Just landed - wondering what gives the better rate in Pakistan: ATM withdrawal or airport exchange counter?
In Oman, it’s best to withdraw rials from ATMs at Bank Muscat or NBO once you’re in town. Budget OMR 20-30 daily depending on activities. Exchange a tiny amount at the airport for taxis, but make ATMs your main source. Always choose to be charged in OMR, not your home currency, when prompted. ATMs are widely available in cities and give much fairer rates than airport counters.
The airport exchange in Muscat felt overpriced. I swapped $100 and realized later that ATMs gave me much more rials. I lost almost enough to pay for a full day’s meals. Since Oman is pricier than some Gulf countries, I was budgeting OMR 25 per day, and that waste was noticeable. The lesson - don’t rely on airport desks unless you want to burn part of your budget unnecessarily.
I exchanged $20 at Muscat Airport for my taxi into the city. The rate wasn’t great. Later, I withdrew from a Bank Muscat ATM, and I got far more rials for the same amount. Meals cost me about OMR 4-6, and taxis were OMR 2-3, so with my daily budget of OMR 25, the ATM savings made a difference. The airport counter was useful for quick cash, but ATMs worked out better overall.
In Oman, ATMs usually offer a better rate than airport exchange counters. Muscat Airport has convenient kiosks, but their margins are higher than ATMs from banks like Bank Muscat, NBO, or Bank Dhofar. If you’re budgeting OMR 20-30 daily for meals, taxis, and sightseeing like the Sultan Qaboos Mosque or Muttrah Souq, withdrawing rials from ATMs is more cost-effective. Use the airport desk for only small amounts.