Moving to Oman: tax, residence and real costs (2026)
Oman: 0% today · 5% on high incomes from 2028. The cheapest route to residence is investor residence (5 years from ~OMR 150k): USD 390k that stays yours (deposit, investment or funds shown) plus about USD 4,000 in fees, in about 3 months. Living costs about USD 1,200 a month for one person in Muscat, USD 800 in Nizwa, and around USD 760 on a bare-minimum budget.
Key facts
| Tax in one line | 0% today · 5% on high incomes from 2028 |
| Foreign income | not taxed (5% income tax on high earners planned from 2028) |
| Gains · dividends | 0 · 0 |
| Wealth · inheritance tax | none · none |
| Cheapest residence | investor residence (5 years from ~OMR 150k) |
| Money needed | USD 390k that stays yours (deposit, investment or funds shown) plus about USD 4,000 in fees |
| Time | about 3 months |
| Doable yourself? | Mostly; a local fixer for one step helps |
| Days you must spend there | - |
| Citizenship | none |
| Online business | 0% effective, about USD 3,000 a year to run: no personal income tax |
| Living (one person a month) | Muscat ~USD 1,200; bare minimum ~USD 760; family of four ~USD 2,550 |
| Good for | - |
| Common set-up | investor residence |
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Questions
- How much does residence in Oman cost?
- Investor residence (5 years from ~OMR 150k): USD 390k that stays yours (deposit, investment or funds shown) plus about USD 4,000 in fees, about 3 months.
- Does Oman tax foreign income?
- Not taxed (5% income tax on high earners planned from 2028). In one line: 0% today · 5% on high incomes from 2028.
- What does it cost to live in Oman?
- Living costs about USD 1,200 a month for one person in Muscat, USD 800 in Nizwa, and around USD 760 on a bare-minimum budget (based on livingcost.org, 2026).
- Can I run an online business from Oman?
- Effective tax about 0% with the cheapest legal set-up, which costs about USD 3,000 a year: no personal income tax.
- What is the catch in Oman?
- Personal income tax from 2028.
Compare
- United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi): 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income · 0% on gains and dividends
- Israel (new immigrants): 10 years: 0% on foreign income · up to 50% on Israeli income
- Qatar: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income
- Bahrain: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income
- Saudi Arabia: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income
Compare all 53 places with your own income and budget →
Sources
- https://tms.taxoman.gov.om
- Living costs: based on livingcost.org (livingcost.org, June 2026), rounded