Cost of Living Comparison Between China and United Arab Emirates Cost of Living Comparison Between China and United Arab Emirates

🙂 Solo nomad: China is 52.2% cheaper than United Arab Emirates without rent, and 65.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: China is 50.4% cheaper than United Arab Emirates without rent, and 63.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
United Arab Emirates
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 ¥20.46
$8.22 AED 30.17
-65.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.97 ¥172
$68.7 AED 252
-65.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 ¥35.61
$9.71 AED 35.65
-48.92%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ¥22.47
$5.32 AED 19.54
-41.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.18
$1.12 AED 4.11
-60.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥2.1
$0.54 AED 1.99
-46.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ¥6.83
$11.64 AED 42.75
-91.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ¥15.32
$12.43 AED 45.66
-82.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
United Arab Emirates
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 ¥13.23
$1.89 AED 6.96
-2.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥12.06
$1.44 AED 5.29
16.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ¥6.81
$2.15 AED 7.88
-55.81%
Eggs
$1.55 ¥11.11
$3.23 AED 11.85
-52.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 ¥95.1
$10.44 AED 38.34
26.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.28 ¥23.52
$8.69 AED 31.9
-62.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ¥77.8
$11.63 AED 42.72
-6.71%
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 ¥12.66
$2.23 AED 8.17
-20.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ¥9.01
$1.77 AED 6.5
-28.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.5 ¥10.73
$1.7 AED 6.24
-11.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ¥8.5
$1.44 AED 5.29
-17.36%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.4
$1.08 AED 3.96
-30.56%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ¥6.15
$1.22 AED 4.46
-29.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ¥4.37
$1.57 AED 5.77
-61.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.14
$0.61 AED 2.25
-4.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥24.74
$6.42 AED 23.57
-46.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.3 ¥81.1
$15.13 AED 55.6
-25.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥6
$2.33 AED 8.55
-63.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ¥12.05
$2.88 AED 10.59
-41.67%
🚌 Getting Around
China
United Arab Emirates
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.86
$1.38 AED 5.06
-71.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.83 ¥149
$55.5 AED 204
-62.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.74
$3.25 AED 11.92
-58.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.55
$0.7 AED 2.56
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.8 ¥48.75
$8.32 AED 30.56
-18.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.05
$0.8 AED 2.95
40.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥137.7K
$45K AED 165.1K
-57.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ¥119.8K
$22K AED 81K
-24.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
United Arab Emirates
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.4 ¥369
$182 AED 670
-71.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.77 ¥70.1
$59.8 AED 220
-83.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.34 ¥81.3
$99.6 AED 366
-88.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
United Arab Emirates
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.55 ¥284
$71.1 AED 261
-44.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.89 ¥107
$38.98 AED 143
-61.80%
Cinema Ticket
$6.23 ¥44.71
$13.36 AED 49.06
-53.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
United Arab Emirates
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$417 ¥2,989
$666 AED 2,446
-37.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K ¥126.8K
$12.1K AED 44.5K
45.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
United Arab Emirates
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.65 ¥327
$67 AED 246
-31.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.49 ¥240
$64.6 AED 237
-48.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ¥515
$99.4 AED 365
-27.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9 ¥523
$103 AED 379
-29.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
United Arab Emirates
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$445 ¥3,194
$1,744 AED 6,405
-74.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$255 ¥1,830
$1,196 AED 4,390
-78.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ¥6,566
$3,407 AED 12.5K
-73.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 ¥3,895
$2,472 AED 9,079
-78.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,142 ¥44.1K
$6,645 AED 24.4K
-7.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,860 ¥20.5K
$3,693 AED 13.6K
-22.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
United Arab Emirates
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$942 ¥6,755
$3,154 AED 11.6K
-70.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
4.63
-12.31%

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

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

Last update for United Arab Emirates: October 29, 2025

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