🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,216 in Abu Dhabi versus $2,360 in Oxford, MS.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,511 in Abu Dhabi versus $3,736 in Oxford, MS.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,805 in Abu Dhabi versus $5,112 in Oxford, MS.
🙂Living in Abu Dhabi costs roughly 6% less than in Oxford, MS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Abu Dhabi65% above, Oxford, MS76% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abu Dhabi
Oxford, MS
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.90AED 40.04
$16.74$16.74
-34.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.1AED 246
$54.7$54.7
22.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.47AED 34.76
$9.90$9.90
-4.34%
Cappuccino
$5.75AED 21.11
$4.96$4.96
15.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26AED 4.64
$1.52$1.52
-17.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41AED 1.49
$1.89$1.89
-78.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.76AED 39.52
$4.53$4.53
137.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.91AED 40.06
$6.97$6.97
56.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abu Dhabi
Oxford, MS
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94AED 7.11
$0.97$0.97
100.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.55AED 5.69
$3.23$3.23
-52.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.38AED 8.75
$2.68$2.68
-11.19%
Eggs
$3.56AED 13.07
$3.98$3.98
-10.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.98AED 40.32
$12.52$12.52
-12.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.77AED 32.21
$11.98$11.98
-26.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.27AED 41.37
$15.32$15.32
-26.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.50AED 9.19
$5.82$5.82
-57.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81AED 6.64
$1.62$1.62
11.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89AED 6.94
$3.50$3.50
-46.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49AED 5.49
$4.33$4.33
-65.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13AED 4.15
$3.52$3.52
-67.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40AED 5.13
$1.79$1.79
-21.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.86AED 6.85
$1.80$1.80
3.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59AED 2.17
$1.56$1.56
-62.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.13AED 22.51
$7.54$7.54
-18.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.68AED 50.2
$11.92$11.92
14.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35AED 8.64
$1.70$1.70
38.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17AED 7.96
$3.13$3.13
-30.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Abu Dhabi
Oxford, MS
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.70AED 2.58
$1.97$1.97
-64.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.46AED 93.5
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.31AED 12.15
$4.88$4.88
-32.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52AED 1.93
$1.70$1.70
-69.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.32AED 30.57
$17.83$17.83
-53.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81AED 2.98
$0.74$0.74
9.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.7KAED 167.7K
$20.0K$20.0K
128.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2KAED 81.5K
$26.2K$26.2K
-15.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abu Dhabi
Oxford, MS
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143AED 524
$139$139
2.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.7AED 186
$49.69$49.69
2.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$102AED 373
$68.3$68.3
48.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abu Dhabi
Oxford, MS
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$65.4AED 240
$25.22$25.22
159.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.65AED 127
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.41AED 49.24
$9.10$9.10
47.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abu Dhabi
Oxford, MS
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$640AED 2,352
$1,009$1,009
-36.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.3KAED 45.2K
$8,224$8,224
49.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abu Dhabi
Oxford, MS
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3AED 210
$43.65$43.65
31.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.2AED 210
$36.18$36.18
58.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.0AED 338
$89.2$89.2
3.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3AED 328
$127$127
-29.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abu Dhabi
Oxford, MS
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,473AED 5,409
$1,158$1,158
27.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,101AED 4,042
$1,286$1,286
-14.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,047AED 11.2K
$2,666$2,666
14.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,288AED 8,403
$2,657$2,657
-13.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,700AED 17.3K
$3,291$3,291
42.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,933AED 10.8K
$3,007$3,007
-2.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abu Dhabi
Oxford, MS
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,776AED 10.2K
$2,468$2,468
12.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.19
4.6
12.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Abu Dhabi: May 30, 2026
Last update for Oxford, MS: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,473 in Abu Dhabi and $1,158 in Oxford, MS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Abu Dhabi pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $67.0 in Abu Dhabi vs $55.0 in Oxford, MS. Groceries flip the comparison at $272 vs $365, with Abu Dhabi cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Abu Dhabi vs Oxford, MS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Abu Dhabi or Oxford, MS?
Abu Dhabi wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Oxford, MS. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Abu Dhabi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Abu Dhabi or Oxford, MS?
Abu Dhabi pays 12% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Abu Dhabi vs Oxford, MS?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,473 in Abu Dhabi versus $1,158 in Oxford, MS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Abu Dhabi and Oxford, MS?
Childcare runs $640 in Abu Dhabi versus $1,009 in Oxford, MS. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Abu Dhabi vs Oxford, MS?
Dining out is cheaper in Abu Dhabi – a meal for two runs $67.0 versus $55.0 in Oxford, MS. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Abu Dhabi or Oxford, MS?
At $2,216 in Abu Dhabi versus $2,360 in Oxford, MS, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Abu Dhabi but tight or insufficient in Oxford, MS. The gap between the two cities makes Abu Dhabi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Abu Dhabi or Oxford, MS?
Both work as nomad bases, but Abu Dhabi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,216 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Abu Dhabi hard to pass up.
How safe is Abu Dhabi compared to Oxford, MS?
Safety-wise, Abu Dhabi and Oxford, MS are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Abu Dhabi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Oxford, MS. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.