Moving to Oman from South Africa
What to Expect
Considering a move from South Africa to Oman? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from South Africa to Oman, you would find that Oman is 30.9% more expensive than South Africa overall. A ZAR1,218,000 salary in South Africa would need to be roughly OMR31,135 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 77°F in Pretoria, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between South Africa and Oman.
What does your salary buy?
ZAR1,218,000 → OMR31,135
To maintain the same standard of living in Oman
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 14.6% less
Groceries
pay 8.0% more
Transportation
pay 5.4% less
Housing
pay 12.3% more
Childcare
pay 61.8% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.6 times 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
The numbers behind daily life in Oman compared to South Africa.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Oman performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics.
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
South Africa generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Oman leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
South Africa 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
Oman generally does better on infrastructure, though South Africa leads in water stress level.
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 performs significantly better than South Africa across all employment & economy metrics.
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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Oman generally does better on family life, though South Africa leads in education spending.
Data: South African Revenue Service, 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 | Pretoria | Muscat |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 83°/64°F (28°/18°C) | 81°/65°F (27°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) | 100°/82°F (38°/28°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/47°F (22°/8°C) | 97°/83°F (36°/28°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 79°/60°F (26°/15°C) | 87°/70°F (31°/21°C) |
View all months
| Month | Pretoria | Muscat |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 84°/65°F (29.0°/18.1°C) | 77°/62°F (25.1°/16.7°C) |
| Feb | 84°/64°F (28.7°/18.0°C) | 80°/64°F (26.4°/17.8°C) |
| Mar | 81°/62°F (27.3°/16.6°C) | 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.3°C) |
| Apr | 77°/56°F (24.8°/13.1°C) | 94°/76°F (34.7°/24.2°C) |
| May | 72°/48°F (22.4°/8.7°C) | 103°/84°F (39.6°/28.7°C) |
| Jun | 67°/41°F (19.6°/5.2°C) | 104°/87°F (40.0°/30.3°C) |
| Jul | 68°/42°F (19.8°/5.3°C) | 100°/86°F (38.0°/30.1°C) |
| Aug | 72°/47°F (22.3°/8.2°C) | 96°/83°F (35.6°/28.2°C) |
| Sep | 76°/53°F (24.4°/11.8°C) | 96°/80°F (35.6°/26.8°C) |
| Oct | 77°/57°F (25.2°/14.0°C) | 94°/76°F (34.6°/24.2°C) |
| Nov | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) | 87°/69°F (30.3°/20.8°C) |
| Dec | 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.0°C) | 80°/65°F (26.8°/18.3°C) |
Data:
South African Weather Service,
Directorate General of Meteorology - Civil Aviation Authority
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Africa 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.
South Africa passport holder visiting Oman
Visa Free
Oman passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa Online (e-Visa)Data: 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 South Africa?
On average Oman is around 8% pricier than South Africa, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Oman?
Budget about OMR7,784 for 3 months in Oman (based on a ZAR1,218,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Oman?
Connectivity is usually fine (Oman: 10.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Oman offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Oman safe for expats?
Oman performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Oman is 0.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 45.5 in South Africa.
How is healthcare in Oman compared to South Africa?
South Africa generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Oman leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 20.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Oman, compared to 8.1 in South Africa. Oman scores 70 on the WHO universal health coverage index (South Africa: 71).
What's the weather like in Oman compared to South Africa?
The average high temperature in Muscat is 91°F, compared to 77°F in Pretoria. Muscat receives around 3.5 in of rainfall per year, while Pretoria gets 27.0 in.
What language do they speak in Oman?
The official language in Oman is Arabic. In South Africa, the official languages are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.
Compare further: South Africa vs. Oman
At a Glance
ZA
|
OM
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,516,665 | 3,764,348 |
| Currency | South African Rand (ZAR) | Omani Rial (OMR) |
| Languages | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu | Arabic |
| Driving side | Left | Right |
| Calling code | +27 | +968 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 10111 | 9999 |