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Muscat Prices & Cost of Living 2026
Oman · Big city · coast — Muscat is about 58% cheaper than New York. Not just exchange rates: what a fair price is, where it turns into a rip-off, and what that means in your money.
Muscat prices at a glance
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Muscat travel difficulty
Street taxis need the fare agreed first; haggle in Mutrah souq
English fine in hotels and tourist spots; taxi drivers mostly Arabic
Spread-out city with infrequent buses; OTaxi app avoids haggling
Cards fine in malls and restaurants; cash for souqs and taxis
Low crime, but Iranian drone strikes hit Oman in 2026 — US Level 3
Good to knowBook taxis on OTaxi, or fix the fare before getting in — meters are rare
Handy apps: OTaxi
Visas depend on your passport, so they are not scored. Felt different on the ground? Tell other travelers below. Travel difficulty in the Middle East & Africa › Difficulty ranking for 502 cities ›
In your money
Muscat is about 58% cheaper than New York
Based on 8 things travelers buy most, compared with New York. Each pair of bars is the same purchase in both cities, converted to your currency. Set your own city and currency in “My basis” above.
Muscat in numbers
- 🍜15 local meals
- ☕21 coffees
- 🍺8.5 beers
- 🚕15 5-km taxi rides
- 💆2.1 h of massage
- 🏨1.3 hotel nights
- Local meal42 min · New York 52 min
- Coffee30 min · New York 15 min
- Beer1 h 15 min · New York 23 min
- Taxi42 min · New York 59 min
- Bottled water#49 cheapest
- Street food#70 cheapest
- Local meal#191 cheapest
- Beer#4 priciest
- Cocktail & wine#30 priciest
Muscat price guide & rip-off thresholds
Muscat travel budget
Per person per day, estimated. Flights and shopping not included.
See 4-day, 1-week and 1-month budget tables › · Plan a multi-city trip budget ›
How to spend money in Muscat
Live prices reported in Muscat
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FAQ
Is Muscat cheaper than New York?
Across 8 things travelers buy most (meals, coffee, beer, taxis, hotels…), Muscat is about 58% cheaper than New York. A local meal is about OMR 2.5 (≈ $6.5) and a coffee about OMR 1.8 (≈ $4.68).
How hard is Muscat to travel?
Averaging rip-offs, language, getting around, payments and safety, Muscat scores 2.8/5 — 'moderate'. The main thing to watch is safety (4/5): Low crime, but Iranian drone strikes hit Oman in 2026 — US Level 3. Tip: Book taxis on OTaxi, or fix the fare before getting in — meters are rare
Is Muscat good for first-time travelers?
With a little preparation, yes (2.8/5). Safety: Low crime, but Iranian drone strikes hit Oman in 2026 — US Level 3. Tip: Book taxis on OTaxi, or fix the fare before getting in — meters are rare
What is a realistic daily budget for Muscat?
Mid-range (3-star hotel, local meals plus a dinner out, two taxi rides) is about $138 a day. Guesthouses and street food bring it to about $42.9; 4-star and restaurants push it to about $319.
How much does it cost to live in Muscat for a month?
A short-term studio (about $1,355) plus food, transport and a SIM (about $1,130) comes to roughly $2,486 a month. A local long-term lease (studio about OMR 230) brings it down a lot.
How much should a taxi cost in Muscat?
For 5 km in town, expect OMR 2 – OMR 4; anything above OMR 4.8 is suspicious.
Where do these numbers come from?
Base prices start from public cost-of-living data; once 3+ traveler reports come in, the app blends in the median of what people actually paid.
Fair range & rip-off line — each item gets its own spread (tight for transit, wide for street food). Above 1.2× the top of the fair range is flagged as a likely rip-off.
Budgets add up item prices for the lifestyle described above. Peak season and prime tourist spots run higher.
Exchange rate as of October 2026: 1 USD = OMR 0.385. Last updated 2026-10-05.