Muscat, Oman — September 13, 2026. According to the latest AI-based household income and expenditure survey released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the average monthly income for an expatriate household in Oman stands at 717.15 Omani Rials (RO). This marks a modest 7.3% increase from the RO 668.6 recorded in 2018. Of this total, RO 686.38 is derived from wages.
Average expat household income is 717.15 Omani Rials
Omani household income reaches RO 1,839.3
Expatriate government expenditure is reported at RO 402.48
Expatriates constitute 43.4% of Oman’s population
Income Comparison and Government Spending
In contrast, the average monthly income for an Omani household has reached RO 1,839.3, reflecting an 18.5% growth since 2018. The gap between expatriate and Omani household incomes is now 2.5 times greater. Expatriate government expenditure is reported at RO 402.48, an 11% increase from 2018.
The expenditure breakdown for expatriate households includes 48% allocated to housing, water, electricity, and gas; 16.5% for food and beverages; 6.6% for transportation; 5.2% for education; and 5.25% for restaurants and hotels.
Demographics and Employment Data
Demographic data indicates that expatriates constitute 43.4% of Oman’s population, totaling approximately 2.36 million individuals. As of July 2026, there were 39,627 expatriates employed in the government sector and 1,406,283 in the private sector. Average per capita income in the government sector is recorded at RO 172.73, with urban areas at RO 171.32 and rural areas at RO 126.72. Across sectors, the average income in the government sector is RO 1,667.97, while in the private sector, it is RO 687.58. Employment statistics show 94,103 engineers/managers, 118,968 in sales, 617,202 in service, 100,894 in industry, and 700,039 in engineering roles.
Survey Impact and Findings
The findings highlight that nearly half of an expatriate's budget is consumed by rent and utilities, limiting savings potential. Low expenditure on education (5.2%) suggests many expatriates do not have their children living with them in Oman or utilize low-cost schooling options. These survey results are expected to influence future Consumer Price Index (CPI) and inflation calculations, particularly regarding the impact of utility costs on expatriate budgets.
