Cost of living in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is 34% more expensive than in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)
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This comparison has some inconsistent or sparse data. It already provides a reliable comparison but it is not bullet-proof. It is based on 1,024 prices entered by 194 different people.
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Currency:
| Food | + 18% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is 18% more expensive than in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Dubai | Riyadh | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | Dirham 54 (﷼ 55) | ﷼ 33 | + 65% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | Dirham 35 (﷼ 35) | ﷼ 30 | + 17% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | Dirham 18 (﷼ 18) | ﷼ 18 | + 3% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | Dirham 6 (﷼ 6) | ﷼ 6 | - 4% | |
| 12 eggs, large | Dirham 13 (﷼ 13) | ﷼ 14 | - 6% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | Dirham 6 (﷼ 6) | ﷼ 6 | - 2% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | Dirham 25 (﷼ 26) | ﷼ 16 | + 60% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | Dirham 9 (﷼ 9) | ﷼ 8 | + 6% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | Dirham 4.60 (﷼ 4.70) | ﷼ 5.01 | - 6% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | Dirham 12 (﷼ 12) | - | - | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | Dirham 59 (﷼ 60) | - | - | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | Dirham 8 (﷼ 8) | ﷼ 8 | + 2% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | Dirham 4.97 (﷼ 5.07) | ﷼ 3.85 | + 32% | |
| Housing | + 35% | |||
| Housing in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is 35% more expensive than in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Dubai | Riyadh | Diff | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | Dirham 11,434 (﷼ 11,676) | ﷼ 8,246 | + 42% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | Dirham 6,965 (﷼ 7,112) | ﷼ 4,275 | + 66% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | Dirham 845 (﷼ 863) | ﷼ 549 | + 57% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | Dirham 7,512 (﷼ 7,671) | ﷼ 4,949 | + 55% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | Dirham 4,907 (﷼ 5,011) | ﷼ 2,998 | + 67% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | Dirham 541 (﷼ 552) | ﷼ 364 | + 52% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | Dirham 233 (﷼ 238) | ﷼ 257 | - 8% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | Dirham 770 (﷼ 786) | ﷼ 1,414 | - 44% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | Dirham 296 (﷼ 302) | ﷼ 460 | - 34% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | Dirham 43 (﷼ 44) | ﷼ 39 | + 12% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | Dirham 34 (﷼ 35) | ﷼ 42 | - 17% | |
| Clothes | - 28% | |||
| Clothes in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is 28% cheaper than in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Dubai | Riyadh | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | Dirham 120 (﷼ 122) | ﷼ 186 | - 34% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | Dirham 137 (﷼ 140) | ﷼ 222 | - 37% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | Dirham 373 (﷼ 381) | ﷼ 404 | - 6% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | Dirham 364 (﷼ 372) | ﷼ 348 | + 7% | |
| Transportation | + 107% | |||
| Transportation in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is 107% more expensive than in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Dubai | Riyadh | Diff | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | Dirham 88,808 (﷼ 90,688) | ﷼ 66,510 | + 36% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | Dirham 2.90 (﷼ 2.97) | ﷼ 2.27 | + 31% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | Dirham 351 (﷼ 359) | ﷼ 137 | + 161% | |
| Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km. (5 miles) | Dirham 49 (﷼ 50) | ﷼ 61 | - 18% | |
| Personal Care | + 5% | |||
| Personal Care in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is 5% more expensive than in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Dubai | Riyadh | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | Dirham 25 (﷼ 25) | ﷼ 9 | + 178% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | Dirham 38 (﷼ 38) | ﷼ 69 | - 44% | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | Dirham 284 (﷼ 290) | ﷼ 195 | + 49% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | Dirham 21 (﷼ 22) | ﷼ 27 | - 21% | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | Dirham 19 (﷼ 19) | ﷼ 20 | - 4% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | Dirham 21 (﷼ 21) | ﷼ 15 | + 41% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | Dirham 10 (﷼ 10) | ﷼ 8 | + 17% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | Dirham 13 (﷼ 13) | ﷼ 20 | - 35% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | Dirham 40 (﷼ 41) | ﷼ 35 | + 19% | |
| Entertainment | - 6% | |||
| Entertainment in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is 6% cheaper than in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Dubai | Riyadh | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | Dirham 147 (﷼ 150) | ﷼ 194 | - 23% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | Dirham 88 (﷼ 90) | ﷼ 124 | - 28% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | Dirham 283 (﷼ 289) | ﷼ 345 | - 16% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | Dirham 288 (﷼ 294) | ﷼ 221 | + 33% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | Dirham 75 (﷼ 77) | - | - | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | Dirham 26 (﷼ 27) | ﷼ 18 | + 45% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | Dirham 40 (﷼ 41) | - | - | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | Dirham 1,999 (﷼ 2,041) | ﷼ 2,255 | - 9% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | Dirham 0.56 (﷼ 0.57) | ﷼ 0.38 | + 50% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | Dirham 296 (﷼ 302) | ﷼ 423 | - 29% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | Dirham 18 (﷼ 19) | ﷼ 27 | - 29% | |
 |
TOTAL | + 34% | ||
This comparison has some inconsistent or sparse data. It already provides a reliable comparison but it is not bullet-proof. It is based on 1,024 prices entered by 194 different people.
These prices were last updated on February 14, 2025.
Exchange rate:
1.021
SAR
/
AED
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For example, you would need at least ﷼ 33,499 (Dirham 32,805) in Dubai to maintain the same standard of living that you can have with ﷼ 25,000 in Riyadh.
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