🇴🇲 Oman · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.
Wondering how far your salary goes in Muscat? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
1-bed apartment, Al Khuwair, Ghubra or AzaibaOMR 200–350 / month, typically unfurnished, paid monthly
1-bed apartment, Al Mouj, Shatti Al Qurum or Madinat QaboosOMR 350–650 / month; Al Mouj is the freehold zone and prices accordingly
Utilities and internet, one personOMR 30–90 / month, dominated by summer air conditioning
Meal, mid-range restaurantOMR 5–12 per person; Omani coffee and dates are usually free with it
Est. single-person monthly, excluding rentOMR 300–450, with 5% VAT already inside the prices you see
Good to know
Population
Around 1.5 million in Muscat Governorate, roughly a third of Oman's population, spread along more than 50 km of coast
Official language
Arabic, closer to standard than most Gulf dialects. Swahili, Baluchi and Urdu are widely spoken; English is the business language
Currency
Omani Rial (OMR), pegged to the US dollar at about 0.3845 per USD — roughly USD 2.60 to the rial. Divided into 1,000 baisa, so prices carry three decimals
Work week
Sunday to Thursday; weekend is Friday–Saturday
Personal income tax
None until 1 January 2028, when Royal Decree 56/2025 introduces 5% on annual income above OMR 42,000. VAT is 5%
Shape of the city
A 50 km coastal strip between the Hajar mountains and the sea, built low by planning rule — no skyline, no single centre, and a car is close to essential
Rent
No increase permitted in the first three years of a continuous tenancy, then capped at 7%, under Muscat Municipality Local Ordinance 72/2008
Emergency
9999 — a four-digit number run by the Royal Oman Police operations centre covering police, ambulance, fire and coastguard
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Muscat checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.
Plan your move to Muscat
A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.