Cost of Living in United Arab Emirates
Summary of cost of living in United Arab Emirates:
- The estimated monthly costs for a family of four are 3,380.9$ (12,416.4AED), excluding rent.
- The estimated monthly costs for a single person are 962.9$ (3,536.2AED), excluding rent.
- Cost of living in United Arab Emirates is, on average, 20.9% lower than in United States.
- Rent in United Arab Emirates is, on average, 4.7% lower than in United States.
Restaurants |  Edit |
Range |
|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 30.00 AED | |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 220.00 AED | |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 32.00 AED | |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 40.00 AED | |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 45.00 AED | |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 20.32 AED | |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 4.22 AED | |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 2.00 AED | |
Markets | Edit |
|
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 6.46 AED | |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 4.66 AED | |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 3.73 AED | |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 11.60 AED | |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 17.70 AED | |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 14.28 AED | |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 19.00 AED | |
| Apples (1 lb) | 3.96 AED | |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 2.92 AED | |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 2.81 AED | |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 2.21 AED | |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 1.79 AED | |
| Onions (1 lb) | 1.94 AED | |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 5.56 AED | |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 2.18 AED | |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 57.20 AED | |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 8.73 AED | |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 10.00 AED | |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 23.00 AED | |
Transportation | Edit |
|
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 5.00 AED | |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 200.00 AED | |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 12.00 AED | |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 4.02 AED | |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 30.00 AED | |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 2.75 AED | |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 163,937.00 AED | |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 81,314.53 AED | |
Utilities (Monthly) | Edit |
|
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 696.96 AED | |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 202.84 AED | |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 359.75 AED | |
Sports And Leisure | Edit |
|
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 231.86 AED | |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 140.92 AED | |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 50.00 AED | |
Childcare | Edit |
|
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 2,231.14 AED | |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 46,881.27 AED | |
Clothing And Shoes | Edit |
|
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 229.43 AED | |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 222.93 AED | |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 374.39 AED | |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 378.08 AED | |
Rent Per Month | Edit |
|
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 5,403.18 AED | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 3,974.39 AED | |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 10,244.37 AED | |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 8,441.11 AED | |
Buy Apartment Price | Edit |
|
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 2,005.43 AED | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 1,099.57 AED | |
Salaries And Financing | Edit |
|
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 11,657.49 AED | |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 4.72 | |
Prices in United Arab Emirates
This country had 3825 entries in the past 12 months by 478 different contributors.
Last update: 12 February 2026
Our data for each country are based on all entries from all cities in that country.
Last update: 12 February 2026
Our data for each country are based on all entries from all cities in that country.
Sources and References
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Distribution of Expenses Using Our Statistical Model:
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By City in United Arab Emirates
Rank |
City |
Cost of Living Index |
Rent Index |
Cost of Living Plus Rent Index |
Groceries Index |
Restaurant Price Index |
Local Purchasing Power Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai | 62.0 | 54.6 | 58.7 | 47.9 | 67.1 | 135.1 | |
| Ras al-Khaimah | 54.9 | 21.7 | 39.8 | 51.3 | 51.3 | 91.1 | |
| Abu Dhabi | 53.5 | 44.7 | 49.5 | 46.7 | 57.0 | 104.0 | |
| Sharjah | 51.4 | 22.9 | 38.4 | 43.3 | 38.5 | 126.4 | |
| Ajman | 45.0 | 47.6 | 46.2 | 35.3 | 38.3 | 93.9 |
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