Cost of Living in Oman: What Expats Actually Pay

The cost of living in Oman in 2026 is about OMR 420–550 (~$1,090–$1,430) a month for a single person on a lean budget in Muscat, and about OMR 690–870 (~$1,795–$2,265) for a comfortable single life with a car. A couple should plan on roughly OMR 850–1,120 (~$2,210–$2,915), and a family of four on OMR 1,200–1,700 (~$3,120–$4,420) before international school fees. All dollar figures use the Central Bank of Oman’s fixed rate of $2.6008 per rial (OMR 0.3845 per dollar), which still applies in October 2026. Rent, school fees, and car costs drive most of the difference between households. Fuel is cheap, there is no personal income tax until 2028, and VAT is only 5%. Below you’ll find rents by city, utility and food prices, transport, healthcare, schools, taxes, visa fees, and sample budgets.

Quick Answer

• Single person: OMR 420–550 (~$1,090–$1,430) on a lean budget; OMR 690–870 (~$1,795–$2,265) for a comfortable one.
• Couple: OMR 850–1,120 (~$2,210–$2,915) a month.
• Family of four: OMR 1,200–1,700 (~$3,120–$4,420) before school fees; about OMR 1,700–2,700 (~$4,420–$7,020) with two children in international school.
• Rent, one-bedroom in Muscat: about OMR 262 (~$680) in the center and OMR 174 (~$455) outside it.
• Utilities: about OMR 69 (~$180) a month for an 85 m² apartment in Muscat; internet adds about OMR 27 (~$71).
• Fuel: 229 baisa per liter for Mogas 91 and 239 baisa for Mogas 95 in October 2026.
• Taxes: 5% VAT, no personal income tax until 2028.

Exchange Rate, Salaries, and Key Numbers in 2026

The exchange rate. The Omani rial is pegged to the US dollar. The Central Bank of Oman’s fixed peg is $2.6008 per rial, and it has not changed since 1986. One dollar buys about OMR 0.3845. Unlike most countries, your dollar budget will not swing with the currency, which makes planning easier for anyone paid in US dollars or a dollar-pegged Gulf currency.

Currency basics. One rial is divided into 1,000 baisa. Small prices, such as fuel or a bus ticket, are often quoted in baisa. For example, 500 baisa is OMR 0.50 (~$1.30).

Salaries. Crowd-sourced averages from October 2026 put the average net monthly salary at about OMR 643 (~$1,670) in Muscat. The nationwide figure is higher, at about OMR 995 (~$2,590), but it rests on fewer reports. Expat pay varies hugely by job and nationality. Professional packages often include housing, transport, health insurance, annual flights, or school allowances, which can be worth more than the cash salary itself.

Minimum wage. Oman’s private-sector minimum wage of OMR 325 (~$845) a month, set in 2023, applies to Omani nationals only. There is no statutory minimum wage for expatriate workers, whose pay is set by contract.

At the fixed rate, OMR 1,000 is always about $2,600. That stability is one of Oman’s quiet advantages for dollar earners.

Cost of Living by City

Most expats live in Muscat, but Sohar, Salalah, and Nizwa are cheaper. The table uses crowd-sourced averages from Numbeo, updated October 2, 2026 for Muscat and the national average and June 19, 2026 for Sohar and Salalah. Muscat has the most price reports. Sohar and Salalah have far fewer, so treat those rows as rough guides.

*Salalah’s figures come from very few reports and likely understate rents in newer buildings. Use them only as a lower bound.

A few patterns stand out:

• Muscat is the most expensive city, but it has the most jobs, international schools, and private hospitals. Rents climb near the coast and in newer developments.
• Sohar, the industrial port city on the Batinah coast, costs less for housing and utilities. Internet is slightly more expensive there.
• Salalah in the south is the cheapest of the three larger cities and has milder summer weather during the khareef monsoon, which keeps cooling bills lower for part of the year.
• Interior towns such as Nizwa have lower rents still, but few international schools and fewer expat services.

Housing and Rent

Rent is the largest monthly expense for most households that do not get employer housing. Here are October 2026 crowd-sourced averages for Muscat:

Choosing a home outside the center saves about OMR 88 (~$230) a month on a one-bedroom, or more than OMR 1,000 a year. That saving shrinks if the location forces you to buy a second car or take taxis every day.

