Travel Distance, Travel fare and best areas to live

hi,

i have got an job at muscat and my future office is situated at Ghala, muscat. i will be coming to muscat after eid holidays, will be staying with my relatives near muttrah cornice. so i wanted to know a few thing to get my life setteled easily.

1. is there any other way to commute everyday form muttarh to ghala, than taxis?
2. how much taxis would be charging?  i know there are no meter system and i will have to bargain, so i am hoping if someone can let me know at what traveling fare i should be considering.
3. as my office will be in ghala and as i suppose the distance between ghala and muttrah is more than  20kms, i cannot travel that distance everyday, so if i have to rent a flat , which areas are worth looking?  i am an indian but as i have traveled many countries, i am not looking out or a particular community residing area, just areas where living is easy, lesser distance to commute and rent prices are goood/affordable. while saying affordable i am looking for a 1bhk/2bhk for budget about 200-250omr.

thanks in advance.