Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Nizwa

For one person, living is cheaper in Nizwa: $44.08 a month against $1,427 in Sohar, rent and utilities included – about $16,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Sohar, Oman
Nizwa, Oman
Sohar
🇴🇲 Oman
$1,427
/mo nomad
Nizwa
🇴🇲 Oman
$44.08
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sohar and in Nizwa

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sohar and in Nizwa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,427 in Sohar versus $44 in Nizwa.

  • Sohar $1,427
  • Nizwa $44

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,097 in Sohar versus $65 in Nizwa.

  • Sohar $2,097
  • Nizwa $65

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,767 in Sohar versus $86 in Nizwa.

  • Sohar $2,767
  • Nizwa $86

Living in Sohar is roughly 3137% more expensive than in Nizwa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sohar is 5% above, Nizwa is 97% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sohar
Nizwa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.48 OMR 2.50
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.47 OMR 7.88
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.23 OMR 3.55
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.82 OMR 1.86
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 OMR 0.27
$1.06 OMR 0.41
-33.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 OMR 0.11
$0.27 OMR 0.10
3.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.95 OMR 4.98
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$14.49 OMR 5.58
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sohar
Nizwa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.11 OMR 0.81
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.06 OMR 0.41
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.28 OMR 1.26
-
-
Eggs
$2.78 OMR 1.07
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.77 OMR 5.30
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.04 OMR 3.48
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.43 OMR 5.55
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 OMR 1.28
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.17 OMR 0.83
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.53 OMR 0.97
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.23 OMR 0.47
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.81 OMR 0.70
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 OMR 0.69
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.67 OMR 0.64
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 OMR 0.36
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.82 OMR 2.24
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$25.96 OMR 9.99
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.94 OMR 1.52
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.54 OMR 3.29
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sohar
Nizwa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.59 OMR 1.00
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.3 OMR 20.14
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 OMR 1.29
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 OMR 0.61
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.32 OMR 3.97
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 OMR 0.25
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K OMR 6,985
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K OMR 7,730
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sohar
Nizwa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 OMR 39.90
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.01 OMR 11.17
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$89.0 OMR 34.25
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sohar
Nizwa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 OMR 19.05
$38.77 OMR 14.92
27.62%
Cinema Ticket
$11.59 OMR 4.46
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sohar
Nizwa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 OMR 115
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,046 OMR 2,712
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sohar
Nizwa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.8 OMR 19.55
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 OMR 16.87
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.8 OMR 30.70
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.68 OMR 18.35
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sohar
Nizwa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$494 OMR 190
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 OMR 145
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 OMR 312
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$684 OMR 263
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,191 OMR 458
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$774 OMR 298
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sohar
Nizwa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,439 OMR 939
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.33
0
-

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

Last update for Sohar: October 19, 2026

Last update for Nizwa: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sohar
$376
Nizwa
–
Groceries & Markets
Sohar
$347
Nizwa
–
Eating Out
Sohar
$235
Nizwa
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sohar
$222
Nizwa
–
Clothing & Footwear
Sohar
$100
Nizwa
–
Getting Around
Sohar
$74
Nizwa
–
Sport & Entertainment
Sohar
$73
Nizwa
–
Good to know
🇴🇲 Sohar
🇴🇲 Nizwa
🕒 Local time
00:11 12:11 AM
00:11 12:11 AM
Same time as Sohar
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
221,605
700,000
💱 Currency
Omani Rial OMR ر.ع.
Omani Rial OMR ر.ع.
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to OMR – Omani Rial Converter

Omani Rial exchange rates as of October 26, 2026: 1 USD = 0.385 OMR (1 OMR = 2.6 USD). 1 EUR = 0.431 OMR (1 OMR = 2.32 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sohar Nizwa 180 km
From you
  • Sohar
  • Nizwa

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Nizwa cheaper than Sohar?
Nizwa is cheaper overall, especially in eating out and leisure. The 3137% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $2,140 in Sohar and $66 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.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Sohar or in Nizwa?
At $44 in Nizwa versus $1,427 in Sohar, a $1,000 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.
Is it better to live in Sohar or in Nizwa?
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.
Which city is safer, Sohar or Nizwa?
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.

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