Cost of living in United Arab Emirates
Summary of cost of living in United Arab Emirates
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: Dirham 15,822
- Single person estimated monthly costs: Dirham 9,094
- Cost of living in United Arab Emirates is more expensive than in 78% of countries in Middle East (3 out of 9)
- Cost of living in United Arab Emirates is more expensive than in 68% of countries in the World (26 out of 77)
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| Food | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | Dirham 46 | ||
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | Dirham 29 | ||
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | Dirham 20 | ||
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | Dirham 7 | ||
| 12 eggs, large | Dirham 14 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | Dirham 7 | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | Dirham 23 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | Dirham 9 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | Dirham 4.63 | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | Dirham 13 | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | Dirham 81 | ||
| 2 liters of coca-cola | Dirham 8 | ||
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | Dirham 4.70 | ||
| Housing | |||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | Dirham 7,746 | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | Dirham 5,695 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | Dirham 686 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | Dirham 4,844 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | Dirham 3,415 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | Dirham 365 | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | Dirham 277 | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | Dirham 950 | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | Dirham 375 | ||
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | Dirham 37 | ||
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | Dirham 33 | ||
| Clothes | |||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | Dirham 225 | ||
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | Dirham 207 | ||
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | Dirham 337 | ||
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | Dirham 345 | ||
| Transportation | |||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | Dirham 85,543 | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | Dirham 2.09 | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | Dirham 127 | ||
| Personal Care | |||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | Dirham 18 | ||
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | Dirham 50 | ||
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | Dirham 260 | ||
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | Dirham 30 | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | Dirham 17 | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | Dirham 18 | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | Dirham 12 | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | Dirham 12 | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | Dirham 75 | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | Dirham 189 | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | Dirham 84 | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | Dirham 595 | ||
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | Dirham 263 | ||
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | Dirham 74 | ||
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | Dirham 21 | ||
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | Dirham 45 | ||
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | Dirham 2,008 | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | Dirham 0.64 | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | Dirham 297 | ||
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | Dirham 20 | ||
Map of Cost of Living in United Arab Emirates
This map shows only the top cities in United Arab Emirates. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan
The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.
What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a
central reference city (that happens to be Prague).
Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the
database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Are you moving to United Arab Emirates? Do you know how much money you will need there to maintain your current standard of living?
Find out what is the real equivalent in UAE of your current salary and improve your chances of a happy relocation.
Get a salary calculation for:
Recent Comparisons
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Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- 1 kg of potatoes in Dubai costs Dirham 5.31 (1 day ago)
- 1 pack of marlboro cigarettes in Abu Dhabi costs Dirham 20 (2 days ago)
- Ipad wi-fi 128gb in Abu Dhabi costs Dirham 1,500 (2 days ago)
- 500 ml beer in neighbourhood pub in Abu Dhabi costs Dirham 40 (2 days ago)
- Cappuccino in expat area of the city in Abu Dhabi costs Dirham 20 (2 days ago)
- Nice dinner at an italian restaurant, dinner for two in Abu Dhabi costs Dirham 300 (2 days ago)
- 2 tickets to the movies in Abu Dhabi costs Dirham 120 (2 days ago)
- Basic dinner out in neighborhood pub, dinner for two in Abu Dhabi costs Dirham 200 (2 days ago)
- Internet connection 300 mbps, 1 month in Abu Dhabi costs Dirham 600 (2 days ago)
- Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) in Abu Dhabi costs Dirham 250 (2 days ago)