Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubai and Santa Ana, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubai and Santa Ana, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Dubai is 1.6% more expensive than Santa Ana, CA without rent, and 11% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Dubai is 7.7% cheaper than Santa Ana, CA without rent, and 7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.03 AED 40.49

$18.12 $18.12

-39.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.4 AED 295

$85.6 $85.6

-6.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.3 AED 34.16

$14.81 $14.81

-37.20%

Cappuccino

$5.75 AED 21.12

$4.89 $4.89

17.59%

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

$1.25 AED 4.59

$2.65 $2.65

-52.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 AED 3.45

$2.02 $2.02

-53.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.33 AED 45.28

$7.04 $7.04

75.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$13.56 AED 49.8

$6.88 $6.88

97.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 AED 7.02

$1.06 $1.06

80.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 AED 5.24

$4.09 $4.09

-65.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.28 AED 8.38

$4.69 $4.69

-51.39%

Eggs

$3.31 AED 12.14

$7 $7

-52.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 AED 36.83

$12.23 $12.23

-17.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.45 AED 34.71

$16.26 $16.26

-41.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.46 AED 45.75

$14.62 $14.62

-14.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 AED 8.37

$4.46 $4.46

-48.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 AED 6.94

$1.65 $1.65

14.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 AED 7.02

$4.11 $4.11

-53.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 AED 5.62

$5.55 $5.55

-72.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 AED 4.35

$3.24 $3.24

-63.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 AED 4.68

$2.84 $2.84

-55.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 AED 5.36

$2.03 $2.03

-28.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 AED 2.4

$2.2 $2.2

-70.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.64 AED 24.39

$10.85 $10.85

-38.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.32 AED 70.9

$13.35 $13.35

44.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 AED 10.07

$2 $2

37.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 AED 12.89

$3.59 $3.59

-2.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 AED 6.15

$1.99 $1.99

-16.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$82.2 AED 302

$70.3 $70.3

16.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 AED 12.17

$6.63 $6.63

-50.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.86 AED 3.15

$2.8 $2.8

-69.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.2 AED 30.1

$29.09 $29.09

-71.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 AED 2.69

$1.29 $1.29

-43.41%

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

$33.1K AED 121.6K

$23.6K $23.6K

40.13%

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

$22.4K AED 82.3K

$24.6K $24.6K

-8.92%

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

$219 AED 804

$158 $158

38.57%

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

$61.6 AED 226

$47.35 $47.35

30.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$103 AED 377

$57.8 $57.8

77.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.1 AED 316

$25.19 $25.19

241.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.46 AED 167

$10.14 $10.14

348.32%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 AED 54

$14.15 $14.15

3.96%

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

$834 AED 3,061

$1,198 $1,198

-30.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K AED 52.6K

$23.2K $23.2K

-38.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.5 AED 307

$48.19 $48.19

73.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.5 AED 229

$33.45 $33.45

86.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 AED 408

$84.8 $84.8

31.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 AED 452

$85.4 $85.4

44.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,397 AED 8,802

$2,201 $2,201

8.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,592 AED 5,845

$1,919 $1,919

-17.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,546 AED 16.7K

$2,973 $2,973

52.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,003 AED 11K

$3,251 $3,251

-7.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,221 AED 26.5K

$4,319 $4,319

67.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,843 AED 14.1K

$4,379 $4,379

-12.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,156 AED 15.3K

$3,723 $3,723

11.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

6.58

-31.76%

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

Last update for Dubai: November 30, 2025

Last update for Santa Ana, CA: November 30, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar cities

Toronto

🇨🇦 Canada

Hong Kong

🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)

Munich

🇩🇪 Germany

Sydney

🇦🇺 Australia

Vancouver

🇨🇦 Canada

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Portland, OR

🇺🇸 United States

Rotterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands