😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,050 in Dibba Al-Fujairah versus $1,806 in Ras al-Khaimah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,588 in Dibba Al-Fujairah versus $2,813 in Ras al-Khaimah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,126 in Dibba Al-Fujairah versus $3,820 in Ras al-Khaimah.
🌍Living in Dibba Al-Fujairah is roughly 13% more expensive than in Ras al-Khaimah, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dibba Al-Fujairah49% above, Ras al-Khaimah31% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dibba Al-Fujairah
Ras al-Khaimah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.61AED 24.26
$13.78AED 50.6
-52.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.9AED 305
$40.42AED 148
105.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.02AED 29.46
$7.60AED 27.93
5.53%
Cappuccino
$6.33AED 23.26
$5.64AED 20.73
12.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78AED 2.88
$1.10AED 4.04
-29.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28AED 1.03
$0.44AED 1.63
-36.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.36AED 49.08
$10.37AED 38.08
28.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$13.78AED 50.6
$9.25AED 33.96
48.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dibba Al-Fujairah
Ras al-Khaimah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33AED 4.87
$1.65AED 6.05
-19.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.06AED 3.91
$2.01AED 7.40
-47.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.44AED 8.95
$1.94AED 7.13
25.77%
Eggs
$2.19AED 8.06
$2.38AED 8.73
-7.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.60AED 46.29
$12.67AED 46.52
-0.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.66AED 24.48
$9.56AED 35.12
-30.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.73AED 24.73
$15.80AED 58.0
-57.41%
Apples(1kg)
$1.61AED 5.92
$2.08AED 7.65
-22.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39AED 5.10
$1.65AED 6.06
-15.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93AED 7.10
$1.54AED 5.67
25.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.40AED 5.13
$1.37AED 5.03
2.19%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79AED 2.89
$0.93AED 3.43
-15.05%
Onion(1kg)
$0.85AED 3.11
$0.88AED 3.23
-3.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37AED 5.04
$1.75AED 6.42
-21.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55AED 2.02
$0.47AED 1.71
17.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.00AED 22.05
$6.92AED 25.41
-13.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.60AED 61.0
$13.72AED 50.4
20.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79AED 10.24
$2.64AED 9.70
5.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66AED 9.77
$2.91AED 10.70
-8.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Dibba Al-Fujairah
Ras al-Khaimah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.51AED 9.20
$2.21AED 8.11
13.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.14AED 166
$115AED 421
-60.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.12AED 4.12
$1.64AED 6.01
-31.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68AED 2.50
$0.81AED 2.96
-16.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.09AED 29.71
$8.24AED 30.25
-1.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.69AED 2.54
$0.82AED 3.01
-15.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KAED 100.8K
$45.7KAED 167.9K
-39.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1KAED 81.3K
$21.7KAED 79.6K
2.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dibba Al-Fujairah
Ras al-Khaimah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$248AED 911
$122AED 447
103.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.7AED 194
$45.02AED 165
17.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.1AED 298
$77.6AED 285
4.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dibba Al-Fujairah
Ras al-Khaimah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.8AED 208
$56.6AED 208
0.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.70AED 109
$40.55AED 149
-26.76%
Cinema Ticket
$16.18AED 59.4
$13.12AED 48.20
23.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dibba Al-Fujairah
Ras al-Khaimah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$839AED 3,083
$298AED 1,093
182.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,810AED 21.3K
$4,580AED 16.8K
26.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dibba Al-Fujairah
Ras al-Khaimah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.4AED 281
$82.1AED 301
-6.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.3AED 210
$52.5AED 193
9.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102AED 375
$118AED 432
-13.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101AED 370
$117AED 428
-13.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dibba Al-Fujairah
Ras al-Khaimah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$803AED 2,948
$732AED 2,689
9.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$909AED 3,338
$644AED 2,364
41.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,815AED 6,668
$1,660AED 6,096
9.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,709AED 9,949
$1,274AED 4,679
112.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,367AED 16.0K
$4,857AED 17.8K
-10.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,311AED 8,488
$1,953AED 7,173
18.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dibba Al-Fujairah
Ras al-Khaimah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,603AED 5,887
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.54
4.92
-7.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dibba Al-Fujairah: September 5, 2026
Last update for Ras al-Khaimah: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $803 in Dibba Al-Fujairah and $732 in Ras al-Khaimah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $83.0 in Dibba Al-Fujairah vs $40.00 in Ras al-Khaimah. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $284, with Dibba Al-Fujairah cheaper for home cooking.
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
Dibba Al-Fujairah vs Ras al-Khaimah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Dibba Al-Fujairah and in Ras al-Khaimah?
Dibba Al-Fujairah and Ras al-Khaimah differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($2,050 vs $1,806 including rent). Ras al-Khaimah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Dibba Al-Fujairah compared to Ras al-Khaimah?
You'd need roughly $3,075 in Dibba Al-Fujairah and $2,710 in Ras al-Khaimah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Dibba Al-Fujairah and in Ras al-Khaimah?
Rent for a central apartment: $803 in Dibba Al-Fujairah versus $732 in Ras al-Khaimah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Dibba Al-Fujairah and in Ras al-Khaimah?
A monthly transit pass in Ras al-Khaimah runs roughly 154% less than in Dibba Al-Fujairah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Dibba Al-Fujairah and Ras al-Khaimah?
Childcare runs $839 in Dibba Al-Fujairah versus $298 in Ras al-Khaimah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,806 in Ras al-Khaimah versus $2,050 in Dibba Al-Fujairah, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Ras al-Khaimah but tight or insufficient in Dibba Al-Fujairah. The gap between the two cities makes Ras al-Khaimah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Dibba Al-Fujairah and Ras al-Khaimah?
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.
Is Dibba Al-Fujairah or Ras al-Khaimah safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Dibba Al-Fujairah and Ras al-Khaimah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Dibba Al-Fujairah or Ras al-Khaimah?
Expats usually find Ras al-Khaimah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Dibba Al-Fujairah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Dibba Al-Fujairah vs other spots: cost of living compared