Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Shinas Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Shinas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,428 per month in Sohar vs $795 in Shinas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,124 per month in Sohar vs $1,196 in Shinas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,820 per month in Sohar vs $1,596 in Shinas, rent included.

Sohar costs about 80% more than Shinas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sohar sits 7% above the global median, while Shinas is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.65 OMR 2.56

$5.26 OMR 2.02

26.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.08 OMR 8.11

$25.73 OMR 9.90

-18.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.12 OMR 3.51

$7.96 OMR 3.07

14.57%

Cappuccino

$7.01 OMR 2.70

$5.00 OMR 1.92

40.20%

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

$0.64 OMR 0.25

$1.05 OMR 0.40

-39.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

$0.31 OMR 0.12

-19.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.09 OMR 5.04

$12.28 OMR 4.73

6.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.16 OMR 5.45

$11.76 OMR 4.53

20.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 OMR 0.87

$1.99 OMR 0.77

14.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 OMR 0.41

$1.18 OMR 0.45

-10.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 OMR 1.28

$1.65 OMR 0.64

101.82%

Eggs

$2.73 OMR 1.05

$2.36 OMR 0.91

15.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.68 OMR 5.26

$3.84 OMR 1.48

256.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.89 OMR 3.42

$5.09 OMR 1.96

74.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.06 OMR 5.41

$8.77 OMR 3.37

60.32%

Apples (1kg)

$3.30 OMR 1.27

$2.54 OMR 0.98

29.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 OMR 0.81

$1.73 OMR 0.67

21.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 OMR 0.99

$1.77 OMR 0.68

45.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

$1.13 OMR 0.44

3.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.75 OMR 0.67

$0.97 OMR 0.37

80.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.71

$0.98 OMR 0.38

86.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$1.05 OMR 0.40

65.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$0.52 OMR 0.20

88.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.85 OMR 2.25

$6.29 OMR 2.42

-7.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.86 OMR 9.95

$15.38 OMR 5.92

68.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.96 OMR 1.52

$4.22 OMR 1.62

-6.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.79 OMR 3.38

$7.96 OMR 3.06

10.43%

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

$3.09 OMR 1.19

8.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 OMR 0.62

$0.80 OMR 0.31

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.37 OMR 3.99

$10.36 OMR 3.99

0.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

$0.64 OMR 0.25

-6.25%

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

$18.2K OMR 7,016

$23.0K OMR 8,838

-20.61%

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

$20.6K OMR 7,923

$21.8K OMR 8,391

-5.58%

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

$102 OMR 39.11

$107 OMR 41.02

-4.66%

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

$29.28 OMR 11.27

$40.69 OMR 15.66

-28.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.1 OMR 33.53

$71.0 OMR 27.32

22.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 OMR 20.15

Cinema Ticket

$11.69 OMR 4.50

$10.41 OMR 4.01

12.30%

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

$267 OMR 103

$194 OMR 74.7

37.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,155 OMR 2,754

$9,771 OMR 3,761

-26.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 OMR 19.48

$51.0 OMR 19.63

-0.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.88 OMR 16.89

$39.66 OMR 15.26

10.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 OMR 30.88

$80.0 OMR 30.81

0.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.41 OMR 17.86

$87.7 OMR 33.74

-47.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 OMR 191

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 OMR 148

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$780 OMR 300

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$683 OMR 263

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

$3,106 OMR 1,195

-19.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.62

5.15

9.13%

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

Last update for Sohar: July 14, 2026

Last update for Shinas: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 24% higher in Shinas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Sohar versus $26.00 in Shinas. Groceries tell a different story – $347 in Sohar vs $230 in Shinas – so Shinas wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Shinas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sohar costs about 80% more than Shinas, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,142 per month in Sohar and $1,192 in Shinas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,428 in Sohar and $795 in Shinas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $267 per month in Sohar and $194 in Shinas. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shinas, where all-in costs run around $795, than in Sohar at $1,428. In Shinas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sohar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Shinas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Shinas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sohar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.