Oman

Overview

Oman is the most affordable country in the GCC: Numbeo's 2025 World Cost of Living Index puts it at roughly 39.8 (NYC=100), the cheapest in the Gulf (Numbeo). In Muscat, where most expats settle, a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages about $656/month and roughly $445 outside the centre, with basic utilities near $152 and 60 Mbps broadband about $70 (Numbeo, last updated 3 June 2026). The Omani rial is pegged and strong (1 OMR ≈ $2.60), which keeps imported goods and rents predictable. A single expat can generally live comfortably in Muscat on roughly OMR 800–1,200 per month (medium-confidence estimate from expat guides). On safety, Oman is one of the most peaceful countries in its region for everyday crime — 37th of 163 on the 2024 Global Peace Index (score 1.761), the third most peaceful in MENA — with very low rates of violent and street crime. However, this must be weighed against the current U.S. State Department advisory, which rates Oman Level 3 'Reconsider Travel' (advisory dated 9 April 2026) due to terrorism risk and the threat of drone and missile attacks following hostilities between the U.S. and Iran that began 28 February 2026; the Yemen border area is Level 4 'Do Not Travel.' This is a significant discrepancy: Oman's day-to-day security record is excellent, but the geopolitical advisory is currently elevated for reasons external to Oman itself. Healthcare is concentrated in Muscat, which holds the country's tertiary hospitals and specialist clinics; the public system delivers the large majority of hospital beds and inpatient care, and Oman sits in the upper-middle global tier for health (around 55th of 167 on the Legatum Prosperity Index health pillar). Mandatory health insurance ('Dhamani') is being rolled out for private-sector and expatriate workers, with basic annual cover capped at OMR 4,500 and premiums typically employer-paid. For residency, Oman relaunched its Golden Visa on 31 August 2025, offering 10-year (≥500,000 OMR / ~$1.3M) and 5-year (≥250,000 OMR / ~$650K) investor tracks plus a retiree track for those aged 55–75 with ~2,000 OMR (~$5,200) of monthly foreign income; none lead to citizenship. English is widely used in business and service sectors, though formal proficiency is rated 'very low' by EF EPI 2025 (score 407, rank #112), and Arabic remains the official language.

Visa Options