Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubai and Sharjah Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubai and Sharjah

😐 Solo nomad: Dubai is 39.2% more expensive than Sharjah without rent, and 82.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Dubai is 50.2% more expensive than Sharjah without rent, and 100.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.78 AED 39.55

$5.49 AED 20.15

96.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.2 AED 294

$32.23 AED 118

148.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.59 AED 35.21

$9.01 AED 33.06

6.44%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.49 AED 34.82

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.30 AED 34.12

Cappuccino

$5.45 AED 19.98

$4.20 AED 15.42

29.76%

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

$1.19 AED 4.37

$1.01 AED 3.69

17.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 AED 3.22

$0.37 AED 1.36

137.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.21 AED 44.80

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$13.63 AED 50.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 AED 7.12

$1.70 AED 6.25

14.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.37 AED 5.02

$1.14 AED 4.18

20.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 AED 8.14

$1.99 AED 7.31

11.56%

Eggs

$3.30 AED 12.13

$2.82 AED 10.34

17.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.09 AED 37.05

$10.39 AED 38.14

-2.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.20 AED 33.75

$6.72 AED 24.65

36.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.78 AED 46.90

$8.61 AED 31.62

48.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 AED 8.59

$1.86 AED 6.81

25.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 AED 7.11

$1.55 AED 5.70

25.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 AED 7.02

$1.43 AED 5.25

33.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 AED 5.62

$1.21 AED 4.44

26.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 AED 4.36

$1.01 AED 3.70

17.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 AED 4.67

$1.23 AED 4.51

3.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 AED 5.32

$1.44 AED 5.28

0.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 AED 2.52

$0.60 AED 2.22

15.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$15.83 AED 58.1

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 AED 6.88

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 AED 12.15

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.51 AED 23.88

$6.31 AED 23.17

3.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.19 AED 70.4

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 AED 10.05

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 AED 12.64

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.62 AED 5.94

$1.60 AED 5.87

1.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.6 AED 296

$40.64 AED 149

98.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 AED 11.85

$3.63 AED 13.32

-11.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 AED 2.90

$0.71 AED 2.59

11.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.99 AED 29.31

$4.88 AED 17.92

63.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 AED 2.89

$0.78 AED 2.86

1.28%

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

$33.1K AED 121.3K

$45.7K AED 167.8K

-27.70%

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

$22.6K AED 83.0K

$22.4K AED 82.2K

1.00%

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

$215 AED 788

$195 AED 715

10.12%

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

$63.5 AED 233

$66.7 AED 245

-4.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 AED 369

$104 AED 382

-3.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$85.9 AED 315

$62.2 AED 228

38.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.94 AED 169

$37.93 AED 139

21.12%

Cinema Ticket

$15.02 AED 55.1

$13.07 AED 47.97

14.92%

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

$827 AED 3,034

$274 AED 1,006

201.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K AED 52.2K

$6,013 AED 22.1K

136.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.1 AED 305

$51.9 AED 190

60.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.9 AED 235

$97.4 AED 358

-34.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 AED 419

$97.0 AED 356

17.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 AED 453

$80.6 AED 296

53.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,433 AED 8,928

$753 AED 2,762

223.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,555 AED 5,708

$593 AED 2,177

162.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,541 AED 16.7K

$1,651 AED 6,061

174.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,004 AED 11.0K

$1,029 AED 3,776

192.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,123 AED 26.1K

$8,130 AED 29.8K

-12.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,087 AED 15.0K

$2,677 AED 9,824

52.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,901 AED 14.3K

$2,296 AED 8,426

69.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

4.42

1.58%

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

Last update for Dubai: April 12, 2026

Last update for Sharjah: April 13, 2026

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

Dubai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Dubai

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

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