Hong Kong
🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)
144
Cost of Living Index in Hong Kong
Learn more Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubai and South Africa
For one person, living is cheaper in South Africa: $1,182 a month against $2,854 in Dubai, rent and utilities included – about $20,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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😐 Solo nomad: Dubai is 62.9% more expensive than South Africa without rent, and 141.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Dubai is 62.6% more expensive than South Africa without rent, and 129.4% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Dubai
South Africa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.04 AED 47.89
$10.64 R 176
22.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.4 AED 299
$41.40 R 683
96.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.32 AED 34.25
$5.60 R 92.4
66.43%
Cappuccino
$5.97 AED 21.93
$2.28 R 37.63
161.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 AED 5.98
$1.16 R 19.17
40.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 AED 2.99
$0.92 R 15.22
-11.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$13.65 AED 50.1
$2.45 R 40.40
457.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$13.38 AED 49.15
$2.95 R 48.69
353.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubai
South Africa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 AED 6.64
$1.19 R 19.63
52.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 AED 5.78
$1.12 R 18.42
40.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.49 AED 9.16
$1.79 R 29.58
39.11%
Eggs
$3.28 AED 12.04
$2.48 R 40.88
32.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.67 AED 46.53
$8.08 R 133
56.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.75 AED 35.80
$5.13 R 84.7
90.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.18 AED 48.40
$7.81 R 129
68.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 AED 9.57
$1.87 R 30.78
39.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.93 AED 7.09
$1.66 R 27.42
16.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 AED 7.05
$1.77 R 29.15
8.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 AED 5.00
$1.80 R 29.67
-24.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 AED 4.29
$1.49 R 24.53
-21.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 AED 3.71
$1.50 R 24.71
-32.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 AED 5.56
$1.28 R 21.16
17.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 AED 2.29
$1.09 R 17.97
-43.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.85 AED 21.50
$3.22 R 53.2
81.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.14 AED 59.3
$4.93 R 81.3
227.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.65 AED 9.74
$1.48 R 24.47
79.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 AED 10.82
$2.01 R 33.09
46.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubai
South Africa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.64 AED 6.03
$1.60 R 26.39
2.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.6 AED 270
$60.7 R 1,001
21.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 AED 11.66
$1.09 R 17.98
190.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.71 AED 2.63
$0.98 R 16.23
-27.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.96 AED 29.23
$7.42 R 122
7.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 AED 3.64
$1.49 R 24.63
-33.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K AED 100.5K
$35.0K R 578.2K
-21.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K AED 82.8K
$31.6K R 521.1K
-28.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubai
South Africa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$250 AED 920
$131 R 2,168
90.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.2 AED 199
$34.71 R 573
56.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$91.8 AED 337
$39.94 R 659
129.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubai
South Africa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 AED 362
$33.88 R 559
191.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.61 AED 156
$11.39 R 188
274.10%
Cinema Ticket
$16.03 AED 58.9
$7.31 R 121
119.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubai
South Africa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$843 AED 3,098
$225 R 3,715
274.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.3K AED 67.1K
$5,485 R 90.5K
232.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubai
South Africa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.0 AED 250
$52.0 R 858
30.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.9 AED 213
$33.30 R 549
73.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 AED 370
$99.4 R 1,640
1.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 AED 371
$87.4 R 1,441
15.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubai
South Africa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,380 AED 8,741
$480 R 7,918
395.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,506 AED 5,531
$406 R 6,692
271.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,437 AED 16.3K
$935 R 15.4K
374.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,010 AED 11.1K
$796 R 13.1K
277.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,121 AED 26.2K
$1,111 R 18.3K
541.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,135 AED 15.2K
$777 R 12.8K
432.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubai
South Africa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,391 AED 12.5K
$1,476 R 24.4K
129.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.54
11.23
-59.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dubai: October 5, 2026
Last update for South Africa: October 3, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Dubai $1.5K 52.5%
South Africa $406 33.6% 73.1% $1.1K
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubai $396 13.8%
South Africa $206 17.1% 48% $190
Eating Out
Dubai $309 10.8%
South Africa $156 12.9% 49.5% $153
Groceries & Markets
Dubai $293 10.2%
South Africa $196 16.2% 33.1% $97
Clothing & Footwear
Dubai $147 5.1%
South Africa $122 10.1% 16.9% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Dubai $131 4.6%
South Africa $49 4% 62.9% $82
Getting Around
Dubai $87 3%
South Africa $73 6.1% 15.9% $14
Accommodation & Living
Dubai $3K 50.7%
South Africa $796 31.3% 73.5% $2.2K
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubai $451 7.6%
South Africa $241 9.5% 46.6% $210
Eating Out
Dubai $1K 17%
South Africa $525 20.6% 47.9% $484
Groceries & Markets
Dubai $664 11.2%
South Africa $453 17.8% 31.8% $211
Clothing & Footwear
Dubai $328 5.5%
South Africa $272 10.7% 16.9% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Dubai $304 5.1%
South Africa $108 4.3% 64.3% $196
Getting Around
Dubai $177 3%
South Africa $149 5.9% 15.7% $28
Good to know
🇦🇪 Dubai
🇿🇦 South Africa
Weather
Population
3,790,000
62,027,503
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Dubai South Africa 6,770 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
- Dubai
- South Africa
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
$2,854
/mo nomad
Mumbai (Bombay)
🇮🇳 India
$769
/mo nomad
Dubai
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
$2,854
/mo nomad
Seoul
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,822
/mo nomad
Dubai
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
$2,854
/mo nomad
Tel Aviv-Yafo
🇮🇱 Israel
$3,627
/mo nomad
Dubai
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
$2,854
/mo nomad
Amman
🇯🇴 Jordan
$1,158
/mo nomad
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