Muscat vs Şaḩam
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Muscat leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Şaḩam where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Şaḩam's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Muscat | Şaḩam |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 59 | 58 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 49 | 52 |
| Climate | 52 | 49 |
| Safety | 74 | 73 |
| Summer °C | 33.5 | 34.2 |
| Winter °C | 19.5 | 19.8 |
| Top disaster risk | drought | drought |
Muscat vs Şaḩam: the short answer
Muscat comes out ahead on overall livability (59/100), only marginally above Şaḩam (58/100). The two cities diverge most on cost of living. On affordability Şaḩam is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Muscat 49 vs Şaḩam 52, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Şaḩam runs warmer in summer (about 34.2°C peak vs 33.5°C in Muscat), while winter lows sit near 19.5°C in Muscat and 19.8°C in Şaḩam. On natural-disaster exposure Muscat is the safer choice (safety 74/100); the dominant modelled hazard is drought for Muscat and drought for Şaḩam.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Şaḩam — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Şaḩam — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Muscat — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Muscat — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is Muscat or Şaḩam better to live in?
Muscat scores higher overall — 59 vs 58 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Muscat or Şaḩam?
Şaḩam has the lower cost of living (cost index 52 vs 49; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Muscat or Şaḩam?
Şaḩam — summer highs reach about 34.2°C versus 33.5°C in Muscat.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Muscat or Şaḩam?
Muscat (disaster-safety 74/100). Main hazard: drought in Muscat, drought in Şaḩam.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Muscat?
drought is the dominant modelled hazard for Muscat on our risk index.
How is the Muscat vs Şaḩam comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.