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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,441 per month in Sohar vs $817 in Shinas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,151 per month in Sohar vs $1,214 in Shinas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,862 per month in Sohar vs $1,610 in Shinas, rent included.

Sohar costs about 76% more than Shinas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sohar sits 8% above the global median, while Shinas is 39% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 OMR 2.51

$5.16 OMR 1.99

26.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.05 OMR 8.10

$25.55 OMR 9.84

-17.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 OMR 3.41

$7.58 OMR 2.92

17.02%

Cappuccino

$6.62 OMR 2.55

$4.76 OMR 1.83

39.08%

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

$0.65 OMR 0.25

$1.06 OMR 0.41

-38.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

$0.34 OMR 0.13

-20.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.74 OMR 4.91

$12.19 OMR 4.69

4.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.10 OMR 5.43

$11.81 OMR 4.55

19.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 OMR 0.86

$1.93 OMR 0.74

16.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 OMR 0.43

$1.18 OMR 0.45

-5.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.22 OMR 1.24

$1.73 OMR 0.67

86.13%

Eggs

$2.82 OMR 1.09

$2.38 OMR 0.92

18.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.59 OMR 5.23

$3.73 OMR 1.43

264.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.31 OMR 3.58

$4.96 OMR 1.91

87.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.40 OMR 5.54

$8.62 OMR 3.32

67.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.21 OMR 1.24

$2.62 OMR 1.01

22.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 OMR 0.81

$1.73 OMR 0.67

21.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 OMR 0.98

$1.77 OMR 0.68

44.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 OMR 0.46

$1.17 OMR 0.45

0.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$1.01 OMR 0.39

72.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.86 OMR 0.72

$0.99 OMR 0.38

87.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 OMR 0.66

$1.04 OMR 0.40

65.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 OMR 0.38

$0.52 OMR 0.20

90.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.14 OMR 2.36

$6.44 OMR 2.48

-4.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$26.43 OMR 10.18

$15.86 OMR 6.11

66.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.00 OMR 1.54

$4.37 OMR 1.68

-8.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.47 OMR 3.26

$7.75 OMR 2.98

9.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.66 OMR 1.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.9 OMR 20.00

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 OMR 1.21

$3.19 OMR 1.23

-0.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 OMR 0.59

$0.79 OMR 0.30

93.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.51 OMR 4.05

$10.29 OMR 3.96

2.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

$0.59 OMR 0.23

1.69%

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

$18.1K OMR 6,963

$22.8K OMR 8,779

-20.69%

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

$20.8K OMR 8,000

$21.7K OMR 8,368

-4.40%

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

$101 OMR 38.93

$106 OMR 40.81

-4.59%

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

$29.04 OMR 11.18

$41.81 OMR 16.10

-30.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 OMR 33.63

$70.7 OMR 27.21

23.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 OMR 19.86

Cinema Ticket

$11.78 OMR 4.54

$10.28 OMR 3.96

14.59%

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

$269 OMR 104

$196 OMR 75.3

37.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,119 OMR 2,741

$9,761 OMR 3,758

-27.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 OMR 19.88

$50.2 OMR 19.32

2.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.42 OMR 16.72

$39.84 OMR 15.34

8.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 OMR 30.14

$77.9 OMR 30.00

0.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.95 OMR 18.08

$88.8 OMR 34.17

-47.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 OMR 187

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 OMR 149

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$753 OMR 290

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$669 OMR 257

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,154 OMR 444

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$774 OMR 298

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,455 OMR 945

$3,087 OMR 1,188

-20.46%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Shinas: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 26% 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 – $351 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 76% 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 $2,161 per month in Sohar and $1,226 in Shinas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,441 in Sohar and $817 in Shinas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $269 per month in Sohar and $196 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 $817, than in Sohar at $1,441. 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.