Moving to Oman from New Zealand
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from New Zealand to Oman — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from New Zealand to Oman, you would find that Oman is 28.0% cheaper than New Zealand overall. A NZ$125,240 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly OMR18,738 in Oman to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Muscat averages 91°F vs 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from New Zealand to Oman.
What does your salary buy?
NZ$125,240 → OMR18,738
To maintain the same standard of living in Oman
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 53.6% less
Groceries
pay 33.6% less
Transportation
pay 33.0% less
Housing
pay 24.1% less
Childcare
pay 53.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 22.2% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from New Zealand to Oman.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand generally does better on safety, though Oman leads in homicide rate.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Oman leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
New Zealand performs better than Oman across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
New Zealand generally does better on infrastructure, though Oman leads in electricity per capita.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Oman generally does better on employment & economy, though New Zealand leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
New Zealand performs better than Oman across all family life metrics.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Wellington | Muscat |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 81°/65°F (27°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 100°/82°F (38°/28°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 97°/83°F (36°/28°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 87°/70°F (31°/21°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Muscat |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 77°/62°F (25.1°/16.7°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 80°/64°F (26.4°/17.8°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.3°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 94°/76°F (34.7°/24.2°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 103°/84°F (39.6°/28.7°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 104°/87°F (40.0°/30.3°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 100°/86°F (38.0°/30.1°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 96°/83°F (35.6°/28.2°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 96°/80°F (35.6°/26.8°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 94°/76°F (34.6°/24.2°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 87°/69°F (30.3°/20.8°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 80°/65°F (26.8°/18.3°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Directorate General of Meteorology - Civil Aviation Authority
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand and Oman. To live, work, or study long-term in Oman, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Oman's immigration authority.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Oman
Visa Free
Oman passport holder visiting New Zealand
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Oman than New Zealand?
Yes — Oman is on average about 35% cheaper than New Zealand. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Oman?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly OMR4,684 in Oman on a NZ$125,240 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Oman?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Oman has 10.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Oman safe for expats?
New Zealand generally does better on safety, though Oman leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Oman is 0.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Oman compared to New Zealand?
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Oman leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 20.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Oman, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Oman scores 70 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Oman compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Muscat is 91°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Muscat receives around 3.5 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Oman?
The official language in Oman is Arabic. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
