Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubai and Ruwais Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubai and Ruwais

😐 Solo nomad: Dubai is 27.3% more expensive than Ruwais without rent, and 74.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Dubai is 48.2% more expensive than Ruwais without rent, and 75.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubai
Ruwais
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.73 AED 39.37
$6.60 AED 24.22
62.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.2 AED 302
$37.78 AED 139
117.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.32 AED 34.21
$7.70 AED 28.27
21.04%
Cappuccino
$5.72 AED 21.01
$4.75 AED 17.44
20.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 AED 4.53
$0.82 AED 2.99
50.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 AED 3.43
$0.35 AED 1.28
168.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.21 AED 44.81
$10.74 AED 39.41
13.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$13.41 AED 49.22
$9.94 AED 36.47
34.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubai
Ruwais
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.01 AED 7.37
$1.85 AED 6.80
8.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.37 AED 5.02
$1.48 AED 5.45
-7.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 AED 8.09
$1.86 AED 6.81
18.28%
Eggs
$3.37 AED 12.38
$3.24 AED 11.87
4.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.11 AED 37.09
$2.74 AED 10.05
268.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.49 AED 34.81
$7.78 AED 28.57
21.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.48 AED 45.78
$6.63 AED 24.35
88.24%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 AED 8.78
$2.83 AED 10.40
-15.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.96 AED 7.20
$1.66 AED 6.09
18.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 AED 6.84
$1.34 AED 4.91
38.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 AED 5.49
$0.79 AED 2.89
89.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.18 AED 4.34
$0.71 AED 2.60
66.20%
Onion (1kg)
$1.30 AED 4.78
$0.42 AED 1.55
209.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.43 AED 5.26
$1.66 AED 6.08
-13.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 AED 2.54
$0.67 AED 2.45
2.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.68 AED 24.50
$6.62 AED 24.31
0.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 AED 69.3
$13.75 AED 50.5
37.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.65 AED 9.74
$1.39 AED 5.09
90.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 AED 12.59
$2.77 AED 10.16
23.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubai
Ruwais
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.60 AED 5.86
$1.62 AED 5.94
-1.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.0 AED 297
$52.7 AED 193
53.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.22 AED 11.80
$2.76 AED 10.12
16.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 AED 2.92
$0.70 AED 2.56
14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.28 AED 30.40
$8.33 AED 30.58
-0.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 AED 2.75
$0.79 AED 2.90
-5.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K AED 120.0K
$45.7K AED 167.7K
-28.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K AED 82.2K
$22.5K AED 82.6K
-0.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubai
Ruwais
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$215 AED 790
$91.1 AED 334
136.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.6 AED 230
$53.9 AED 198
16.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$103 AED 379
$97.6 AED 358
5.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubai
Ruwais
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$89.1 AED 327
$63.6 AED 233
40.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.01 AED 173
$38.92 AED 143
20.79%
Cinema Ticket
$15.14 AED 55.6
$11.41 AED 41.88
32.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubai
Ruwais
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$834 AED 3,062
$586 AED 2,151
42.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.5K AED 53.1K
$3,811 AED 14.0K
279.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubai
Ruwais
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.7 AED 307
$21.41 AED 78.6
291.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.5 AED 229
$81.1 AED 298
-22.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 AED 411
$80.6 AED 296
39.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 AED 448
$53.5 AED 196
128.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubai
Ruwais
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,390 AED 8,769
$737 AED 2,703
224.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,560 AED 5,726
$757 AED 2,777
106.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,546 AED 16.7K
$2,535 AED 9,304
79.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,006 AED 11.0K
$1,375 AED 5,046
118.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,269 AED 26.7K
$5,442 AED 20.0K
33.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,104 AED 15.1K
$2,428 AED 8,912
69.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubai
Ruwais
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,017 AED 14.7K
$2,744 AED 10.1K
46.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.49
4.71
-4.67%

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

Last update for Dubai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Ruwais: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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