What to check before you sign:

• Furnished or not. Many long-term listings are unfurnished, and some come without kitchen appliances or air-conditioning units. Ask exactly what is included.
• Payment terms. Some landlords ask for several months up front or post-dated checks. Confirm the deposit and any agent commission in writing.
• Utilities. Ask whether electricity and water are in your name or included in the rent, and ask to see recent bills, especially for summer months.
• Maintenance. Clarify who pays for air-conditioning servicing and repairs. In Oman’s heat, a broken unit is urgent.
• Lease registration. Leases are registered with the municipality. Ask the landlord or agent who pays the registration fee.

Residential rent is exempt from VAT, according to the Oman Tax Authority, so the quoted rent should not carry an extra 5%.

Utilities, Internet, and Phone

Basic utilities (electricity, water, cooling, and garbage) for an 85 m² apartment average about OMR 69 (~$180) a month in Muscat, with reports ranging from OMR 42.50 to OMR 100. The national average is lower, at about OMR 46 (~$120).

Air conditioning drives the bill. Summer temperatures in Muscat regularly pass 40°C (104°F) from May to September, and cooling runs almost nonstop. A small apartment in winter may cost much less than the average, while a villa in July can cost several times more. Oman has been phasing out electricity subsidies, and accounts for expatriate tenants generally do not get the subsidized rate that applies to an Omani family’s main home. Ask your landlord which tariff the property is on.

Plan on about OMR 110–140 (~$285–$365) a month for utilities, home internet, and one mobile line in a Muscat apartment, and more in summer.

Food: Groceries and Dining Out

A single person who cooks most meals spends about OMR 80–110 (~$210–$285) a month on groceries. Couples should plan on about double that. Local produce, rice, chicken, and bread are cheap. Imported brands, cheese, and specialty foods push bills up. Many essential foods are zero-rated for VAT, so they carry no tax at the checkout.

Average Muscat supermarket prices, October 2026:

Eating out is affordable, especially at small Indian, Pakistani, Arab, and Turkish restaurants. Typical Muscat prices:

• Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: about OMR 2 (~$5.20)
• Three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant: about OMR 15 (~$39)
• Fast-food combo meal: about OMR 3 (~$7.80)
• Cappuccino: about OMR 1.95 (~$5.10)
• Imported beer at a licensed hotel bar: about OMR 5 (~$13)

Alcohol is sold only in licensed hotels, restaurants, and a few licensed shops, and it is expensive. Tobacco, energy drinks, and vaping products carry a 100% excise tax, and soft drinks carry 50%.

Eating a cheap restaurant lunch every workday costs about OMR 44 (~$115) a month, often less than cooking imported food at home.

Transportation and Fuel

Oman is built around the car. Muscat stretches about 50 km along the coast, and public transport covers only some routes. Most expat households end up with at least one car.

Fuel prices come from the Oman Oil Marketing Company’s October fuel prices. Mogas 95 works out to roughly $2.35 a gallon. Filling a 50-liter tank costs about OMR 12 (~$31).

Mwasalat runs the public buses. Its Muscat and Salalah city routes link Ruwi, Al Mabelah, Al Khoud, Al Khuwair, and the airport, plus a few Salalah lines. Fares are low, but frequency and coverage vary, so test your commute before giving up a car.

Real car costs. Cheap fuel does not make a car cheap. Add insurance, annual registration, servicing, tires (the heat wears them quickly), and loan payments. A modest car with typical driving often costs OMR 60–100 (~$155–$260) a month to run before any loan payment. Taxis and ride-hailing apps add up fast if you use them daily.

Healthcare and Insurance Costs

Omani citizens receive free or heavily subsidized public healthcare. Expatriates usually rely on private clinics and hospitals, paid through employer health insurance or out of pocket. Public facilities do treat expats, but charges and referral rules differ from those for citizens.

Oman’s Financial Services Authority runs Dhamani, a national health insurance platform that links insurers and private providers for approvals and claims. Most private-sector employers provide health cover for expatriate staff. Check the following before you accept a job:

• Provider network: Nearby hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies with direct billing.
• Annual limit: Maximum covered amount per person and per condition.
• Cost sharing: Deductible, co-pay, and coinsurance on each visit.
• Dependents: Whether your spouse and children are covered, and at what cost.
• Exclusions: Pre-existing conditions, maternity, dental, vision, and chronic care.
• Geographic cover: Oman only, GCC, or worldwide, plus evacuation and repatriation.

