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

šŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Abu Dhabi is 13.5% cheaper than Dubai without rent, and 25.2% cheaper with rent.
šŸ™‚ Family of 3: Abu Dhabi is 16.8% cheaper than Dubai without rent, and 18.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
šŸ½ Eating Out
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.84 AEDĀ 39.77
$10.73 AEDĀ 39.37
1.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.7 AEDĀ 249
$82.2 AEDĀ 302
-17.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.31 AEDĀ 34.15
$9.32 AEDĀ 34.21
-0.11%
Cappuccino
$5.85 AEDĀ 21.49
$5.72 AEDĀ 21.01
2.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 AEDĀ 4.66
$1.23 AEDĀ 4.53
3.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 AEDĀ 1.48
$0.94 AEDĀ 3.43
-57.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.78 AEDĀ 39.57
$12.21 AEDĀ 44.81
-11.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.83 AEDĀ 39.75
$13.41 AEDĀ 49.22
-19.24%
šŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 AEDĀ 7.40
$2.01 AEDĀ 7.37
0.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 AEDĀ 5.60
$1.37 AEDĀ 5.02
11.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.41 AEDĀ 8.86
$2.20 AEDĀ 8.09
9.55%
Eggs
$3.68 AEDĀ 13.49
$3.37 AEDĀ 12.38
9.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.64 AEDĀ 39.05
$10.11 AEDĀ 37.09
5.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.49 AEDĀ 31.16
$9.49 AEDĀ 34.81
-10.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.15 AEDĀ 40.92
$12.48 AEDĀ 45.78
-10.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 AEDĀ 8.81
$2.39 AEDĀ 8.78
0.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 AEDĀ 6.42
$1.96 AEDĀ 7.20
-10.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 AEDĀ 6.94
$1.86 AEDĀ 6.84
1.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 AEDĀ 5.52
$1.50 AEDĀ 5.49
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.14 AEDĀ 4.18
$1.18 AEDĀ 4.34
-3.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.40 AEDĀ 5.12
$1.30 AEDĀ 4.78
7.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 AEDĀ 6.52
$1.43 AEDĀ 5.26
24.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 AEDĀ 2.32
$0.69 AEDĀ 2.54
-8.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.36 AEDĀ 23.34
$6.68 AEDĀ 24.50
-4.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.60 AEDĀ 49.90
$18.88 AEDĀ 69.3
-27.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36 AEDĀ 8.66
$2.65 AEDĀ 9.74
-10.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 AEDĀ 7.99
$3.43 AEDĀ 12.59
-36.44%
šŸšŒ Getting Around
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.71 AEDĀ 2.59
$1.60 AEDĀ 5.86
-55.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.02 AEDĀ 95.5
$81.0 AEDĀ 297
-67.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 AEDĀ 12.11
$3.22 AEDĀ 11.80
2.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.55 AEDĀ 2.03
$0.80 AEDĀ 2.92
-31.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.93 AEDĀ 29.12
$8.28 AEDĀ 30.40
-4.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 AEDĀ 2.78
$0.75 AEDĀ 2.75
1.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.1K AEDĀ 165.5K
$32.7K AEDĀ 120.0K
37.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K AEDĀ 83.0K
$22.4K AEDĀ 82.2K
0.95%
šŸ§¾ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$144 AEDĀ 530
$215 AEDĀ 790
-32.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.4 AEDĀ 189
$62.6 AEDĀ 230
-17.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$102 AEDĀ 376
$103 AEDĀ 379
-0.68%
šŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.5 AEDĀ 244
$89.1 AEDĀ 327
-25.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.45 AEDĀ 126
$47.01 AEDĀ 173
-26.72%
Cinema Ticket
$13.77 AEDĀ 50.5
$15.14 AEDĀ 55.6
-9.05%
šŸ§ø Childcare & Education
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$631 AEDĀ 2,315
$834 AEDĀ 3,062
-24.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K AEDĀ 44.6K
$14.5K AEDĀ 53.1K
-16.04%
šŸ‘•šŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 AEDĀ 208
$83.7 AEDĀ 307
-32.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 AEDĀ 209
$62.5 AEDĀ 229
-8.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.5 AEDĀ 343
$112 AEDĀ 411
-16.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.8 AEDĀ 330
$122 AEDĀ 448
-26.41%
šŸ  Accommodation & Living
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,466 AEDĀ 5,381
$2,390 AEDĀ 8,769
-38.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,064 AEDĀ 3,903
$1,560 AEDĀ 5,726
-31.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,018 AEDĀ 11.1K
$4,546 AEDĀ 16.7K
-33.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,262 AEDĀ 8,303
$3,006 AEDĀ 11.0K
-24.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,766 AEDĀ 17.5K
$7,269 AEDĀ 26.7K
-34.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,024 AEDĀ 11.1K
$4,104 AEDĀ 15.1K
-26.32%
šŸ’µ Salaries & Financials
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,603 AEDĀ 9,552
$4,017 AEDĀ 14.7K
-35.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.19
4.49
15.59%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input ā€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Abu Dhabi: March 2, 2026

Last update for Dubai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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