OMR 8,417

-4.95%

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

$101 OMR 38.93

$106 OMR 40.86

-4.72%

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

$29.04 OMR 11.18

$40.96 OMR 15.77

-29.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 OMR 33.63

$70.0 OMR 26.96

24.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 OMR 19.86

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.58 OMR 0.99

Cinema Ticket

$11.78 OMR 4.54

$10.32 OMR 3.97

14.15%

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

$269 OMR 104

$132 OMR 51.0

103.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,119 OMR 2,741

$3,748 OMR 1,443

89.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 OMR 19.88

$20.63 OMR 7.94

150.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.42 OMR 16.72

$25.54 OMR 9.83

70.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 OMR 30.14

$39.59 OMR 15.24

97.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.95 OMR 18.08

$51.5 OMR 19.82

-8.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 OMR 187

$159 OMR 61.2

204.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 OMR 149

$211 OMR 81.1

84.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$753 OMR 290

$385 OMR 148

95.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$669 OMR 257

$211 OMR 81.1

217.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,154 OMR 444

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$774 OMR 298

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,455 OMR 945

$4,394 OMR 1,692

-44.13%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ar-rustaq: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Sohar versus $159 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 79% 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 – $351 in Sohar vs $221 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 49%, 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 $2,161 per month in Sohar and $1,455 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 $1,441 in Sohar and $970 in Ar-rustaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $269 per month in Sohar and $132 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 $970, than in Sohar at $1,441. 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.