Cost of living in United Arab Emirates
Summary of cost of living in United Arab Emirates
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: Dirham 17,761
- Single person estimated monthly costs: Dirham 10,401
- United Arab Emirates is the most expensive country in Middle East (1 out of 5)
- Cost of living in United Arab Emirates is more expensive than in 76% of countries in the World (17 out of 66)
Food | |||
---|---|---|---|
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | Dirham 52 | ||
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | Dirham 34 | ||
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | Dirham 18 | ||
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | Dirham 7 | ||
12 eggs, large | Dirham 14 | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | Dirham 5.02 | ||
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | Dirham 31 | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | Dirham 8 | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | Dirham 3.98 | ||
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | Dirham 11 | ||
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | Dirham 80 | ||
2 liters of coca-cola | Dirham 8 | ||
Bread for 2 people for 1 day | Dirham 4.99 | ||
Housing | |||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | Dirham 9,431 | ||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | Dirham 5,945 | ||
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | Dirham 797 | ||
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | Dirham 6,217 | ||
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | Dirham 4,162 | ||
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | Dirham 568 | ||
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | Dirham 283 | ||
40” flat screen tv | Dirham 837 | ||
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | Dirham 338 | ||
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | Dirham 47 | ||
Hourly rate for cleaning help | Dirham 35 | ||
Clothes | |||
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | Dirham 238 | ||
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | Dirham 208 | ||
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | Dirham 350 | ||
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | Dirham 366 | ||
Transportation | |||
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | Dirham 117,172 | ||
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | Dirham 2.92 | ||
Monthly ticket public transport | Dirham 227 | ||
Personal Care | |||
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | Dirham 13 | ||
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | Dirham 30 | ||
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | Dirham 285 | ||
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | Dirham 27 | ||
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | Dirham 17 | ||
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | Dirham 22 | ||
4 rolls of toilet paper | Dirham 13 | ||
Tube of toothpaste | Dirham 13 | ||
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | Dirham 38 | ||
Entertainment | |||
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | Dirham 194 | ||
2 tickets to the movies | Dirham 92 | ||
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | Dirham 396 | ||
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | Dirham 378 | ||
1 cocktail drink in downtown club | Dirham 76 | ||
Cappuccino in expat area of the city | Dirham 22 | ||
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | Dirham 36 | ||
Ipad wi-fi 128gb | Dirham 1,944 | ||
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | Dirham 0.78 | ||
1 month of gym membership in business district | Dirham 274 | ||
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.
Cost of Living Ranking in United Arab Emirates
(top cities by data quality)
Ranking | City | Price Index * |
---|---|---|
1st | Dubai | 142 |
2nd | Abu Dhabi | 119 |
3rd | Al Ain | 98 |
Price 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 39% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in Dubai is 32% more expensive than in Tokyo
- Cost of living in Abu Dhabi is 14% cheaper than in Dubai
- Cost of living in Dubai is 205% more expensive than in Delhi
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- 500 ml beer in neighbourhood pub in Abu Dhabi costs Dirham 3.00 (about 19 hours ago)
- Nice dinner at an italian restaurant, dinner for two in Dubai costs Dirham 200 (4 days ago)
- Jeans (levis 501 or similar) in Dubai costs Dirham 100 (4 days ago)
- Internet connection 300 mbps, 1 month in Dubai costs Dirham 400 (4 days ago)
- Furnished accommodation in normal area, monthly rent - 85 m2 in Dubai costs Dirham 6,000 (4 days ago)
- Bread for 2 people for 1 day (250 g) in Dubai costs Dirham 3.00 (4 days ago)
- 500 ml domestic beer in the supermarket in Dubai costs Dirham 10 (4 days ago)
- 1 kg of tomatoes in Dubai costs Dirham 2.00 (4 days ago)
- 6 eggs, large in Dubai costs Dirham 12 (4 days ago)
- 1 us gal of whole fat milk in Dubai costs Dirham 5.55 (4 days ago)