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)
Change the currency:
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

loading...

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.

Get a salary calculation for:

List of all cities available in United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi Al Ain Dubai
Fujairah Ra's al Khaymah Sharjah

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)

Make a different comparison:

Compare cost of living between cities:
vs