The cost of living well in Muscat.

Our verdict. Muscat suits a family that wants the Gulf coast at about a fifth of London's cost, with the villas, the course and the marina together at Al Mouj. A four-bedroom villa there rents for OMR 1,700 a month, Al Mouj Golf costs OMR 1,925 a year and a 20 m berth OMR 8,970. The American British Academy charges OMR 10,210 for the IB years. The weak point is tax that is coming: from 1 January 2028 Oman will charge 5% on income above OMR 42,000, on residents' worldwide income. Against Dubai, the berth costs under a third of the Bvlgari Yacht Club's rate, though no sale price per square metre is published here.

1. A prime family home, rented2026£40k

   OMR 20,400 a year · Average 4-bed villa rent, Al Mouj (market leader), OMR 1,700/month x 12

   Savills, Oman Property Market Report Q2 2026, Q2 2026

2. Senior school fees, two children2026-27£40k

   OMR 10,210 a year a child · American British Academy, Grades 11-12 (IB Diploma) annual tuition

   American British Academy, Tuition Fees, 2026-27 academic year

3. Membership at a leading golf club2026£3,760

   OMR 1,925 a year in subscriptions · Al Mouj Golf, Full Week individual annual membership OMR 1,925 + VAT; value = annual only

   Al Mouj Golf, Membership, Published rates, October 2026

4. A berth for a 20 m yacht2026£18k

   OMR 8,970 a year · Al Mouj Marina standard annual berth rate, 20 m berth

   Al Mouj Marina, Berthing, Published rates (page dated 16 Apr 2026)

5. A full-time housekeeper or nanny—

   No current published wage for full-time domestic staff.

6. Tasting menu for two, twice a month2026£4,548

   OMR 97 a dinner · Two starters + two mains from the published à la carte dinner menu of The Beach Restaurant, The Chedi Muscat: pan-seared Hokkaido scallops 15 + foie gras 15 + Australian Wagyu rib eye mbs 6/7 280g 38 + Omani whole lobster thermidor 29 = OMR 97, food only, before taxes and service

   The Chedi Muscat, The Beach Restaurant menu ('The-Beach-Restaurant-Menu-Final'), hosted on the hotel's Menumodo menu viewer linked from chedihotels.com, Menu dated September 2025, checked October 2026

Figures are published prices, fees and surveys as dated, converted to pounds at the stated rates. They change, vary by home, school year and membership, and are a guide, not a quote. Nothing here is financial, tax or legal advice.

• London£322k+304%
• Monaco£313k+292%
• Dubai£307k+285%
• New York£255k+220%
• Hong Kong£208k+161%
• Miami£176k+121%
• Los Angeles£174k+118%
• Milan£171k+115%
• Paris£160k+101%
• Geneva£152k+91%
• Singapore£147k+85%
• Abu Dhabi£145k+82%
• Amsterdam£120k+51%
• Bangkok£112k+41%
• Riyadh£108k+36%
• Munich£104k+31%
• Manchester£95k+20%
• Lisbon£93k+17%
• Doha£89k+11%
• Marbella£78k−2%
• Phuket£70k−12%
• Jeddah£68k−15%
• Kuala Lumpur£59k−26%
• Manama£36k−54%
• Kuwait City£25k−68%

Pounds at ECB reference rates (Gulf currencies at their dollar pegs) rates of 2026-10-20.