🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,441 in Sohar versus $1,975 in Middlesbrough.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,151 in Sohar versus $2,797 in Middlesbrough.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,862 in Sohar versus $3,618 in Middlesbrough.
🙂Living in Sohar costs roughly 27% less than in Middlesbrough, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sohar8% above, Middlesbrough47% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sohar
Middlesbrough
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.53OMR 2.51
$20.05£14.94
-67.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.05OMR 8.10
$73.3£54.6
-71.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.87OMR 3.41
$10.31£7.68
-13.97%
Cappuccino
$6.62OMR 2.55
$4.42£3.29
49.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65OMR 0.25
$1.96£1.46
-66.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27OMR 0.10
$1.42£1.06
-80.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.74OMR 4.91
$5.45£4.06
133.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$14.10OMR 5.43
$5.58£4.16
152.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sohar
Middlesbrough
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.24OMR 0.86
$1.60£1.19
40.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11OMR 0.43
$1.72£1.28
-35.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.22OMR 1.24
$2.68£1.99
20.15%
Eggs
$2.82OMR 1.09
$3.98£2.97
-29.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.59OMR 5.23
$7.08£5.27
91.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.31OMR 3.58
$7.47£5.57
24.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.40OMR 5.54
$9.86£7.35
46.04%
Apples(1kg)
$3.21OMR 1.24
$2.65£1.97
21.13%
Banana(1kg)
$2.11OMR 0.81
$2.25£1.68
-6.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.55OMR 0.98
$2.28£1.70
11.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.18OMR 0.46
$2.64£1.97
-55.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.74OMR 0.67
$1.74£1.30
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.86OMR 0.72
$1.32£0.99
40.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.72OMR 0.66
$1.38£1.03
24.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99OMR 0.38
$1.86£1.39
-46.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.14OMR 2.36
$18.66£13.90
-67.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$26.43OMR 10.18
$14.63£10.90
80.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.00OMR 1.54
$3.78£2.82
5.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.47OMR 3.26
$5.19£3.87
63.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Sohar
Middlesbrough
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.66OMR 1.02
$4.10£3.05
-35.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$51.9OMR 20.00
$96.5£71.9
-46.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.16OMR 1.21
$6.26£4.66
-49.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53OMR 0.59
$1.15£0.86
33.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.51OMR 4.05
$16.36£12.19
-35.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60OMR 0.23
$1.96£1.46
-69.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KOMR 6,963
$30.5K£22.7K
-40.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8KOMR 8,000
$39.6K£29.5K
-47.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sohar
Middlesbrough
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$101OMR 38.93
$286£213
-64.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.04OMR 11.18
$17.07£12.72
70.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.4OMR 33.63
$42.37£31.57
106.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sohar
Middlesbrough
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6OMR 19.86
$54.3£40.44
-4.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.23£15.82
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.78OMR 4.54
$13.02£9.70
-9.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sohar
Middlesbrough
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269OMR 104
$965£719
-72.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,119OMR 2,741
$20.6K£15.4K
-65.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sohar
Middlesbrough
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.6OMR 19.88
$78.8£58.7
-34.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.42OMR 16.72
$44.13£32.87
-1.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.3OMR 30.14
$84.9£63.2
-7.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.95OMR 18.08
$70.9£52.8
-33.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sohar
Middlesbrough
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$485OMR 187
$920£686
-47.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$388OMR 149
$699£521
-44.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$753OMR 290
$1,039£774
-27.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$669OMR 257
$964£718
-30.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,154OMR 444
$2,738£2,040
-57.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$774OMR 298
$2,284£1,702
-66.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sohar
Middlesbrough
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,455OMR 945
$2,380£1,773
3.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.62
5.6
0.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sohar: June 2, 2026
Last update for Middlesbrough: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $485 in Sohar and $920 in Middlesbrough. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sohar pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $21.00 in Sohar vs $73.0 in Middlesbrough. Groceries flip the comparison at $351 vs $291, with Middlesbrough cheaper for home cooking.
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 Middlesbrough: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sohar and Middlesbrough?
Sohar and Middlesbrough differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($1,441 vs $1,975 including rent). Sohar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Sohar or Middlesbrough?
Sohar pays 3% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Sohar and Middlesbrough?
Rent for a central apartment: $485 in Sohar versus $920 in Middlesbrough. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Middlesbrough pay roughly 20% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Sohar – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $73.0 in Middlesbrough. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,441 in Sohar versus $1,975 in Middlesbrough, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sohar but tight or insufficient in Middlesbrough. The gap between the two cities makes Sohar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sohar and Middlesbrough?
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.
Is Sohar or Middlesbrough safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sohar and Middlesbrough are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Sohar or Middlesbrough?
Expats usually find Sohar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Middlesbrough. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.