For one person, living is cheaper in Lodz: $1,469 a month against $2,854 in Dubai, rent and utilities included – about $16,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lodz and in Dubai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,469 in Lodz versus $2,854 in Dubai.
Lodz $1,469
Dubai $2,854
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,141 in Lodz versus $4,321 in Dubai.
Lodz $2,141
Dubai $4,321
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,813 in Lodz versus $5,788 in Dubai.
Lodz $2,813
Dubai $5,788
🌍
Living in Lodz costs roughly 49% less than in Dubai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.
📊
Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lodz10% above, Dubai113% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Lodz
Dubai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.77zł 38.19
$13.04AED 47.89
-25.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.41zł 185
$81.4AED 299
-41.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.22zł 36.05
$9.32AED 34.25
-1.07%
Cappuccino
$3.53zł 13.79
$5.97AED 21.93
-40.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77zł 10.81
$1.63AED 5.98
69.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68zł 10.46
$0.81AED 2.99
230.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.49zł 17.54
$13.65AED 50.1
-67.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.00zł 19.54
$13.38AED 49.15
-62.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lodz
Dubai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02zł 3.99
$1.81AED 6.64
-43.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.07zł 4.19
$1.57AED 5.78
-31.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34zł 5.25
$2.49AED 9.16
-46.18%
Eggs
$3.31zł 12.93
$3.28AED 12.04
0.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.76zł 42.07
$12.67AED 46.53
-15.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.06zł 27.58
$9.75AED 35.80
-27.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.96zł 46.74
$13.18AED 48.40
-9.26%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15zł 4.48
$2.61AED 9.57
-55.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67zł 6.54
$1.93AED 7.09
-13.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31zł 9.05
$1.92AED 7.05
20.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.96zł 11.59
$1.36AED 5.00
117.65%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84zł 3.29
$1.17AED 4.29
-28.21%
Onion(1kg)
$0.91zł 3.56
$1.01AED 3.71
-9.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32zł 5.17
$1.51AED 5.56
-12.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59zł 2.29
$0.62AED 2.29
-4.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.78zł 22.59
$5.85AED 21.50
-1.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.72zł 26.25
$16.14AED 59.3
-58.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16zł 4.52
$2.65AED 9.74
-56.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68zł 6.57
$2.95AED 10.82
-43.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Lodz
Dubai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.16zł 4.55
$1.64AED 6.03
-29.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$50.8zł 198
$73.6AED 270
-31.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.57zł 6.14
$3.17AED 11.66
-50.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58zł 2.25
$0.71AED 2.63
-18.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.01zł 35.20
$7.96AED 29.23
13.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.62zł 6.35
$0.99AED 3.64
63.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8Kzł 120.6K
$27.4KAED 100.5K
12.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8Kzł 104.7K
$22.5KAED 82.8K
18.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lodz
Dubai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$309zł 1,206
$250AED 920
23.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.67zł 33.89
$54.2AED 199
-84.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.27zł 67.5
$91.8AED 337
-81.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lodz
Dubai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.49zł 143
$98.6AED 362
-63.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.00zł 70.3
$42.61AED 156
-57.76%
Cinema Ticket
$7.86zł 30.71
$16.03AED 58.9
-50.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lodz
Dubai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$514zł 2,010
$843AED 3,098
-39.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3Kzł 40.1K
$18.3KAED 67.1K
-43.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lodz
Dubai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.5zł 291
$68.0AED 250
9.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.66zł 159
$57.9AED 213
-29.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.0zł 348
$101AED 370
-11.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.2zł 376
$101AED 371
-4.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lodz
Dubai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$599zł 2,343
$2,380AED 8,741
-74.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456zł 1,784
$1,506AED 5,531
-69.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,091zł 4,265
$4,437AED 16.3K
-75.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$810zł 3,167
$3,010AED 11.1K
-73.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,158zł 12.3K
$7,121AED 26.2K
-55.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,374zł 9,278
$4,135AED 15.2K
-42.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lodz
Dubai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,605zł 6,275
$3,391AED 12.5K
-52.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.87
4.54
51.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lodz: October 6, 2026
Last update for Dubai: October 5, 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
Lodz
$456 31.2%
Dubai
$1.5K 52.5% ↑ 230%$1K
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lodz
$335 22.9%
Dubai
$396 13.8% ↑ 18.5%$62
🛒Groceries & Markets
Lodz
$222 15.2%
Dubai
$293 10.2% ↑ 31.8%$71
🍽Eating Out
Lodz
$202 13.8%
Dubai
$309 10.8% ↑ 52.5%$106
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Lodz
$135 9.2%
Dubai
$147 5.1% ↑ 9%$12
🚌Getting Around
Lodz
$60 4.1%
Dubai
$87 3% ↑ 45.1%$27
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Lodz
$52 3.6%
Dubai
$131 4.6% ↑ 150%$78
🏠Accommodation & Living
Lodz
$810 28.4%
Dubai
$3K 50.7% ↑ 272%$2.2K
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lodz
$343 12%
Dubai
$451 7.6% ↑ 31.3%$107
🛒Groceries & Markets
Lodz
$523 18.3%
Dubai
$664 11.2% ↑ 27%$141
🍽Eating Out
Lodz
$632 22.2%
Dubai
$1K 17% ↑ 59.6%$377
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Lodz
$300 10.5%
Dubai
$328 5.5% ↑ 9%$27
🚌Getting Around
Lodz
$122 4.3%
Dubai
$177 3% ↑ 45.1%$55
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Lodz
$122 4.3%
Dubai
$304 5.1% ↑ 148%$182
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $599 in Lodz and $2,380 in Dubai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dubai pays 111% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Lodz vs $81.0 in Dubai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 vs $293 per month, with Lodz cheaper across the board.
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
Lodz vs Dubai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dubai cheaper than Lodz?
Lodz is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 94% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lodz or Dubai?
On paper, salaries run 111% lower in Dubai. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Lodz and Dubai?
Rent for a central apartment: $599 in Lodz versus $2,380 in Dubai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Lodz runs roughly 45% less than in Dubai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $514 in Lodz versus $843 in Dubai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Lodz or in Dubai?
At $1,469 in Lodz versus $2,854 in Dubai, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lodz but tight or insufficient in Dubai. The gap between the two cities makes Lodz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lodz or Dubai more family-friendly?
For families, Lodz is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Dubai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lodz or Dubai?
Safety-wise, Lodz and Dubai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Lodz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 94% less than in Dubai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.