Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cox's Bazar and Dubai

For one person, living is cheaper in Cox’s Bazar: $347 a month against $2,889 in Dubai, rent and utilities included – about $30,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Cox's Bazar
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$347
/mo nomad
Dubai
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
$2,889
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cox's Bazar and in Dubai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cox's Bazar and in Dubai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $347 in Cox’s Bazar versus $2,889 in Dubai.

  • Cox's Bazar $347
  • Dubai $2,889

Estimated couple costs with rent: $558 in Cox’s Bazar versus $4,444 in Dubai.

  • Cox's Bazar $558
  • Dubai $4,444

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $768 in Cox’s Bazar versus $5,999 in Dubai.

  • Cox's Bazar $768
  • Dubai $5,999

Living in Cox’s Bazar costs roughly 88% less than in Dubai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cox’s Bazar is 74% below, Dubai is 114% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cox's Bazar
Dubai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.57 ৳196
$12.94 AED 47.54
-87.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.19 ৳1,522
$83.2 AED 306
-85.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.02 ৳377
$9.35 AED 34.32
-67.70%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.64 ৳329
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 ৳294
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.90 ৳237
$5.88 AED 21.60
-67.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ৳44.79
$1.57 AED 5.77
-77.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.11 ৳14.14
$0.94 AED 3.47
-88.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$13.44 AED 49.38
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$13.57 AED 49.84
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cox's Bazar
Dubai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.75 ৳93.5
$1.86 AED 6.83
-59.68%
White Bread (500g)
$0.49 ৳61.3
$1.56 AED 5.73
-68.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.67 ৳83.5
$2.64 AED 9.68
-74.62%
Eggs
$0.99 ৳124
$3.53 AED 12.96
-71.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.40 ৳924
$12.97 AED 47.62
-42.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.05 ৳256
$9.94 AED 36.51
-79.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.32 ৳913
$12.92 AED 47.45
-43.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 ৳289
$2.55 AED 9.36
-9.41%
Banana (1kg)
$0.90 ৳112
$2.05 AED 7.54
-56.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.59 ৳198
$1.84 AED 6.77
-13.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.56 ৳69.9
$1.54 AED 5.64
-63.64%
Potato (1kg)
$0.43 ৳53.6
$1.17 AED 4.31
-63.25%
Onion (1kg)
$0.62 ৳77.5
$1.02 AED 3.76
-39.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.46 ৳57.2
$1.57 AED 5.75
-70.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 ৳37.34
$0.67 AED 2.46
-55.22%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$7.85 ৳980
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 ৳323
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.50 ৳562
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90 ৳237
$6.31 AED 23.17
-69.89%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$16.16 AED 59.4
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.58 AED 9.48
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.89 AED 10.60
-
🚌 Getting Around
Cox's Bazar
Dubai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.40 AED 5.15
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$82.4 AED 303
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.27 ৳33.30
$3.29 AED 12.07
-91.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 ৳42.86
$0.65 AED 2.40
-47.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.10 ৳512
$8.13 AED 29.84
-49.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ৳147
$1.00 AED 3.68
18.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K ৳4.0M
$26.3K AED 96.6K
23.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7K ৳4.2M
$22.0K AED 81.0K
52.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cox's Bazar
Dubai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$11.88 ৳1,483
$239 AED 877
-95.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.58 ৳322
$56.9 AED 209
-95.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.10 ৳1,386
$93.9 AED 345
-88.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cox's Bazar
Dubai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.89 ৳1,983
$90.8 AED 334
-82.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.98 ৳497
$46.38 AED 170
-91.42%
Cinema Ticket
$2.40 ৳300
$16.24 AED 59.6
-85.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cox's Bazar
Dubai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$24.11 ৳3,010
$934 AED 3,429
-97.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,426 ৳177.9K
$20.9K AED 76.8K
-93.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cox's Bazar
Dubai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.75 ৳2,840
$70.7 AED 260
-67.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.80 ৳2,221
$61.3 AED 225
-70.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$32.80 ৳4,094
$103 AED 377
-68.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.11 ৳4,382
$116 AED 426
-69.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cox's Bazar
Dubai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$161 ৳20.0K
$2,487 AED 9,134
-93.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$96.5 ৳12.0K
$1,520 AED 5,581
-93.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$299 ৳37.3K
$5,234 AED 19.2K
-94.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$164 ৳20.4K
$3,028 AED 11.1K
-94.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$347 ৳43.3K
$6,982 AED 25.6K
-95.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$257 ৳32.1K
$4,433 AED 16.3K
-94.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cox's Bazar
Dubai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$280 ৳34.9K
$3,553 AED 13.0K
-92.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.5
4.57
151.64%

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

Last update for Cox's Bazar: November 1, 2026

Last update for Dubai: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Cox's Bazar
$108
Dubai
$297 177% $190
Accommodation & Living
Cox's Bazar
$97
Dubai
$1.5K 1474% $1.4K
Clothing & Footwear
Cox's Bazar
$49
Dubai
$158 224% $109
Eating Out
Cox's Bazar
$46
Dubai
$307 562% $260
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cox's Bazar
$26
Dubai
$390 1424% $364
Sport & Entertainment
Cox's Bazar
$21
Dubai
$123 496% $103
Getting Around
Cox's Bazar
$2 *
Dubai
$95 4677% $93

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $161 in Cox’s Bazar and $2,487 in Dubai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dubai pays about 13 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $12 in Cox’s Bazar vs $83 in Dubai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $107 vs $297 per month, with Cox’s Bazar cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇩 Cox's Bazar
🇦🇪 Dubai
🕒 Local time
18:53 6:53 PM
16:53 4:53 PM
2 h behind Cox's Bazar
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
223,522
3,790,000
💱 Currency
UAE Dirham AED د.إ
Exchange rates and currency converter

AED, USD, EUR to BDT – Bangladeshi Taka Converter

Bangladeshi Taka exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 125 BDT (1,000 BDT = 8.01 USD). 1 EUR = 140 BDT (1,000 BDT = 7.13 EUR).

UAE Dirham exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3.67 AED (1 AED = 0.272 USD). 1 EUR = 4.12 AED (1 AED = 0.242 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cox's Bazar Dubai 3,770 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cox's Bazar
  • Dubai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Cox's Bazar vs Dubai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Cox’s Bazar and in Dubai?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $347 in Cox’s Bazar and $2,889 in Dubai, so Cox’s Bazar is about 88% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 92% lower in Cox’s Bazar. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Cox’s Bazar and in Dubai?
Rent for a central apartment: $161 in Cox’s Bazar versus $2,487 in Dubai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 177% higher in Dubai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Cox’s Bazar or Dubai?
All in, you’ll spend $347 per month in Cox’s Bazar versus $2,889 in Dubai – Cox’s Bazar is about 88% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $347 in Cox’s Bazar versus $2,889 in Dubai, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Cox’s Bazar but tight or insufficient in Dubai. The gap between the two cities makes Cox’s Bazar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Cox’s Bazar and Dubai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How do I decide between Cox’s Bazar and Dubai?
It comes down to priorities – Cox’s Bazar wins on affordability, Dubai on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Cox's Bazar vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?