Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubai and Modesto, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubai and Modesto, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Dubai is 4.2% cheaper than Modesto, CA without rent, and 7.3% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Dubai is 11.5% cheaper than Modesto, CA without rent, and 6.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.03 AED 40.49

$14.96 $14.96

-26.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.4 AED 295

$78.7 $78.7

2.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.3 AED 34.16

$8.8 $8.8

5.68%

Cappuccino

$5.75 AED 21.12

$5.52 $5.52

4.17%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.25 AED 4.59

$2.58 $2.58

-51.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 AED 3.45

$1.65 $1.65

-43.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.33 AED 45.28

$4.97 $4.97

148.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$13.56 AED 49.8

$7.06 $7.06

92.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 AED 7.02

$1.09 $1.09

75.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 AED 5.24

$3.52 $3.52

-59.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.28 AED 8.38

$3.32 $3.32

-31.33%

Eggs

$3.31 AED 12.14

$4.79 $4.79

-30.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 AED 36.83

$12.99 $12.99

-22.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.45 AED 34.71

$14.86 $14.86

-36.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.46 AED 45.75

$19.43 $19.43

-35.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 AED 8.37

$6.21 $6.21

-63.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 AED 6.94

$2.51 $2.51

-24.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 AED 7.02

$4.98 $4.98

-61.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 AED 5.62

$6.58 $6.58

-76.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 AED 4.35

$3.47 $3.47

-65.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 AED 4.68

$4.47 $4.47

-71.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 AED 5.36

$2.94 $2.94

-50.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 AED 2.4

$2.83 $2.83

-77.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.64 AED 24.39

$10.04 $10.04

-33.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.32 AED 70.9

$15.05 $15.05

28.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 AED 10.07

$1.92 $1.92

42.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 AED 12.89

$3.35 $3.35

4.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 AED 6.15

$1.97 $1.97

-15.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$82.2 AED 302

$39.32 $39.32

108.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 AED 12.17

$3.58 $3.58

-7.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.86 AED 3.15

$1.97 $1.97

-56.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.2 AED 30.1

$29.59 $29.59

-72.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 AED 2.69

$1.24 $1.24

-41.13%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.1K AED 121.6K

$27.2K $27.2K

21.69%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.4K AED 82.3K

$26.6K $26.6K

-15.86%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$219 AED 804

$294 $294

-25.53%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$61.6 AED 226

$49.36 $49.36

24.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$103 AED 377

$64.1 $64.1

60.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.1 AED 316

$41.7 $41.7

106.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.46 AED 167

$14.77 $14.77

207.79%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 AED 54

$10.96 $10.96

34.22%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$834 AED 3,061

$2,005 $2,005

-58.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K AED 52.6K

$26.5K $26.5K

-45.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.5 AED 307

$49.29 $49.29

69.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.5 AED 229

$39.75 $39.75

57.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 AED 408

$88.3 $88.3

25.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 AED 452

$132 $132

-6.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,397 AED 8,802

$1,427 $1,427

67.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,592 AED 5,845

$1,277 $1,277

24.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,546 AED 16.7K

$2,422 $2,422

87.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,003 AED 11K

$2,461 $2,461

22.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,221 AED 26.5K

$3,263 $3,263

121.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,843 AED 14.1K

$3,153 $3,153

21.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,156 AED 15.3K

$3,996 $3,996

4.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

6.51

-31.03%

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

Last update for Dubai: November 30, 2025

Last update for Modesto, CA: November 30, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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