Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Nizwa Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Nizwa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,437 in Sohar versus $44.58 in Nizwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,112 in Sohar versus $65.0 in Nizwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,788 in Sohar versus $84.9 in Nizwa.

Living in Sohar is roughly 3124% more expensive than in Nizwa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sohar is 4% above, Nizwa is 97% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.31 OMR 2.43

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.77 OMR 8.00

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.98 OMR 3.46

Cappuccino

$4.98 OMR 1.92

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

$0.65 OMR 0.25

$1.05 OMR 0.41

-38.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 OMR 0.12

$0.27 OMR 0.10

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.23 OMR 5.09

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.05 OMR 5.41

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 OMR 0.84

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 OMR 0.42

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 OMR 1.28

Eggs

$2.74 OMR 1.06

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.58 OMR 5.23

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.30 OMR 3.58

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.17 OMR 5.45

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 OMR 1.28

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 OMR 0.82

Oranges (1kg)

$2.53 OMR 0.97

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

Onion (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.71

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 OMR 0.66

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 OMR 0.35

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.83 OMR 2.24

Wine (Bottle)

$26.03 OMR 10.02

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.92 OMR 1.51

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.36 OMR 3.22

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

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.34 OMR 3.98

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 OMR 0.25

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

$18.2K OMR 7,024

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

$20.4K OMR 7,855

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

$102 OMR 39.32

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

$28.74 OMR 11.06

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.8 OMR 33.79

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.22 OMR 18.95

$39.15 OMR 15.07

25.72%

Cinema Ticket

$11.67 OMR 4.49

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

$303 OMR 117

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,016 OMR 2,701

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 OMR 19.90

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.92 OMR 16.91

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.8 OMR 30.72

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.18 OMR 18.16

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

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.33

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

Last update for Sohar: September 7, 2026

Last update for Nizwa: September 7, 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 Nizwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nizwa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 3124% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,156 in Sohar and $66.9 in Nizwa 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.

At $44.58 in Nizwa versus $1,437 in Sohar, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nizwa but tight or insufficient in Sohar. The gap between the two cities makes Nizwa 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 Nizwa 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 Nizwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3124% less than in Sohar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.