If your employer covers only you, budget separately for family members. Premiums depend heavily on age, limits, and maternity cover, so get written quotes from licensed insurers before you move. Dental and optical care are often excluded or capped.

Schools and Childcare

For expat families, school fees are often the biggest cost after rent.

• International primary school: about OMR 4,051 (~$10,540) a year per child on average in Muscat, with a typical range of OMR 3,000–6,240 (~$7,800–$16,230). That is about OMR 250–520 (~$650–$1,350) a month per child, before registration, books, uniforms, buses, and activity fees.
• Private preschool or kindergarten: about OMR 110 (~$287) a month for full-day care, with a range of OMR 50–300.
• Government schools: teaching is in Arabic. Expat children can register when places are available. The government first-grade registration service lists a one-time OMR 50 (~$130) registration fee plus OMR 50 a year in tuition for non-Omani students. Other grades have a separate fee schedule.

British, American, IB, and Indian-curriculum schools all operate in Muscat. Indian and Pakistani community schools usually charge far less than the top international schools. Ask every school for a full fee sheet, including any development or capital fee.

Two children in an average international school add about OMR 675 (~$1,755) a month to a family budget.

Taxes: VAT and Income Tax

• VAT: the standard rate is 5%. Exports, international transport, and 513 essential food items are zero-rated. Financial services and residential rent are exempt.
• Excise tax: 100% on tobacco, energy drinks, and vaping products; 50% on soft drinks.
• Personal income tax: none in 2026. Under Royal Decree 56/2025, a personal income tax starts at the beginning of 2028. It applies only when an individual’s total annual income exceeds OMR 42,000 (~$109,230), at a rate of 5% of taxable income after deductions for items such as education, healthcare, zakat, donations, and a primary home. The Tax Authority estimates that about 99% of the population will not pay it.

Your home country may still tax your income. US citizens, for example, must file US returns wherever they live.

Visas and Residence Fees

Most expats live in Oman on an employer-sponsored work visa. According to the Royal Oman Police visa page, a work visa is issued at the employer’s request and needs a labor permit. The listed visa fee is OMR 20 (~$52), and late renewal carries a monthly penalty of OMR 50. Family joining visas let workers bring a spouse and children.

Every expatriate resident must get a residence card within 30 days of entering Oman. The card costs:

Employers normally pay the labor permit fee and work visa costs. Check your contract, and ask who pays for dependents’ visas and residence cards.

One-Time Setup Costs

Budget for these before your first paycheck:

• Residence card: OMR 6–11 (~$16–$29) per person, depending on the term.
• Medical exam: required for the residence card. Your employer often arranges and pays for it.
• Rent paid up front and deposit: often one month or more, plus any agent commission.
• Furniture and appliances: many long-term flats are unfurnished. Secondhand furniture is widely sold by departing expats.
• Car: about OMR 8,700 (~$22,630) for a new mid-size sedan, or a down payment on a loan. Used cars are much cheaper.
• School registration: international schools charge registration and assessment fees on top of tuition.
• Temporary housing: a hotel or serviced apartment while you look for a lease.

Sample Monthly Budgets

These budgets use Muscat averages from the sections above. They assume you pay your own rent and that your employer provides basic health insurance.

Family of four with school fees: add about OMR 500–1,040 (~$1,300–$2,705) a month for two children in international school. The total lands around OMR 1,700–2,700 (~$4,420–$7,020). Numbeo’s crowd-sourced Muscat estimate for a family of four is about OMR 1,186 (~$3,085) a month before rent, which fits the upper half of our range once rent is added.

Single person: the same data puts a single person’s costs at about OMR 340 (~$885) before rent. Add an outside-center one-bedroom and you get about OMR 514 (~$1,335), in line with the lean column.

