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

😐 Solo nomad: Al Ain is 3.9% more expensive than Sharjah without rent, and 0.5% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Al Ain is 11.2% more expensive than Sharjah without rent, and 7.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Ain
Sharjah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.73 AED 24.71
$5.49 AED 20.15
22.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68 AED 250
$32.27 AED 119
110.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.37 AED 30.75
$9.27 AED 34.06
-9.71%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$9.65 AED 35.45
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$9.67 AED 35.52
-
Cappuccino
$4.75 AED 17.45
$4.2 AED 15.43
13.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 AED 2.98
$1 AED 3.66
-19.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 AED 1.38
$0.38 AED 1.39
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.19 AED 30.09
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.9 AED 40.03
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Ain
Sharjah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 AED 6.78
$1.75 AED 6.42
5.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 AED 5.38
$1.14 AED 4.17
28.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.43 AED 8.92
$2.06 AED 7.57
17.96%
Eggs
$3.17 AED 11.65
$2.88 AED 10.56
10.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.67 AED 9.81
$10.47 AED 38.45
-74.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.59 AED 31.53
$6.69 AED 24.56
28.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.72 AED 24.68
$8.55 AED 31.4
-21.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 AED 8.78
$1.91 AED 7
25.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 AED 6.07
$1.51 AED 5.54
9.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 AED 4.87
$1.43 AED 5.26
-6.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.79 AED 2.9
$1.17 AED 4.29
-32.48%
Potato (1kg)
$0.7 AED 2.59
$1.03 AED 3.79
-32.04%
Onion (1kg)
$0.42 AED 1.54
$1.23 AED 4.51
-65.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.58 AED 5.81
$1.46 AED 5.34
8.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 AED 2.16
$0.63 AED 2.32
-6.35%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$6.93 AED 25.46
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.9 AED 6.96
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.33 AED 12.23
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.45 AED 23.67
$6.57 AED 24.12
-1.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.53 AED 49.67
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 AED 5.12
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 AED 8.15
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Al Ain
Sharjah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.11 AED 4.07
$1.68 AED 6.16
-33.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.95 AED 91.6
$40.78 AED 150
-38.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.7 AED 9.92
$3.66 AED 13.44
-26.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 AED 2.08
$0.7 AED 2.57
-18.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.33 AED 30.58
$4.95 AED 18.18
68.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 AED 2.79
$0.77 AED 2.81
-1.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.8K AED 164.5K
$44.6K AED 163.6K
0.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K AED 82.4K
$22.3K AED 81.7K
0.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Ain
Sharjah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.2 AED 335
$200 AED 733
-54.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.5 AED 186
$65.3 AED 240
-22.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$97 AED 356
$102 AED 374
-4.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Ain
Sharjah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 AED 194
$63.4 AED 233
-16.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.58 AED 149
$37.73 AED 139
7.55%
Cinema Ticket
$11.33 AED 41.6
$12.91 AED 47.4
-12.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Ain
Sharjah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$625 AED 2,296
$276 AED 1,014
126.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,882 AED 14.3K
$6,169 AED 22.7K
-37.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Ain
Sharjah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.04 AED 80.9
$53.1 AED 195
-58.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 AED 203
$97.2 AED 357
-43.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 AED 295
$95.6 AED 351
-15.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.8 AED 197
$81.1 AED 298
-33.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Ain
Sharjah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$665 AED 2,440
$762 AED 2,798
-12.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$736 AED 2,702
$606 AED 2,224
21.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,088 AED 18.7K
$1,603 AED 5,885
217.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 AED 4,474
$1,018 AED 3,737
19.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,055 AED 7,545
$10.3K AED 37.9K
-80.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,222 AED 4,486
$8,050 AED 29.6K
-84.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Ain
Sharjah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,339 AED 12.3K
$2,284 AED 8,387
46.20%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Sharjah: October 28, 2025

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