Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Matrah Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Matrah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,441 in Sohar versus $223 in Matrah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,151 in Sohar versus $364 in Matrah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,862 in Sohar versus $506 in Matrah.

Living in Sohar is roughly 546% more expensive than Matrah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sohar is 8% above, Matrah is 83% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 OMR 2.51

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.05 OMR 8.10

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 OMR 3.41

Cappuccino

$6.62 OMR 2.55

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

$0.65 OMR 0.25

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.74 OMR 4.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.10 OMR 5.43

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 OMR 0.86

$2.65 OMR 1.02

-15.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 OMR 0.43

$1.05 OMR 0.41

5.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.22 OMR 1.24

$2.56 OMR 0.99

25.78%

Eggs

$2.82 OMR 1.09

$4.66 OMR 1.79

-39.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.59 OMR 5.23

$5.14 OMR 1.98

164.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.31 OMR 3.58

$5.26 OMR 2.02

77.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.40 OMR 5.54

$8.02 OMR 3.09

79.55%

Apples (1kg)

$3.21 OMR 1.24

$1.33 OMR 0.51

141.35%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 OMR 0.81

$1.83 OMR 0.70

15.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 OMR 0.98

$2.31 OMR 0.89

10.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 OMR 0.46

$1.28 OMR 0.49

-7.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$1.06 OMR 0.41

64.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.86 OMR 0.72

$1.08 OMR 0.42

72.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 OMR 0.66

$0.50 OMR 0.19

244.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.14 OMR 2.36

Wine (Bottle)

$26.43 OMR 10.18

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.00 OMR 1.54

$4.23 OMR 1.63

-5.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.47 OMR 3.26

$15.35 OMR 5.91

-44.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.66 OMR 1.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.9 OMR 20.00

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 OMR 1.21

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 OMR 0.59

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.51 OMR 4.05

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

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

$18.1K OMR 6,963

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

$20.8K OMR 8,000

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

$101 OMR 38.93

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

$29.04 OMR 11.18

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 OMR 33.63

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 OMR 19.86

Cinema Ticket

$11.78 OMR 4.54

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

$269 OMR 104

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,119 OMR 2,741

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 OMR 19.88

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.42 OMR 16.72

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 OMR 30.14

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.95 OMR 18.08

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 OMR 187

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 OMR 149

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$753 OMR 290

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$669 OMR 257

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

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Matrah: June 2, 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 Matrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Matrah wins on cost – living expenses run 546% lower than in Sohar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Matrah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,161 in Sohar and $334 in Matrah 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 56% higher in Sohar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,441 per month in Sohar versus $223 in Matrah – a 546% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $223 in Matrah versus $1,441 in Sohar, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Matrah but tight or insufficient in Sohar. The gap between the two cities makes Matrah 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 Matrah 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 Matrah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 546% less than in Sohar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.