Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Ain and Sharjah Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Ain and Sharjah

😐 Solo nomad: Al Ain is 9.4% more expensive than Sharjah without rent, and 0.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Al Ain is 9.6% cheaper than Sharjah without rent, and 9.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Ain
Sharjah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.72 AED 24.65
$5.43 AED 19.93
23.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.9 AED 246
$32.74 AED 120
104.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.21 AED 30.14
$9.29 AED 34.08
-11.63%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$9.78 AED 35.89
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$9.31 AED 34.15
-
Cappuccino
$4.82 AED 17.67
$4.42 AED 16.23
9.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 AED 2.77
$0.94 AED 3.45
-19.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 AED 1.37
$0.35 AED 1.28
5.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.26 AED 30.33
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.97 AED 40.28
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Ain
Sharjah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 AED 6.62
$1.77 AED 6.50
1.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 AED 5.62
$1.15 AED 4.23
33.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.43 AED 8.93
$2.07 AED 7.59
17.39%
Eggs
$3.19 AED 11.71
$2.83 AED 10.40
12.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.65 AED 9.72
$10.41 AED 38.22
-74.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.58 AED 31.49
$6.85 AED 25.14
25.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.75 AED 24.79
$8.87 AED 32.56
-23.90%
Apples (1kg)
$2.38 AED 8.72
$1.86 AED 6.81
27.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 AED 5.90
$1.53 AED 5.63
5.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 AED 4.87
$1.48 AED 5.44
-10.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.81 AED 2.96
$1.17 AED 4.28
-30.77%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 AED 2.60
$0.99 AED 3.65
-28.28%
Onion (1kg)
$0.40 AED 1.46
$1.21 AED 4.46
-66.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.65 AED 6.07
$1.50 AED 5.51
10.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 AED 2.16
$0.59 AED 2.16
-
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$15.37 AED 56.4
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.96 AED 7.18
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.37 AED 12.37
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.29 AED 23.09
$6.47 AED 23.73
-2.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.43 AED 49.29
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 AED 4.88
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 AED 8.22
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Al Ain
Sharjah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 AED 4.10
$1.60 AED 5.89
-30.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.45 AED 89.8
$40.82 AED 150
-40.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.78 AED 10.19
$3.76 AED 13.79
-26.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 AED 1.90
$0.69 AED 2.54
-24.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.30 AED 30.47
$4.76 AED 17.45
74.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.74 AED 2.70
$0.75 AED 2.75
-1.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.2K AED 165.9K
$45.0K AED 165.3K
0.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K AED 83.1K
$21.9K AED 80.5K
3.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Ain
Sharjah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.6 AED 332
$193 AED 709
-53.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.1 AED 184
$65.2 AED 239
-23.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$97.5 AED 358
$103 AED 378
-5.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Ain
Sharjah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.5 AED 200
$63.4 AED 233
-14.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.62 AED 153
$38.02 AED 140
9.47%
Cinema Ticket
$11.37 AED 41.74
$12.68 AED 46.52
-10.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Ain
Sharjah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$626 AED 2,299
$278 AED 1,022
124.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,873 AED 14.2K
$5,966 AED 21.9K
-35.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Ain
Sharjah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.65 AED 79.4
$51.8 AED 190
-58.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8 AED 205
$94.9 AED 348
-41.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 AED 286
$95.6 AED 351
-18.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.9 AED 198
$80.0 AED 294
-32.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Ain
Sharjah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$681 AED 2,501
$769 AED 2,823
-11.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$740 AED 2,718
$589 AED 2,163
25.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,946 AED 18.2K
$1,605 AED 5,889
208.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,248 AED 4,581
$1,016 AED 3,727
22.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,405 AED 8,827
$8,048 AED 29.5K
-70.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,206 AED 4,425
$2,730 AED 10.0K
-55.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Ain
Sharjah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,578 AED 13.1K
$2,443 AED 8,964
46.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.19
4.42
17.42%

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

Last update for Al Ain: March 1, 2026

Last update for Sharjah: March 3, 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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