🙂A single person spends $1,462 per month in Fujairah vs $1,549 in Sharjah, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,397 per month in Fujairah vs $2,243 in Sharjah, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,332 per month in Fujairah vs $2,938 in Sharjah, rent included.
🙂Fujairah is about 6% cheaper than Sharjah, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Fujairah and Sharjah sit above the global median – Fujairah by 9%, Sharjah by 16%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fujairah
Sharjah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.00AED 25.69
$5.55AED 20.36
26.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.28AED 151
$33.18AED 122
24.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.89AED 25.29
$9.36AED 34.36
-26.39%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$9.47AED 34.76
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$9.33AED 34.23
-
Cappuccino
$5.73AED 21.04
$4.25AED 15.60
34.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71AED 2.62
$1.03AED 3.77
-31.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51AED 1.88
$0.35AED 1.28
45.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.72AED 39.35
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.38AED 38.10
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fujairah
Sharjah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66AED 6.08
$1.78AED 6.53
-6.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33AED 4.88
$1.15AED 4.21
15.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72AED 6.31
$2.03AED 7.46
-15.27%
Eggs
$2.22AED 8.15
$2.73AED 10.02
-18.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.72AED 46.67
$10.39AED 38.13
22.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.66AED 28.11
$7.05AED 25.89
8.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.44AED 56.7
$8.87AED 32.56
74.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.22AED 8.16
$1.84AED 6.76
20.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81AED 6.65
$1.49AED 5.47
21.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.48AED 5.44
$1.49AED 5.47
-0.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.28AED 4.68
$1.23AED 4.52
4.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02AED 3.75
$0.99AED 3.64
3.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05AED 3.85
$1.18AED 4.32
-11.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.81AED 6.63
$1.45AED 5.33
24.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50AED 1.82
$0.64AED 2.36
-21.88%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$15.73AED 57.7
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.88AED 6.91
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.42AED 12.54
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.38AED 23.41
$6.27AED 23.01
1.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.40AED 49.18
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.60AED 9.54
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15AED 7.89
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Fujairah
Sharjah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.65AED 6.06
$1.65AED 6.07
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$52.6AED 193
$40.17AED 147
30.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.54AED 5.64
$3.72AED 13.64
-58.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65AED 2.40
$0.70AED 2.56
-7.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.31AED 30.48
$4.91AED 18.03
69.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77AED 2.84
$0.76AED 2.78
1.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.1KAED 165.6K
$45.4KAED 166.6K
-0.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4KAED 82.1K
$22.2KAED 81.5K
0.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fujairah
Sharjah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146AED 537
$194AED 711
-24.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.07AED 162
$66.6AED 244
-33.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$101AED 369
$103AED 379
-2.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fujairah
Sharjah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.52AED 68.0
$63.7AED 234
-70.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.99AED 143
$38.43AED 141
1.46%
Cinema Ticket
$8.80AED 32.30
$12.98AED 47.64
-32.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fujairah
Sharjah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$221AED 809
$272AED 998
-18.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,217AED 19.1K
$6,086AED 22.3K
-14.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fujairah
Sharjah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$118AED 432
$53.0AED 195
121.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.0AED 202
$97.0AED 356
-43.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136AED 499
$97.0AED 356
40.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137AED 504
$81.4AED 299
68.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fujairah
Sharjah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$552AED 2,026
$769AED 2,823
-28.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$410AED 1,503
$602AED 2,208
-31.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,518AED 5,572
$1,635AED 5,999
-7.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,101AED 4,041
$1,023AED 3,756
7.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$8,263AED 30.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,682AED 9,841
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fujairah
Sharjah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,647AED 13.4K
$2,283AED 8,378
59.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.88
4.42
10.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fujairah: April 27, 2026
Last update for Sharjah: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $552 in Fujairah versus $769 in Sharjah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 60% higher in Fujairah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Fujairah versus $33.00 in Sharjah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $265 vs $190 – making Sharjah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Fujairah vs Sharjah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Fujairah and Sharjah compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,462 in Fujairah, $1,549 in Sharjah – roughly 6% apart. Sharjah costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Fujairah compared to Sharjah?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,192 per month in Fujairah and $2,324 in Sharjah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Fujairah and Sharjah?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Fujairah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Fujairah and Sharjah?
Kindergarten costs $221 per month in Fujairah and $272 in Sharjah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 39% cheaper in Sharjah – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fujairah, where all-in costs run around $1,462, than in Sharjah at $1,549. In Fujairah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sharjah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Fujairah and Sharjah?
It depends on your priorities. Sharjah has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,462 in Fujairah to $1,549 in Sharjah. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Fujairah or Sharjah safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Fujairah and Sharjah?
If budget matters most, go with Fujairah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sharjah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.