Cost of living in Dubai, United Arab Emirates vs Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Currency:
| Food | + 47% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is 47% more expensive than in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) | ||||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | Dirham 58 (﷼ 59) | ﷼ 35 | + 71% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | Dirham 28 (﷼ 28) | ﷼ 27 | + 6% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | Dirham 22 (﷼ 22) | ﷼ 17 | + 33% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | Dirham 8 (﷼ 8) | ﷼ 4.72 | + 74% | |
| 12 eggs, large | Dirham 16 (﷼ 16) | ﷼ 8 | + 111% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | Dirham 7 (﷼ 7) | ﷼ 6 | + 18% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | Dirham 29 (﷼ 29) | ﷼ 15 | + 97% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | Dirham 10 (﷼ 10) | ﷼ 7 | + 42% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | Dirham 5.21 (﷼ 5.32) | ﷼ 3.65 | + 46% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | Dirham 12 (﷼ 12) | - | - | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | Dirham 101 (﷼ 103) | - | - | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | Dirham 8 (﷼ 8) | ﷼ 8 | - 5% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | Dirham 4.63 (﷼ 4.73) | ﷼ 2.00 | + 136% | |
| Housing | + 38% | |||
| Housing in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is 38% more expensive than in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) | ||||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | Dirham 7,317 (﷼ 7,472) | ﷼ 5,361 | + 39% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | Dirham 4,663 (﷼ 4,763) | ﷼ 2,590 | + 84% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | Dirham 685 (﷼ 699) | ﷼ 1,028 | - 32% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | Dirham 5,137 (﷼ 5,246) | ﷼ 3,336 | + 57% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | Dirham 3,194 (﷼ 3,262) | ﷼ 2,061 | + 58% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | Dirham 358 (﷼ 366) | ﷼ 467 | - 22% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | Dirham 261 (﷼ 267) | ﷼ 162 | + 64% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | Dirham 979 (﷼ 1,000) | ﷼ 1,017 | - 2% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | Dirham 394 (﷼ 403) | ﷼ 350 | + 15% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | Dirham 37 (﷼ 38) | ﷼ 24 | + 60% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | Dirham 32 (﷼ 32) | ﷼ 28 | + 15% | |
| Clothes | + 14% | |||
| Clothes in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is 14% more expensive than in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) | ||||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | Dirham 205 (﷼ 210) | ﷼ 105 | + 100% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | Dirham 161 (﷼ 165) | ﷼ 168 | - 2% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | Dirham 333 (﷼ 341) | ﷼ 311 | + 10% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | Dirham 397 (﷼ 406) | ﷼ 315 | + 29% | |
| Transportation | + 43% | |||
| Transportation in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is 43% more expensive than in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) | ||||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | Dirham 91,289 (﷼ 93,229) | ﷼ 83,535 | + 12% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | Dirham 2.08 (﷼ 2.12) | ﷼ 1.50 | + 41% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | Dirham 262 (﷼ 267) | ﷼ 174 | + 54% | |
| Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km. (5 miles) | Dirham 60 (﷼ 61) | ﷼ 30 | + 104% | |
| Personal Care | + 40% | |||
| Personal Care in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is 40% more expensive than in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) | ||||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | Dirham 22 (﷼ 22) | ﷼ 10 | + 113% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | Dirham 51 (﷼ 52) | ﷼ 59 | - 12% | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | Dirham 266 (﷼ 272) | ﷼ 125 | + 119% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | Dirham 23 (﷼ 23) | ﷼ 18 | + 28% | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | Dirham 18 (﷼ 18) | ﷼ 18 | + 1% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | Dirham 21 (﷼ 21) | ﷼ 17 | + 24% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | Dirham 12 (﷼ 12) | ﷼ 5.12 | + 137% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | Dirham 13 (﷼ 13) | ﷼ 16 | - 17% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | Dirham 77 (﷼ 79) | ﷼ 25 | + 211% | |
| Entertainment | + 40% | |||
| Entertainment in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is 40% more expensive than in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) | ||||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | Dirham 187 (﷼ 191) | ﷼ 91 | + 109% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | Dirham 79 (﷼ 81) | ﷼ 112 | - 27% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | Dirham 444 (﷼ 454) | ﷼ 393 | + 16% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | Dirham 380 (﷼ 388) | ﷼ 175 | + 121% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | Dirham 73 (﷼ 75) | - | - | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | Dirham 24 (﷼ 24) | ﷼ 15 | + 63% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | Dirham 55 (﷼ 56) | - | - | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | Dirham 1,778 (﷼ 1,816) | ﷼ 1,602 | + 13% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | Dirham 0.71 (﷼ 0.72) | ﷼ 0.45 | + 60% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | Dirham 358 (﷼ 366) | ﷼ 281 | + 30% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | Dirham 17 (﷼ 18) | ﷼ 25 | - 29% | |
| TOTAL | + 40% | |||
This comparison is lacking data. It provides a decent comparison, but it is not yet reliable. It is based on 1,646 prices entered by 393 different people.
These prices were last updated on March 06, 2021.
Exchange rate:
1.021
SAR
/
AED
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Cost of living in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is 40% more expensive than in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)
For example, you would need at least ﷼ 25,151 (Dirham 24,627) in Dubai to maintain the same standard of living that you can have with ﷼ 18,000 in Riyadh.
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