Cost of living in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is 5% more expensive than in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)
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WARNING! This comparison is based on only a few data points. At this point it is only a guess. It is based on 1,063 prices entered by 279 different people.
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Currency:
| Food | - 21% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is 21% cheaper than in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Dubai | Riyadh | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | Dirham 47 (﷼ 48) | ﷼ 106 | - 54% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | Dirham 33 (﷼ 34) | ﷼ 32 | + 6% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | Dirham 15 (﷼ 16) | ﷼ 17 | - 10% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | Dirham 6 (﷼ 6) | ﷼ 5.63 | + 14% | |
| 12 eggs, large | Dirham 15 (﷼ 16) | ﷼ 9 | + 76% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | Dirham 4.92 (﷼ 5.03) | ﷼ 6 | - 16% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | Dirham 30 (﷼ 31) | ﷼ 24 | + 28% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | Dirham 8 (﷼ 8) | ﷼ 7 | + 3% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | Dirham 3.72 (﷼ 3.80) | ﷼ 5.02 | - 24% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | Dirham 10 (﷼ 11) | - | - | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | Dirham 68 (﷼ 69) | - | - | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | Dirham 8 (﷼ 9) | ﷼ 8 | + 8% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | Dirham 4.41 (﷼ 4.50) | ﷼ 4.40 | + 2% | |
| Housing | + 2% | |||
| Housing in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is about the same as in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Dubai | Riyadh | Diff | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | Dirham 8,389 (﷼ 8,565) | ﷼ 7,773 | + 10% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | Dirham 4,987 (﷼ 5,092) | ﷼ 5,308 | - 4% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | Dirham 835 (﷼ 853) | ﷼ 1,640 | - 48% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | Dirham 5,419 (﷼ 5,533) | ﷼ 4,259 | + 30% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | Dirham 3,583 (﷼ 3,658) | ﷼ 3,898 | - 6% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | Dirham 646 (﷼ 659) | ﷼ 962 | - 31% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | Dirham 296 (﷼ 302) | ﷼ 250 | + 21% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | Dirham 789 (﷼ 806) | ﷼ 2,080 | - 61% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | Dirham 341 (﷼ 348) | ﷼ 424 | - 18% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | Dirham 40 (﷼ 41) | ﷼ 33 | + 26% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | Dirham 37 (﷼ 38) | ﷼ 30 | + 27% | |
| Clothes | - 23% | |||
| Clothes in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is 23% cheaper than in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Dubai | Riyadh | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | Dirham 232 (﷼ 236) | ﷼ 219 | + 8% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | Dirham 205 (﷼ 209) | ﷼ 315 | - 34% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | Dirham 323 (﷼ 329) | ﷼ 317 | + 4% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | Dirham 392 (﷼ 400) | ﷼ 510 | - 22% | |
| Transportation | + 62% | |||
| Transportation in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is 62% 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 115,441 (﷼ 117,870) | ﷼ 89,402 | + 32% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | Dirham 2.95 (﷼ 3.02) | ﷼ 2.33 | + 30% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | Dirham 277 (﷼ 283) | ﷼ 155 | + 82% | |
| Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km. (5 miles) | Dirham 50 (﷼ 51) | ﷼ 40 | + 29% | |
| Personal Care | + 1% | |||
| Personal Care in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is about the same as in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Dubai | Riyadh | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | Dirham 22 (﷼ 22) | ﷼ 7 | + 243% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | Dirham 37 (﷼ 38) | ﷼ 70 | - 46% | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | Dirham 241 (﷼ 246) | ﷼ 188 | + 31% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | Dirham 21 (﷼ 22) | ﷼ 24 | - 10% | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | Dirham 16 (﷼ 16) | ﷼ 20 | - 22% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | Dirham 20 (﷼ 20) | ﷼ 15 | + 32% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | Dirham 13 (﷼ 13) | ﷼ 7 | + 73% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | Dirham 15 (﷼ 16) | ﷼ 22 | - 29% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | Dirham 40 (﷼ 40) | ﷼ 26 | + 55% | |
| Entertainment | - 8% | |||
| Entertainment in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is 8% cheaper than in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Dubai | Riyadh | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | Dirham 174 (﷼ 178) | ﷼ 152 | + 17% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | Dirham 97 (﷼ 99) | ﷼ 102 | - 3% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | Dirham 234 (﷼ 239) | ﷼ 436 | - 45% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | Dirham 414 (﷼ 422) | ﷼ 302 | + 40% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | Dirham 95 (﷼ 97) | - | - | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | Dirham 24 (﷼ 25) | ﷼ 19 | + 32% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | Dirham 42 (﷼ 43) | - | - | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | Dirham 2,081 (﷼ 2,125) | ﷼ 2,406 | - 12% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | Dirham 0.40 (﷼ 0.41) | ﷼ 0.42 | - 4% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | Dirham 276 (﷼ 282) | ﷼ 587 | - 52% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | Dirham 18 (﷼ 19) | ﷼ 24 | - 24% | |
 |
TOTAL | + 5% | ||
WARNING! This comparison is based on only a few data points. At this point it is only a guess. It is based on 1,063 prices entered by 279 different people.
These prices were last updated on October 02, 2023.
Exchange rate:
1.021
SAR
/
AED
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For example, you would need at least ﷼ 26,340 (Dirham 25,797) in Dubai to maintain the same standard of living that you can have with ﷼ 25,000 in Riyadh.
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