Cost of living in United Arab Emirates compared to Saudi Arabia
Currency:
| Food | + 11% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in United Arab Emirates is 11% more expensive than in Saudi Arabia | ||||
| United Arab Emirates | Saudi Arabia | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | Dirham 52 (﷼ 53) | ﷼ 35 | + 49% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | Dirham 33 (﷼ 33) | ﷼ 32 | + 3% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | Dirham 19 (﷼ 19) | ﷼ 18 | + 7% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | Dirham 6 (﷼ 6) | ﷼ 6 | - 2% | |
| 12 eggs, large | Dirham 14 (﷼ 14) | ﷼ 15 | - 9% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | Dirham 5.64 (﷼ 5.76) | ﷼ 6 | - 9% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | Dirham 26 (﷼ 27) | ﷼ 17 | + 59% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | Dirham 9 (﷼ 9) | ﷼ 9 | + 3% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | Dirham 4.45 (﷼ 4.54) | ﷼ 5.17 | - 12% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | Dirham 10 (﷼ 10) | - | - | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | Dirham 59 (﷼ 60) | - | - | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | Dirham 8 (﷼ 8) | ﷼ 8 | - 3% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | Dirham 4.45 (﷼ 4.54) | ﷼ 3.74 | + 21% | |
| Housing | + 24% | |||
| Housing in United Arab Emirates is 24% more expensive than in Saudi Arabia | ||||
| United Arab Emirates | Saudi Arabia | Diff | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | Dirham 8,815 (﷼ 9,002) | ﷼ 7,662 | + 17% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | Dirham 6,137 (﷼ 6,267) | ﷼ 4,463 | + 40% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | Dirham 757 (﷼ 773) | ﷼ 504 | + 53% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | Dirham 7,138 (﷼ 7,289) | ﷼ 4,819 | + 51% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | Dirham 4,735 (﷼ 4,835) | ﷼ 3,190 | + 52% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | Dirham 575 (﷼ 587) | ﷼ 718 | - 18% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | Dirham 254 (﷼ 259) | ﷼ 265 | - 2% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | Dirham 785 (﷼ 802) | ﷼ 1,043 | - 23% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | Dirham 370 (﷼ 378) | ﷼ 478 | - 21% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | Dirham 37 (﷼ 38) | ﷼ 43 | - 11% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | Dirham 33 (﷼ 34) | ﷼ 32 | + 7% | |
| Clothes | + 3% | |||
| Clothes in United Arab Emirates is about the same as in Saudi Arabia | ||||
| United Arab Emirates | Saudi Arabia | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | Dirham 166 (﷼ 169) | ﷼ 193 | - 12% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | Dirham 216 (﷼ 221) | ﷼ 216 | + 2% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | Dirham 434 (﷼ 444) | ﷼ 422 | + 5% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | Dirham 475 (﷼ 485) | ﷼ 366 | + 32% | |
| Transportation | + 23% | |||
| Transportation in United Arab Emirates is 23% more expensive than in Saudi Arabia | ||||
| United Arab Emirates | Saudi Arabia | Diff | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | Dirham 88,640 (﷼ 90,516) | ﷼ 92,343 | - 2% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | Dirham 2.93 (﷼ 2.99) | ﷼ 2.26 | + 32% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | Dirham 207 (﷼ 211) | ﷼ 159 | + 33% | |
| Personal Care | + 16% | |||
| Personal Care in United Arab Emirates is 16% more expensive than in Saudi Arabia | ||||
| United Arab Emirates | Saudi Arabia | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | Dirham 22 (﷼ 22) | ﷼ 19 | + 15% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | Dirham 125 (﷼ 128) | ﷼ 112 | + 14% | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | Dirham 547 (﷼ 559) | ﷼ 240 | + 133% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | Dirham 28 (﷼ 28) | ﷼ 80 | - 65% | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | Dirham 20 (﷼ 20) | ﷼ 23 | - 13% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | Dirham 21 (﷼ 21) | ﷼ 17 | + 27% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | Dirham 11 (﷼ 11) | ﷼ 16 | - 26% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | Dirham 13 (﷼ 13) | ﷼ 20 | - 33% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | Dirham 39 (﷼ 39) | ﷼ 36 | + 10% | |
| Entertainment | + 0% | |||
| Entertainment in United Arab Emirates is about the same as in Saudi Arabia | ||||
| United Arab Emirates | Saudi Arabia | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | Dirham 157 (﷼ 161) | ﷼ 175 | - 8% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | Dirham 76 (﷼ 78) | ﷼ 125 | - 38% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | Dirham 914 (﷼ 933) | ﷼ 120 | + 678% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | Dirham 315 (﷼ 321) | ﷼ 234 | + 38% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | Dirham 78 (﷼ 79) | - | - | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | Dirham 27 (﷼ 28) | ﷼ 19 | + 46% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | Dirham 41 (﷼ 42) | - | - | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | Dirham 1,688 (﷼ 1,724) | ﷼ 3,226 | - 47% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | Dirham 0.70 (﷼ 0.72) | ﷼ 0.35 | + 105% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | Dirham 247 (﷼ 252) | ﷼ 407 | - 38% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | Dirham 19 (﷼ 19) | ﷼ 26 | - 27% | |
| TOTAL | + 16% | |||
This comparison has some inconsistent or sparse data. It already provides a reliable comparison but it is not bullet-proof. It is based on 1,312 prices entered by 306 different people.
These prices were last updated on January 25, 2025.
Exchange rate:
1.021
SAR
/
AED
Cost of living in United Arab Emirates is 16% more expensive than in Saudi Arabia
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