Cost of living in United Arab Emirates
Summary of cost of living in United Arab Emirates
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: Dirham 17,683
- Single person estimated monthly costs: Dirham 10,353
- Cost of living in United Arab Emirates is cheaper than in 43% of countries in Middle East (3 out of 7)
- Cost of living in United Arab Emirates is more expensive than in 83% of countries in the World (17 out of 94)
Change the currency:
| Food | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | Dirham 44 | ||
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | Dirham 29 | ||
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | Dirham 15 | ||
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | Dirham 7 | ||
| 12 eggs, large | Dirham 12 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | Dirham 5.21 | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | Dirham 20 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | Dirham 8 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | Dirham 4.00 | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | Dirham 13 | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | Dirham 53 | ||
| 2 liters of coca-cola | Dirham 8 | ||
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | Dirham 4.39 | ||
| Housing | |||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | Dirham 8,944 | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | Dirham 6,493 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | Dirham 632 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | Dirham 5,565 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | Dirham 3,322 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | Dirham 456 | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | Dirham 349 | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | Dirham 1,377 | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | Dirham 359 | ||
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | Dirham 39 | ||
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | Dirham 36 | ||
| Clothes | |||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | Dirham 232 | ||
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | Dirham 214 | ||
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | Dirham 330 | ||
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | Dirham 339 | ||
| Transportation | |||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | Dirham 90,989 | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | Dirham 2.77 | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | Dirham 304 | ||
| Personal Care | |||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | Dirham 28 | ||
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | Dirham 48 | ||
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | Dirham 290 | ||
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | Dirham 16 | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | Dirham 24 | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | Dirham 23 | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | Dirham 15 | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | Dirham 14 | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | Dirham 56 | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | Dirham 189 | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | Dirham 92 | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | Dirham 660 | ||
| 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 81 | ||
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | Dirham 20 | ||
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | Dirham 45 | ||
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | Dirham 1,999 | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | Dirham 0.47 | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | Dirham 295 | ||
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | Dirham 18 | ||
Moving to United Arab Emirates with your children?
International Schools in United Arab Emirates
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.
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Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Dubai is 23% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in Dubai is 180% more expensive than in Delhi
- Cost of living in Abu Dhabi is 10% cheaper than in Dubai
- Cost of living in Dubai is 65% more expensive than in Moscow
- Cost of living in Dubai is 101% more expensive than in Cape Town
- Cost of living in Dubai is 120% more expensive than in Fortaleza
- Cost of living in Dubai is 112% more expensive than in Istanbul
- Cost of living in Dubai is 152% more expensive than in Mumbai
- Cost of living in Abu Dhabi is 20% more expensive than in Nuremberg
- Cost of living in Dubai is 40% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Abu Dhabi is about the same as in Swansea
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- 1 year rent - 900 sqft furnished accommodation in expensive area in Dubai costs Dirham 10,165 (8 days ago)
- 500 g of bread in Dubai costs Dirham 3.00 (8 days ago)
- 12 eggs, large in Dubai costs Dirham 10 (8 days ago)
- 1 liter of whole fat milk in Dubai costs Dirham 12 (8 days ago)
- Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) in Dubai costs Dirham 25 (8 days ago)
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Dubai costs Dirham 25 (8 days ago)
- Ipad wi-fi 128gb in Dubai costs Dirham 3,099 (8 days ago)
- 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality in Abu Dhabi costs Dirham 50 (8 days ago)
- 1 pack of marlboro cigarettes in Dubai costs Dirham 20 (9 days ago)
- 1 month of gym membership in business district in Dubai costs Dirham 400 (9 days ago)