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: $1,428 in Sohar versus $510 in Ruwi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,124 in Sohar versus $774 in Ruwi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,820 in Sohar versus $1,039 in Ruwi.

Living in Sohar is roughly 180% more expensive than in Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sohar is 7% above, Ruwi is 62% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.65 OMR 2.56

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.08 OMR 8.11

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.12 OMR 3.51

Cappuccino

$7.01 OMR 2.70

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

$0.64 OMR 0.25

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

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

$2.02 OMR 0.78

12.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 OMR 0.41

$1.95 OMR 0.75

-45.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 OMR 1.28

$0.98 OMR 0.38

239.80%

Eggs

$2.73 OMR 1.05

$1.18 OMR 0.46

131.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.68 OMR 5.26

$2.05 OMR 0.79

567.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.89 OMR 3.42

$2.05 OMR 0.79

333.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.06 OMR 5.41

$5.07 OMR 1.95

177.32%

Apples (1kg)

$3.30 OMR 1.27

$0.99 OMR 0.38

233.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 OMR 0.81

$0.98 OMR 0.38

114.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 OMR 0.99

$1.02 OMR 0.39

152.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

$0.98 OMR 0.38

19.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.75 OMR 0.67

$1.01 OMR 0.39

73.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.71

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$1.02 OMR 0.39

70.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$0.99 OMR 0.38

-1.01%

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 19.74

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

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

$18.2K OMR 7,016

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

$20.6K OMR 7,923

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

$102 OMR 39.11

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

$29.28 OMR 11.27

$25.58 OMR 9.85

14.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.1 OMR 33.53

$78.5 OMR 30.22

10.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 OMR 20.15

Cinema Ticket

$11.69 OMR 4.50

$9.03 OMR 3.48

29.46%

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

$267 OMR 103

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,155 OMR 2,754

$12.8K OMR 4,911

-43.92%

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

$387 OMR 149

28.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 OMR 148

$255 OMR 98.1

50.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$780 OMR 300

$900 OMR 346

-13.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$683 OMR 263

$582 OMR 224

17.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,184 OMR 456

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$775 OMR 298

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,506 OMR 965

$4,481 OMR 1,725

-44.08%

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 Ruwi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $497 in Sohar and $387 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 180% in total monthly costs ($1,428 vs $510 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: $497 in Sohar versus $387 in Ruwi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 192% higher in Sohar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,428 per month in Sohar versus $510 in Ruwi – a 180% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $510 in Ruwi versus $1,428 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 180% less than in Sohar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.