Money-Saving Tips

• Negotiate housing into your package. A housing allowance or company flat is worth more than almost any other saving.
• Live close to work. A short commute can save a second car and cuts fuel and taxi costs.
• Look outside the center. An outside-center one-bedroom saves about OMR 88 a month in Muscat.
• Ask for summer utility bills. They show the real cooling cost of a property before you sign.
• Shop local. Buy produce at markets and choose local or regional brands over imports.
• Buy secondhand. Departing expats sell furniture and cars at good prices.
• Check your insurance. A cheap policy with low limits can cost more than a better one if a family member gets sick.
• Consider community schools. Curriculum-based community schools often charge a fraction of top international school fees.

How Oman Compares With Nearby Countries

Oman is one of the more affordable Gulf states, mainly because rent is lower. In June 2026 crowd-sourced data, a central one-bedroom cost about OMR 253 in Muscat, against roughly OMR 944 (~$2,455) in central Dubai and OMR 739 (~$1,920) in central Abu Dhabi. See our full guide to the cost of living in the UAE for a closer comparison. Salaries are also usually higher in the UAE, so the gap in savings can be smaller than the gap in rent.

Elsewhere in the region, compare the cost of living in Qatar, where rents are higher and there is no VAT, and the cost of living in Saudi Arabia, where VAT is 15%. Bahrain is closer to Oman on rent; our cost of living in Bahrain guide covers it, along with the cost of living in Kuwait.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do you need to live in Oman per month?

A single person needs about OMR 420–550 (~$1,090–$1,430) a month on a lean budget in Muscat, and about OMR 690–870 (~$1,795–$2,265) for a comfortable life with a car. A couple should plan on OMR 850–1,120 (~$2,210–$2,915), and a family of four on OMR 1,200–1,700 (~$3,120–$4,420) before school fees.

Is $1,500 a month enough to live in Oman?

Yes, for a single person. At the fixed rate of $2.6008 per rial, $1,500 is about OMR 577. That covers a one-bedroom outside central Muscat, utilities, groceries, a bus pass or modest car costs, and some eating out. It is tight for a couple and not enough for a family paying its own rent.

How much is rent in Muscat in 2026?

Crowd-sourced averages from October 2026 put a one-bedroom apartment at about OMR 262 (~$680) a month in central Muscat and about OMR 174 (~$455) outside the center. A three-bedroom averages about OMR 507 (~$1,320) in the center and OMR 315 (~$820) outside it.

Is Oman cheaper than the UAE?

Yes, mainly because of rent. A central one-bedroom in Muscat costs well under half of a similar flat in central Dubai, and VAT is 5% in both countries. Salaries are often lower in Oman too, so compare the full job package, not only prices.

Does Oman have income tax in 2026?

No. Oman has no personal income tax in 2026. A new law under Royal Decree 56/2025 takes effect at the beginning of 2028 and taxes individuals at 5% of taxable income only when total annual income exceeds OMR 42,000 (about $109,000).

How much does petrol cost in Oman?

October 2026 retail prices are 229 baisa per liter for Mogas 91, 239 baisa for Mogas 95, and 258 baisa for diesel. Mogas 95 works out to about $0.62 a liter, or roughly $2.35 a gallon.

What does a residence card cost in Oman?

The Royal Oman Police lists a fee of OMR 6 (~$16) for a one-year residence card and OMR 11 (~$29) for two years. Expatriate residents must get the card within 30 days of entering Oman, and late applications cost OMR 10 for each month of delay.

Conclusion

Oman offers a Gulf salary environment with lower rents than Dubai or Doha, cheap fuel, 5% VAT, and no personal income tax until 2028. The fixed rate of $2.6008 per rial means dollar budgets stay stable. A single person can live comfortably in Muscat on about OMR 690–870 (~$1,795–$2,265) a month, or on less by choosing an outside-center flat and a lean lifestyle. Families should look hard at housing and school allowances, since rent and international school fees can easily double a household budget. Get every benefit in writing, check summer utility bills, and decide on the car question before you sign a lease.

Sources

• Central Bank of Oman – fixed peg of the rial to the US dollar
• Oman Oil Marketing Company – October fuel retail prices
• Oman Tax Authority – VAT and excise tax rates
• Oman Tax Authority – Personal Income Tax Law (Royal Decree 56/2025)
• Royal Oman Police – visa types and work visa fees
• Royal Oman Police – residence card requirements and fees
• Gov.om – first-grade registration for non-Omani students
• Mwasalat – city bus routes
• Numbeo – Oman, Muscat, Sohar, and Salalah crowd-sourced price data (June–October 2026)