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 $1,437 per month in Sohar vs $934 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,112 per month in Sohar vs $1,412 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,788 per month in Sohar vs $1,890 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

Sohar costs about 54% more than Ar-rustaq, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sohar sits 4% above the global median, while Ar-rustaq is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.31 OMR 2.43

$5.27 OMR 2.03

19.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.77 OMR 8.00

$34.12 OMR 13.13

-39.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.98 OMR 3.46

$7.61 OMR 2.93

18.00%

Cappuccino

$4.98 OMR 1.92

$4.88 OMR 1.88

2.05%

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

$0.65 OMR 0.25

$0.85 OMR 0.33

-23.53%

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

$13.01 OMR 5.01

1.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.05 OMR 5.41

$13.14 OMR 5.06

6.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 OMR 0.84

$2.27 OMR 0.87

-3.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 OMR 0.42

$1.28 OMR 0.49

-14.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 OMR 1.28

$1.83 OMR 0.70

80.87%

Eggs

$2.74 OMR 1.06

$2.86 OMR 1.10

-4.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.58 OMR 5.23

$7.47 OMR 2.88

81.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.30 OMR 3.58

$6.70 OMR 2.58

38.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.17 OMR 5.45

$10.59 OMR 4.08

33.81%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 OMR 1.28

$3.51 OMR 1.35

-5.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 OMR 0.82

$2.00 OMR 0.77

6.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.53 OMR 0.97

$2.42 OMR 0.93

4.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

$1.19 OMR 0.46

-1.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$1.21 OMR 0.47

43.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.71

$1.24 OMR 0.48

47.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 OMR 0.66

$1.85 OMR 0.71

-7.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 OMR 0.35

$0.62 OMR 0.24

46.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.83 OMR 2.24

$6.32 OMR 2.43

-7.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$26.03 OMR 10.02

$15.53 OMR 5.98

67.61%

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

$9.01 OMR 3.47

-7.21%

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

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

$8.02 OMR 3.09

28.93%

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 7,024

$25.2K OMR 9,695

-27.55%

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

$20.4K OMR 7,855

$22.4K OMR 8,606

-8.73%

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

$102 OMR 39.32

$174 OMR 66.9

-41.21%

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

$28.74 OMR 11.06

$30.45 OMR 11.72

-5.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.8 OMR 33.79

$69.1 OMR 26.60

27.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.22 OMR 18.95

Cinema Ticket

$11.67 OMR 4.49

$10.37 OMR 3.99

12.54%

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

$303 OMR 117

$288 OMR 111

5.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,016 OMR 2,701

$10.6K OMR 4,064

-33.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 OMR 19.90

$55.7 OMR 21.44

-7.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.92 OMR 16.91

$43.38 OMR 16.70

1.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.8 OMR 30.72

$89.5 OMR 34.47

-10.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.18 OMR 18.16

$97.3 OMR 37.44

-51.49%

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 295

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,513 OMR 968

$4,389 OMR 1,690

-42.74%

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 Ar-rustaq: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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 $34.00 in Ar-rustaq. Groceries tell a different story – $347 in Sohar vs $284 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 54%, 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 $2,156 per month in Sohar and $1,401 in Ar-rustaq. 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 $934 in Ar-rustaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Sohar and $288 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 $934, than in Sohar at $1,437. 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.