Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Sur Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Sur

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,428 in Sohar versus $1,103 in Sur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,124 in Sohar versus $1,577 in Sur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,820 in Sohar versus $2,050 in Sur.

Living in Sohar is roughly 29% more expensive than in Sur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sohar is 7% above, Sur is 17% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.65 OMR 2.56

$3.95 OMR 1.52

68.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.08 OMR 8.11

$25.63 OMR 9.87

-17.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.12 OMR 3.51

$7.76 OMR 2.99

17.53%

Cappuccino

$7.01 OMR 2.70

$4.82 OMR 1.85

45.44%

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

$0.64 OMR 0.25

$0.72 OMR 0.28

-11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

$0.27 OMR 0.10

-7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.09 OMR 5.04

$12.51 OMR 4.82

4.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.16 OMR 5.45

$11.86 OMR 4.56

19.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 OMR 0.87

$1.59 OMR 0.61

42.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 OMR 0.41

$1.23 OMR 0.47

-13.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 OMR 1.28

$1.67 OMR 0.64

99.40%

Eggs

$2.73 OMR 1.05

$2.00 OMR 0.77

36.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.68 OMR 5.26

$3.84 OMR 1.48

256.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.89 OMR 3.42

$4.91 OMR 1.89

81.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.06 OMR 5.41

$8.60 OMR 3.31

63.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.30 OMR 1.27

$2.36 OMR 0.91

39.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 OMR 0.81

$1.27 OMR 0.49

65.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 OMR 0.99

$1.06 OMR 0.41

143.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

$0.81 OMR 0.31

44.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.75 OMR 0.67

$0.82 OMR 0.31

113.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.71

$0.50 OMR 0.19

266.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$1.08 OMR 0.42

61.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$0.51 OMR 0.19

92.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.85 OMR 2.25

$6.23 OMR 2.40

-6.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.86 OMR 9.95

$15.90 OMR 6.12

62.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.96 OMR 1.52

$4.36 OMR 1.68

-9.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.79 OMR 3.38

$8.01 OMR 3.08

9.74%

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

$3.16 OMR 1.21

5.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 OMR 0.62

$0.76 OMR 0.29

110.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.37 OMR 3.99

$10.25 OMR 3.95

1.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

$0.53 OMR 0.20

13.21%

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

$18.2K OMR 7,016

$22.5K OMR 8,655

-18.94%

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

$20.6K OMR 7,923

$21.8K OMR 8,409

-5.79%

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

$102 OMR 39.11

$79.0 OMR 30.40

28.65%

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

$29.28 OMR 11.27

$23.13 OMR 8.90

26.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.1 OMR 33.53

$70.0 OMR 26.95

24.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 OMR 20.15

$85.9 OMR 33.07

-39.06%

Cinema Ticket

$11.69 OMR 4.50

$10.25 OMR 3.95

14.05%

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

$267 OMR 103

$192 OMR 73.8

39.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,155 OMR 2,754

$6,388 OMR 2,459

12.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 OMR 19.48

$51.2 OMR 19.71

-1.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.88 OMR 16.89

$39.04 OMR 15.03

12.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 OMR 30.88

$78.4 OMR 30.18

2.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.41 OMR 17.86

$87.7 OMR 33.74

-47.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 OMR 191

$258 OMR 99.5

92.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 OMR 148

$265 OMR 102

44.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$780 OMR 300

$470 OMR 181

65.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$683 OMR 263

$384 OMR 148

77.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,184 OMR 456

$565 OMR 218

109.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$775 OMR 298

$525 OMR 202

47.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,506 OMR 965

$2,657 OMR 1,023

-5.68%

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 Sur: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $497 in Sohar and $258 in Sur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sur pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $21.00 in Sohar vs $26.00 in Sur. Groceries flip the comparison at $347 vs $216, with Sur cheaper for home cooking.

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 Sur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sur is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 6% lower in Sur. 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 $258 in Sur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 61% 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 $1,103 in Sur – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,103 in Sur versus $1,428 in Sohar, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sur but tight or insufficient in Sohar. The gap between the two cities makes Sur 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 Sur 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 Sur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Sohar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.