Cost of Living in Oman

Updated: January 01, 2025

If you've ever considered moving to Oman, one of the first questions that likely crossed your mind is, "What is the cost of living in Oman?" After all, it's essential to have a clear picture of your potential expenses before making such a life-changing decision. At this page, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of the cost of living in Oman and whether the reported $1803 per month figure aligns with the average monthly salary of $1691.93.

Restaurants

Markets

Transportation

Childcare

Clothing

Rent Per Month

Buy Apartment

Salaries

Oman

restaurant Restaurants	Price	World Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	5.19 $
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	26.62 $
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	6.49 $
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	10.39 $
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	10.39 $
Cappuccino (regular)	4.69 $
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	0.81 $
Water (12 oz small bottle)	0.31 $

store Markets	Price	World Range
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	1.72 $
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	1.08 $
Rice (white), (1 lb)	1.94 $
Eggs (regular) (12)	2.78 $
Local Cheese (1 lb)	7.0 $
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	5.42 $
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	8.63 $
Apples (1 lb)	2.35 $
Banana (1 lb)	1.73 $
Oranges (1 lb)	1.8 $
Tomato (1 lb)	1.21 $
Potato (1 lb)	1.04 $
Onion (1 lb)	0.92 $
Lettuce (1 head)	1.26 $
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	0.58 $
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	20.78 $
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	4.35 $
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	9.09 $
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	5.71 $

commute Transportation	Price	World Range
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	1.3 $
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	38.96 $
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	5.19 $
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	0.78 $
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	12.99 $
Gasoline (1 gallon)	0.62 $
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	19480.72 $
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	19307.56 $

mark_as_unread Utilities (Monthly)	Price	World Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	85.88 $
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)	0.13 $
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	77.55 $

kitesurfing Sports And Leisure	Price	World Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	50.25 $
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	24.98 $
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	9.09 $

child_friendly Childcare	Price	World Range
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	190.67 $
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	6817.32 $

checkroom Clothing And Shoes	Price	World Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	46.75 $
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	39.22 $
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	83.66 $
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	75.92 $

night_shelter Rent Per Month	Price	World Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	569.04 $
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	403.65 $
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	999.36 $
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	659.19 $

home Buy Apartment Price	Price	World Range
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	1886.75 $
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	1252.09 $

account_balance_wallet Salaries And Financing	Price	World Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	1691.93 $
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	4.49 %

Dining Out

The cost of dining varies with the type of establishment. A meal at an affordable restaurant averages around 5.19 USD, while a three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant generally costs 26.62 USD.

Groceries

Basic grocery prices are accessible for most essentials. For instance, a gallon of milk costs about 1.72 USD, a loaf of bread 1.08 USD, and a dozen eggs approximately 2.78 USD.

Transportation

Public transport is relatively affordable, with a single trip priced at about 1.3 USD and a monthly pass around 38.96 USD. If you plan to use public transit regularly, these passes offer great value.

Utilities

For an 85 m² apartment, monthly utility bills—including electricity, heating, water, and waste services—average around 85.88 USD.

Sports and Recreation

For those interested in fitness and leisure, a monthly gym membership averages around 50.25 USD, while an hour on a tennis court on weekends costs about 24.98 USD.

Childcare and Education

Families looking for private childcare services will find that a month at a local preschool or kindergarten costs around 190.67 USD. For international schooling options, annual tuition can reach approximately 6817.32 USD.

Clothing and Footwear

Clothing and shoe prices vary widely. A pair of Levi's 501 jeans, for example, costs about 46.75 USD, and mid-range Nike sneakers are priced around 83.66 USD.

Apartment Rentals

Rental prices depend on location, with a one-bedroom apartment in the city center averaging 569.04 USD per month, while one outside the center costs around 403.65 USD.

Real Estate for Purchase

If you're considering buying property, prices per square foot vary as well. In central areas, the price per square foot is roughly 1886.75 USD, while in the suburbs, it's closer to 1252.09 USD.

Average Salary and Mortgage Rates

The average monthly net salary here is about 1691.93 USD after taxes, and mortgage interest rates for a 20-year fixed-rate loan average around 4.49% annually.

Warnings & Dangers in Oman

OVERALL RISK: LOW

Overall, Oman is a very safe country. It is highly friendly and warm toward tourists, and the crime rate is fairly low, so apart from petty crime on the streets, there isn't too much to worry about.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

Public transportation is available but not very reliable in Oman. Some buses can go from A to B and from B to C, but not from C to A which makes it easy to get lost or stranded somewhere without a way back. However, the buses are comfortable, cheap and very safe. You can easily get ripped off when taking a taxi, since they're not metered, so be careful and negotiate your ride in advance.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

Even though pickpockets are not the primary cause for concern in the Middle East, pickpocketing does happen, and this applies to Oman, too. Be careful in crowded places and markets, and leave your jewelry and passports at home. Some passport thefts have been reported as well as wallets. Never keep all your money in the same place.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

Tropical storms are fairly common in Oman and while its climate is generally dry, heavy rains do fall, usually during winter. Flash floods are also known to happen and they can even cause injuries and deaths. Cyclones coming from the Indian Ocean occasionally make landfall in Oman during summer.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

The crime rate in Oman is low, and consequently, cases of mugging and kidnapping are rarely, if ever, reported.

TERRORISM RISK: HIGH

The threat of a terrorist attack is a serious issue in Oman. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advised travelers "to exercise a high degree of caution in Oman because of the high threat of terrorist attack". The United States Department of State expressed concern over the possibility of terrorist attacks against citizens of the United States. Attacks could be indiscriminate, and happen in places visited by foreigners and tourists so be aware of your surroundings at all times.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

There are a couple of scams that can happen in Oman. Sometimes the expiration dates on food and drinks in supermarkets get "prolonged" by the merchants so the people would buy them even though they are no longer consumable. Vendors may either try and charge more or give the wrong change, and taxi drivers might try to rip you off. However, these scams are not that common and should be easy to detect.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Traveling as a woman in Oman is easy and safe. As long as you respect their culture, dress appropriately and are friendly, you will have no problem. Apart from standard safety rules, you should apply (not walking alone at night, not finding yourself alone with strange men, not taking taxis in isolated areas at night) there isn't much to worry about.

Cost of Living in Oman

Oman

Restaurants

Markets

Transportation

Utilities (Monthly)

Sports And Leisure

Childcare

Clothing And Shoes

Rent Per Month

Buy Apartment Price

Salaries And Financing