Cost of Living Comparison Between Abu Dhabi and Dubai Cost of Living Comparison Between Abu Dhabi and Dubai

🙂 Solo nomad: Abu Dhabi is 13.8% cheaper than Dubai without rent, and 24.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Abu Dhabi is 12.7% cheaper than Dubai without rent, and 21.8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.76 AED 39.52

$10.98 AED 40.33

-2.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.2 AED 251

$82.3 AED 302

-17.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.6 AED 35.25

$9.59 AED 35.2

0.10%

Cappuccino

$5.82 AED 21.39

$5.42 AED 19.92

7.38%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.3 AED 4.77

$1.24 AED 4.55

4.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 AED 1.49

$0.89 AED 3.26

-53.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.77 AED 39.54

$12.05 AED 44.24

-10.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.83 AED 39.76

$13.57 AED 49.84

-20.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$2 AED 7.35

$1.93 AED 7.07

3.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.6 AED 5.88

$1.44 AED 5.29

11.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 AED 9

$2.18 AED 8

12.39%

Eggs

$3.68 AED 13.52

$3.4 AED 12.48

8.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.78 AED 39.57

$9.94 AED 36.51

8.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 AED 30.96

$9.32 AED 34.21

-9.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 AED 41.81

$12.47 AED 45.79

-8.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.49 AED 9.14

$2.28 AED 8.38

9.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 AED 6.47

$1.93 AED 7.09

-8.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.9 AED 6.97

$1.89 AED 6.96

0.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 AED 5.47

$1.54 AED 5.64

-3.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 AED 4.29

$1.25 AED 4.58

-6.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 AED 5.3

$1.26 AED 4.62

14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 AED 6.84

$1.38 AED 5.08

34.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 AED 2.3

$0.64 AED 2.36

-1.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.28 AED 23.06

$6.49 AED 23.84

-3.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.36 AED 49.06

$16.49 AED 60.6

-18.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 AED 8.31

$2.64 AED 9.7

-14.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 AED 7.98

$3.55 AED 13.04

-38.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 AED 2.61

$1.61 AED 5.93

-55.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.94 AED 95.3

$80.2 AED 295

-67.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 AED 11.79

$3.24 AED 11.89

-0.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 AED 2.08

$0.86 AED 3.15

-33.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.32 AED 30.56

$8.4 AED 30.85

-0.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 AED 2.75

$0.77 AED 2.84

-2.60%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$44.5K AED 163.3K

$33K AED 121.1K

34.83%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.2K AED 81.4K

$22.5K AED 82.8K

-1.66%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$140 AED 515

$211 AED 777

-33.74%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$51.8 AED 190

$63.2 AED 232

-18.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$104 AED 383

$102 AED 374

2.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 AED 241

$86.9 AED 319

-24.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.68 AED 127

$46.06 AED 169

-24.71%

Cinema Ticket

$13.41 AED 49.25

$14.75 AED 54.2

-9.08%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$623 AED 2,288

$851 AED 3,126

-26.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.1K AED 44.5K

$14K AED 51.5K

-13.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 AED 215

$81.2 AED 298

-27.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57 AED 209

$63.6 AED 233

-10.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.2 AED 342

$114 AED 418

-18.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.7 AED 326

$120 AED 439

-25.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,487 AED 5,461

$2,402 AED 8,819

-38.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 AED 4,001

$1,581 AED 5,805

-31.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,109 AED 11.4K

$4,634 AED 17K

-32.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 AED 8,564

$2,929 AED 10.8K

-20.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,483 AED 20.1K

$7,255 AED 26.6K

-24.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$12.1K AED 44.6K

$3,912 AED 14.4K

210.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,147 AED 11.6K

$4,007 AED 14.7K

-21.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.19

4.49

15.59%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Abu Dhabi: November 24, 2025

Last update for Dubai: November 23, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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