Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Ruwi Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Ruwi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,430 in Sohar versus $624 in Ruwi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,090 in Sohar versus $824 in Ruwi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,750 in Sohar versus $1,023 in Ruwi.

Living in Sohar is roughly 129% more expensive than in Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sohar is 4% above, Ruwi is 55% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.56 OMR 2.53

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.53 OMR 7.90

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.86 OMR 3.41

Cappuccino

$4.89 OMR 1.88

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

$0.69 OMR 0.27

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 OMR 0.11

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.04 OMR 5.02

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.15 OMR 5.45

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 OMR 0.85

$1.98 OMR 0.76

11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 OMR 0.41

$1.97 OMR 0.76

-45.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.18 OMR 1.22

$1.01 OMR 0.39

214.85%

Eggs

$2.83 OMR 1.09

$1.22 OMR 0.47

131.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.76 OMR 5.30

$2.02 OMR 0.78

581.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.08 OMR 3.49

$1.99 OMR 0.77

356.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.25 OMR 5.49

$4.87 OMR 1.87

192.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 OMR 1.25

$0.97 OMR 0.37

235.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 OMR 0.82

$1.03 OMR 0.40

106.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.49 OMR 0.96

$1.03 OMR 0.40

141.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 OMR 0.47

$1.02 OMR 0.39

18.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 OMR 0.69

$0.98 OMR 0.38

83.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 OMR 0.68

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 OMR 0.66

$0.99 OMR 0.38

72.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 OMR 0.36

$1.03 OMR 0.40

-9.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.90 OMR 2.27

Wine (Bottle)

$26.28 OMR 10.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.86 OMR 1.49

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.61 OMR 3.31

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 OMR 0.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.5 OMR 19.81

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.22 OMR 1.24

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 OMR 0.58

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.30 OMR 3.97

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 OMR 0.23

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

$18.1K OMR 6,959

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

$20.1K OMR 7,727

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

$104 OMR 40.01

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

$29.51 OMR 11.36

$25.65 OMR 9.88

15.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$89.7 OMR 34.53

$77.9 OMR 30.00

15.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.03 OMR 18.49

Cinema Ticket

$11.87 OMR 4.57

$8.93 OMR 3.44

32.92%

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

$301 OMR 116

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,971 OMR 2,684

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 OMR 19.43

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.86 OMR 17.27

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 OMR 30.21

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 OMR 17.70

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 OMR 187

$396 OMR 153

22.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 OMR 146

$385 OMR 148

-1.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$806 OMR 310

$912 OMR 351

-11.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$682 OMR 263

$582 OMR 224

17.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,188 OMR 457

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$784 OMR 302

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,465 OMR 949

$4,419 OMR 1,701

-44.22%

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $486 in Sohar and $396 in Ruwi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ruwi pays 79% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Ruwi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sohar and Ruwi differ by about 129% in total monthly costs ($1,430 vs $624 including rent). Ruwi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 79% lower in Ruwi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $486 in Sohar versus $396 in Ruwi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 193% higher in Sohar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,430 per month in Sohar versus $624 in Ruwi – a 129% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $624 in Ruwi versus $1,430 in Sohar, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ruwi but tight or insufficient in Sohar. The gap between the two cities makes Ruwi 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 Ruwi 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 Ruwi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 129% less than in Sohar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.