Cost of Living Comparison Between Sur and Ruwi Cost of Living Comparison Between Sur and Ruwi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,103 in Sur versus $510 in Ruwi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Sur versus $774 in Ruwi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,050 in Sur versus $1,039 in Ruwi.

Living in Sur is roughly 116% more expensive than in Ruwi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sur 17% lower, Ruwi 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.95 OMR 1.52

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.63 OMR 9.87

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.76 OMR 2.99

Cappuccino

$4.82 OMR 1.85

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

$0.72 OMR 0.28

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.51 OMR 4.82

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.86 OMR 4.56

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 OMR 0.61

$2.02 OMR 0.78

-21.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.47

$1.95 OMR 0.75

-36.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 OMR 0.64

$0.98 OMR 0.38

70.41%

Eggs

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$1.18 OMR 0.46

69.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.84 OMR 1.48

$2.05 OMR 0.79

87.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.91 OMR 1.89

$2.05 OMR 0.79

139.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.60 OMR 3.31

$5.07 OMR 1.95

69.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 OMR 0.91

$0.99 OMR 0.38

138.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$0.98 OMR 0.38

29.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 OMR 0.41

$1.02 OMR 0.39

3.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 OMR 0.31

$0.98 OMR 0.38

-17.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 OMR 0.31

$1.01 OMR 0.39

-18.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 OMR 0.19

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 OMR 0.42

$1.02 OMR 0.39

5.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 OMR 0.19

$0.99 OMR 0.38

-48.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.23 OMR 2.40

Wine (Bottle)

$15.90 OMR 6.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.36 OMR 1.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.01 OMR 3.08

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 OMR 1.21

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 OMR 0.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.25 OMR 3.95

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 OMR 0.20

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

$22.5K OMR 8,655

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

$21.8K OMR 8,409

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

$79.0 OMR 30.40

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

$23.13 OMR 8.90

$25.58 OMR 9.85

-9.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.0 OMR 26.95

$78.5 OMR 30.22

-10.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$85.9 OMR 33.07

Cinema Ticket

$10.25 OMR 3.95

$9.03 OMR 3.48

13.51%

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

$192 OMR 73.8

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,388 OMR 2,459

$12.8K OMR 4,911

-49.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.2 OMR 19.71

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.04 OMR 15.03

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.4 OMR 30.18

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.7 OMR 33.74

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$258 OMR 99.5

$387 OMR 149

-33.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 OMR 102

$255 OMR 98.1

3.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 OMR 181

$900 OMR 346

-47.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 OMR 148

$582 OMR 224

-33.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$565 OMR 218

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$525 OMR 202

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,657 OMR 1,023

$4,481 OMR 1,725

-40.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.15

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

Last update for Sur: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $258 in Sur and $387 in Ruwi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ruwi pays 69% 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

Sur vs Ruwi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sur and Ruwi differ by about 116% in total monthly costs ($1,103 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 69% 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: $258 in Sur versus $387 in Ruwi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 82% higher in Sur. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,103 per month in Sur versus $510 in Ruwi – a 116% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $510 in Ruwi versus $1,103 in Sur, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ruwi but tight or insufficient in Sur. 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, Sur 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 116% less than in Sur. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.