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: $1,428 in Sohar versus $580 in Nizwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,124 in Sohar versus $793 in Nizwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,820 in Sohar versus $1,007 in Nizwa.

Living in Sohar is roughly 146% more expensive than in Nizwa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sohar is 7% above, Nizwa is 57% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.65 OMR 2.56

$2.66 OMR 1.02

150.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.08 OMR 8.11

$25.58 OMR 9.84

-17.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.12 OMR 3.51

$3.99 OMR 1.54

128.57%

Cappuccino

$7.01 OMR 2.70

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

$0.64 OMR 0.25

$0.82 OMR 0.31

-21.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

$0.27 OMR 0.10

-7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.09 OMR 5.04

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.16 OMR 5.45

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 OMR 0.87

$1.34 OMR 0.51

69.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 OMR 0.41

$1.33 OMR 0.51

-20.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 OMR 1.28

$1.79 OMR 0.69

86.03%

Eggs

$2.73 OMR 1.05

$2.23 OMR 0.86

22.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.68 OMR 5.26

$3.89 OMR 1.50

251.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.89 OMR 3.42

$7.72 OMR 2.97

15.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.06 OMR 5.41

Apples (1kg)

$3.30 OMR 1.27

$2.04 OMR 0.78

61.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 OMR 0.81

$1.27 OMR 0.49

65.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 OMR 0.99

$1.33 OMR 0.51

93.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

$1.32 OMR 0.51

-11.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.75 OMR 0.67

$1.07 OMR 0.41

63.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.71

$1.03 OMR 0.40

77.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$0.54 OMR 0.21

222.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$0.75 OMR 0.29

30.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.85 OMR 2.25

Wine (Bottle)

$25.86 OMR 9.95

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.96 OMR 1.52

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.79 OMR 3.38

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.62 OMR 1.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.3 OMR 19.73

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 OMR 1.28

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 OMR 0.62

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.37 OMR 3.99

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

$0.63 OMR 0.24

-4.76%

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

$18.2K OMR 7,014

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

$20.6K OMR 7,921

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

$102 OMR 39.10

$132 OMR 50.8

-22.95%

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

$29.28 OMR 11.27

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.1 OMR 33.52

$65.5 OMR 25.21

33.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 OMR 20.15

Cinema Ticket

$11.69 OMR 4.50

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

$267 OMR 103

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,155 OMR 2,753

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 OMR 19.48

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.88 OMR 16.89

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 OMR 30.88

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.41 OMR 17.86

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 OMR 191

$264 OMR 102

88.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 OMR 148

$209 OMR 80.5

83.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$780 OMR 300

$393 OMR 151

98.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$683 OMR 263

$261 OMR 100

161.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,184 OMR 455

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$775 OMR 298

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,506 OMR 964

$1,323 OMR 509

89.38%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Nizwa: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $497 in Sohar and $264 in Nizwa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sohar pays 89% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $21.00 in Sohar vs $26.00 in Nizwa. Groceries flip the comparison at $347 vs $139, with Nizwa 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 Nizwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nizwa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 146% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 89% higher in Sohar, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $497 in Sohar versus $264 in Nizwa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 149% higher in Sohar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Nizwa – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $21.00 in Sohar. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $580 in Nizwa versus $1,428 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 146% less than in Sohar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.