Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Ain and Abu Dhabi Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Ain and Abu Dhabi

🙂 Solo nomad: Al Ain is 17.4% cheaper than Abu Dhabi without rent, and 28.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Al Ain is 15.6% cheaper than Abu Dhabi without rent, and 30.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Ain
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.73 AED 24.71
$10.91 AED 40.05
-38.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68 AED 250
$67.5 AED 248
0.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.37 AED 30.75
$9.26 AED 33.99
-9.61%
Cappuccino
$4.75 AED 17.45
$5.86 AED 21.53
-18.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 AED 2.98
$1.27 AED 4.65
-36.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 AED 1.38
$0.44 AED 1.61
-13.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.19 AED 30.09
$10.7 AED 39.28
-23.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.9 AED 40.03
$10.85 AED 39.84
0.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Ain
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 AED 6.78
$1.94 AED 7.14
-4.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 AED 5.38
$1.55 AED 5.71
-5.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.43 AED 8.92
$2.46 AED 9.04
-1.22%
Eggs
$3.17 AED 11.65
$3.63 AED 13.33
-12.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.67 AED 9.81
$10.86 AED 39.89
-75.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.59 AED 31.53
$8.52 AED 31.29
0.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.72 AED 24.68
$11.11 AED 40.79
-39.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 AED 8.78
$2.39 AED 8.76
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 AED 6.07
$1.74 AED 6.4
-5.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 AED 4.87
$1.88 AED 6.91
-29.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.79 AED 2.9
$1.51 AED 5.53
-47.68%
Potato (1kg)
$0.7 AED 2.59
$1.17 AED 4.31
-40.17%
Onion (1kg)
$0.42 AED 1.54
$1.37 AED 5.03
-69.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.58 AED 5.81
$1.78 AED 6.52
-11.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 AED 2.16
$0.59 AED 2.15
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.45 AED 23.67
$6.22 AED 22.86
3.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.53 AED 49.67
$13.47 AED 49.45
0.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 AED 5.12
$2.29 AED 8.42
-39.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 AED 8.15
$2.16 AED 7.94
2.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Ain
Abu Dhabi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.11 AED 4.07
$0.7 AED 2.55
58.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.95 AED 91.6
$26 AED 95.5
-4.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.7 AED 9.92
$3.31 AED 12.14
-18.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 AED 2.08
$0.56 AED 2.07
1.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.33 AED 30.58
$8.41 AED 30.9
-0.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 AED 2.79
$0.76 AED 2.78
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.8K AED 164.5K
$45.1K AED 165.6K
-0.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K AED 82.4K
$22.4K AED 82.1K
0.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Ain
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.2 AED 335
$141 AED 518
-35.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.5 AED 186
$51.9 AED 191
-2.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$97 AED 356
$102 AED 374
-4.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Ain
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 AED 194
$64.4 AED 237
-17.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.58 AED 149
$34.84 AED 128
16.48%
Cinema Ticket
$11.33 AED 41.6
$13.57 AED 49.84
-16.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Ain
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$625 AED 2,296
$628 AED 2,308
-0.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,882 AED 14.3K
$12.4K AED 45.4K
-68.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Ain
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.04 AED 80.9
$58.4 AED 214
-62.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 AED 203
$56.3 AED 207
-1.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 AED 295
$92.4 AED 339
-13.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.8 AED 197
$90.9 AED 334
-40.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Ain
Abu Dhabi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$665 AED 2,440
$1,492 AED 5,477
-55.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$736 AED 2,702
$1,079 AED 3,964
-31.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,088 AED 18.7K
$2,994 AED 11K
69.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 AED 4,474
$2,341 AED 8,597
-47.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,055 AED 7,545
$5,479 AED 20.1K
-62.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,222 AED 4,486
$12.2K AED 44.8K
-89.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Ain
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,339 AED 12.3K
$3,127 AED 11.5K
6.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.19
5.19
-

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

Last update for Al Ain: October 28, 2025

Last update for Abu Dhabi: October 29, 2025

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