Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Nicosia Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Nicosia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,441 per month in Sohar vs $1,805 in Nicosia, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,151 per month in Sohar vs $2,912 in Nicosia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,862 per month in Sohar vs $4,018 in Nicosia, rent included.

Sohar is about 20% cheaper than Nicosia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sohar and Nicosia sit above the global median – Sohar by 8%, Nicosia by 35%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sohar
Nicosia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.53 OMR 2.51
$17.68 €15.23
-63.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.05 OMR 8.10
$68.6 €59.1
-69.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.87 OMR 3.41
$8.22 €7.08
7.91%
Cappuccino
$6.62 OMR 2.55
$3.88 €3.34
70.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 OMR 0.25
$1.57 €1.35
-58.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 OMR 0.10
$0.87 €0.75
-68.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.74 OMR 4.91
$4.57 €3.93
178.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$14.10 OMR 5.43
$5.77 €4.97
144.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sohar
Nicosia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.24 OMR 0.86
$1.97 €1.70
13.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 OMR 0.43
$2.07 €1.79
-46.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.22 OMR 1.24
$2.77 €2.39
16.25%
Eggs
$2.82 OMR 1.09
$4.51 €3.88
-37.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.59 OMR 5.23
$13.67 €11.77
-0.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.31 OMR 3.58
$9.03 €7.78
3.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.40 OMR 5.54
$12.89 €11.10
11.71%
Apples (1kg)
$3.21 OMR 1.24
$2.86 €2.46
12.24%
Banana (1kg)
$2.11 OMR 0.81
$2.03 €1.75
3.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 OMR 0.98
$2.28 €1.96
11.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.18 OMR 0.46
$3.20 €2.75
-63.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.74 OMR 0.67
$1.70 €1.47
2.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.86 OMR 0.72
$1.74 €1.50
6.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.72 OMR 0.66
$0.85 €0.73
102.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 OMR 0.38
$1.01 €0.87
-1.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.14 OMR 2.36
$5.70 €4.90
7.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$26.43 OMR 10.18
$8.25 €7.10
220.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.00 OMR 1.54
$2.12 €1.83
88.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.47 OMR 3.26
$3.01 €2.59
181.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Sohar
Nicosia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.66 OMR 1.02
$2.72 €2.34
-2.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$51.9 OMR 20.00
$58.4 €50.3
-11.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.16 OMR 1.21
$5.32 €4.58
-40.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 OMR 0.59
$1.54 €1.32
-0.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.51 OMR 4.05
$52.5 €45.25
-80.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.60 OMR 0.23
$1.64 €1.41
-63.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K OMR 6,963
$30.2K €26.0K
-40.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K OMR 8,000
$32.3K €27.8K
-35.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sohar
Nicosia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 OMR 38.93
$217 €186
-53.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.04 OMR 11.18
$22.21 €19.13
30.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.4 OMR 33.63
$35.90 €30.91
143.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sohar
Nicosia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 OMR 19.86
$74.7 €64.3
-30.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$30.42 €26.20
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.78 OMR 4.54
$11.38 €9.80
3.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sohar
Nicosia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 OMR 104
$481 €414
-44.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,119 OMR 2,741
$8,428 €7,258
-15.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sohar
Nicosia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.6 OMR 19.88
$95.2 €82.0
-45.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.42 OMR 16.72
$62.2 €53.6
-30.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 OMR 30.14
$95.4 €82.1
-17.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.95 OMR 18.08
$124 €107
-62.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sohar
Nicosia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$485 OMR 187
$771 €664
-37.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$388 OMR 149
$637 €549
-39.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$753 OMR 290
$1,520 €1,308
-50.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$669 OMR 257
$1,287 €1,108
-48.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,154 OMR 444
$3,191 €2,748
-63.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$774 OMR 298
$2,414 €2,078
-67.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sohar
Nicosia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,455 OMR 945
$1,891 €1,629
29.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.62
4.8
17.08%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sohar: June 2, 2026

Last update for Nicosia: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Sohar versus $771 in Nicosia. 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 30% higher in Sohar, 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 $69.0 in Nicosia. Groceries tell a different story – $351 in Sohar vs $303 in Nicosia – so Nicosia 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 Nicosia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Sohar and Nicosia compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,441 in Sohar, $1,805 in Nicosia – roughly 25% apart. Nicosia costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Sohar compared to Nicosia?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,161 per month in Sohar and $2,708 in Nicosia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Sohar and Nicosia?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sohar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sohar and Nicosia?
Kindergarten costs $269 per month in Sohar and $481 in Nicosia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 16% cheaper in Nicosia – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sohar, where all-in costs run around $1,441, than in Nicosia at $1,805. In Sohar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nicosia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Sohar or Nicosia?
Families tend to lean toward Sohar – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Sohar or Nicosia safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Sohar and Nicosia?
If budget matters most, go with Sohar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nicosia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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