For one person, living is cheaper in Osh: $702 a month against $2,889 in Dubai, rent and utilities included – about $26,200 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 Osh and in Dubai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $702 in Osh versus $2,889 in Dubai.
Osh $702
Dubai $2,889
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,137 in Osh versus $4,444 in Dubai.
Osh $1,137
Dubai $4,444
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,572 in Osh versus $5,999 in Dubai.
Osh $1,572
Dubai $5,999
🌍
Living in Osh costs roughly 76% less than in Dubai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Osh is 48% below, Dubai is 114% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Osh
Dubai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.53KGS 397
$12.94AED 47.54
-64.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.32KGS 2,043
$83.2AED 306
-71.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.00KGS 788
$9.35AED 34.32
-3.74%
Cappuccino
$1.96KGS 171
$5.88AED 21.59
-66.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79KGS 69.2
$1.57AED 5.77
-49.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28KGS 24.83
$0.94AED 3.47
-70.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.17KGS 102
$13.44AED 49.37
-91.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28KGS 112
$13.57AED 49.84
-90.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Osh
Dubai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.85KGS 74.5
$1.86AED 6.83
-54.30%
White Bread(500g)
$0.37KGS 32.51
$1.56AED 5.73
-76.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20KGS 105
$2.64AED 9.68
-54.55%
Eggs
$1.46KGS 128
$3.53AED 12.96
-58.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.75KGS 416
$12.97AED 47.62
-63.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.53KGS 309
$9.94AED 36.51
-64.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.50KGS 657
$12.92AED 47.45
-41.95%
Apples(1kg)
$0.68KGS 59.2
$2.55AED 9.36
-73.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56KGS 137
$2.05AED 7.54
-23.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.26KGS 198
$1.84AED 6.77
22.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.15KGS 101
$1.54AED 5.64
-25.32%
Potato(1kg)
$0.47KGS 40.92
$1.17AED 4.31
-59.83%
Onion(1kg)
$0.44KGS 38.49
$1.02AED 3.76
-56.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60KGS 52.4
$1.57AED 5.75
-61.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68KGS 59.9
$0.67AED 2.46
1.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.10KGS 184
$6.31AED 23.17
-66.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.07KGS 444
$16.16AED 59.4
-68.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13KGS 98.9
$2.58AED 9.48
-56.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70KGS 149
$2.89AED 10.60
-41.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Osh
Dubai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22KGS 19.19
$1.40AED 5.15
-84.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.12KGS 1,061
$82.4AED 303
-85.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.22KGS 19.20
$3.29AED 12.07
-93.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34KGS 29.41
$0.65AED 2.40
-47.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.69KGS 673
$8.13AED 29.84
-5.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95KGS 82.9
$1.00AED 3.68
-5.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2KKGS 1.6M
$26.3KAED 96.6K
-30.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9KKGS 1.5M
$22.0KAED 81.0K
-23.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osh
Dubai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.47KGS 3,370
$239AED 877
-83.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.09KGS 446
$56.9AED 209
-91.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.22KGS 807
$93.9AED 345
-90.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Osh
Dubai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.48KGS 3,983
$90.8AED 334
-49.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.37KGS 1,784
$46.38AED 170
-56.08%
Cinema Ticket
$3.45KGS 302
$16.24AED 59.6
-78.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Osh
Dubai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$170KGS 14.9K
$934AED 3,429
-81.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,909KGS 167.2K
$20.9KAED 76.8K
-90.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Osh
Dubai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.01KGS 1,665
$70.7AED 260
-73.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.54KGS 3,113
$61.3AED 225
-42.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$53.5KGS 4,687
$103AED 377
-47.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.2KGS 4,568
$116AED 426
-55.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Osh
Dubai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$368KGS 32.3K
$2,487AED 9,134
-85.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$274KGS 24.0K
$1,520AED 5,581
-81.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$911KGS 79.8K
$5,234AED 19.2K
-82.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$572KGS 50.1K
$3,028AED 11.1K
-81.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,219KGS 106.8K
$6,982AED 25.6K
-82.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,010KGS 88.5K
$4,433AED 16.3K
-77.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Osh
Dubai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$303KGS 26.5K
$3,553AED 13.0K
-91.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
4.57
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Osh: November 2, 2026
Last update for Dubai: November 2, 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
Osh
$274 39%
Dubai
$1.5K 52.6% ↑ 455%$1.2K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Osh
$137 19.5%
Dubai
$297 10.3% ↑ 117%$160
🍽Eating Out
Osh
$99 14.2%
Dubai
$307 10.6% ↑ 208%$207
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Osh
$72 10.3%
Dubai
$158 5.5% ↑ 119%$86
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osh
$53 7.5%
Dubai
$390 13.5% ↑ 638%$337
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Osh
$52 7.5%
Dubai
$123 4.3% ↑ 135%$71
🚌Getting Around
Osh
$15 2.1%
Dubai
$95 3.3% ↑ 535%$80
🏠Accommodation & Living
Osh
$572 36.4%
Dubai
$3K 50.5% ↑ 430%$2.5K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Osh
$316 20.1%
Dubai
$675 11.2% ↑ 114%$359
🍽Eating Out
Osh
$311 19.8%
Dubai
$1K 16.9% ↑ 226%$703
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Osh
$160 10.2%
Dubai
$351 5.9% ↑ 119%$191
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osh
$58 3.7%
Dubai
$447 7.4% ↑ 672%$389
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Osh
$125 8%
Dubai
$293 4.9% ↑ 134%$168
🚌Getting Around
Osh
$30 1.9%
Dubai
$192 3.2% ↑ 535%$162
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $368 in Osh and $2,487 in Dubai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dubai pays about 12 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $23 in Osh vs $83 in Dubai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $137 vs $297 per month, with Osh 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
Osh vs Dubai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Osh cheaper than Dubai?
Osh is about 76% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Osh or Dubai?
On paper, salaries run 91% lower in Osh. 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 Osh and Dubai?
Rent for a central apartment: $368 in Osh versus $2,487 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 Osh runs roughly 85% less than in Dubai. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $170 in Osh versus $934 in Dubai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $800 a realistic budget for living in Osh or in Dubai?
At $702 in Osh versus $2,889 in Dubai, a $800 budget is realistic in Osh but tight or insufficient in Dubai. The gap between the two cities makes Osh the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Osh or in Dubai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Osh or Dubai?
Safety-wise, Osh and Dubai are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Osh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Dubai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.