Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Oxford, MS and Abu Dhabi

For one person, living is cheaper in Oxford, MS: $2,363 a month against $2,594 in Abu Dhabi, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Oxford, MS
🇺🇸 United States
$2,363
/mo nomad
Abu Dhabi
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
$2,594
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Oxford, MS and in Abu Dhabi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Oxford, MS and in Abu Dhabi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,363 in Oxford, MS versus $2,594 in Abu Dhabi.

  • Oxford, MS $2,363
  • Abu Dhabi $2,594

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,967 in Oxford, MS versus $3,892 in Abu Dhabi.

  • Oxford, MS $3,967
  • Abu Dhabi $3,892

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,570 in Oxford, MS versus $5,191 in Abu Dhabi.

  • Oxford, MS $5,570
  • Abu Dhabi $5,191

Living in Oxford, MS costs roughly 9% less than in Abu Dhabi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Oxford, MS 75% above, Abu Dhabi 92% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oxford, MS
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.78 $16.78
$8.24 AED 30.27
103.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.1 $61.1
$55.2 AED 203
10.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.95 $10.95
$9.79 AED 35.94
11.85%
Cappuccino
$4.91 $4.91
$6.01 AED 22.06
-18.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.16 AED 4.27
33.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$0.44 AED 1.61
329.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.56 $4.56
$11.64 AED 42.76
-60.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10 $7.10
$11.69 AED 42.93
-39.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oxford, MS
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$2.00 AED 7.33
-57.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.04 $3.04
$1.59 AED 5.85
91.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.37 AED 8.71
12.66%
Eggs
$4.07 $4.07
$3.52 AED 12.93
15.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.52 $9.52
$11.75 AED 43.17
-18.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 $9.65
$9.54 AED 35.05
1.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 $13.96
$10.31 AED 37.88
35.40%
Apples (1kg)
$3.81 $3.81
$2.45 AED 9.01
55.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 $1.38
$2.06 AED 7.56
-33.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.47 $3.47
$1.82 AED 6.67
90.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.95 $2.95
$1.58 AED 5.79
86.71%
Potato (1kg)
$2.62 $2.62
$1.19 AED 4.38
120.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.25 $2.25
$1.20 AED 4.40
87.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.63 AED 5.98
11.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$0.58 AED 2.13
225.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.52 $7.52
$6.47 AED 23.77
16.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.80 $11.80
$13.79 AED 50.7
-14.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 $1.67
$2.65 AED 9.75
-36.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 $3.27
$2.47 AED 9.08
32.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Oxford, MS
Abu Dhabi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.65 AED 2.40
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.37 AED 96.9
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.22 AED 11.82
36.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 $1.88
$0.57 AED 2.08
229.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.93 $32.93
$8.00 AED 29.38
311.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.74 $0.74
$0.97 AED 3.57
-23.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K $34.3K
$30.3K AED 111.4K
13.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$21.9K AED 80.4K
16.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oxford, MS
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$139 $139
$192 AED 704
-27.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.28 $49.28
$55.6 AED 204
-11.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.1 $68.1
$89.2 AED 327
-23.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oxford, MS
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.35 $25.35
$95.0 AED 349
-73.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$44.34 AED 163
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.80 $11.80
$14.90 AED 54.7
-20.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oxford, MS
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,540 $1,540
$787 AED 2,889
95.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,530 $8,530
$14.6K AED 53.5K
-41.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oxford, MS
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 $62.4
$62.0 AED 228
0.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.0 $53.0
$49.77 AED 183
6.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.7 $85.7
$112 AED 413
-23.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$167 $167
$109 AED 399
53.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oxford, MS
Abu Dhabi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,293 $1,293
$1,947 AED 7,152
-33.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,279 $1,279
$1,414 AED 5,193
-9.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,116 $3,116
$3,923 AED 14.4K
-20.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,167 $3,167
$2,700 AED 9,917
17.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,335 $3,335
$5,045 AED 18.5K
-33.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,991 $2,991
$2,868 AED 10.5K
4.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oxford, MS
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,839 $4,839
$2,823 AED 10.4K
71.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.65
4.55
46.15%

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

Last update for Oxford, MS: October 10, 2026

Last update for Abu Dhabi: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Oxford, MS
$1.3K
Abu Dhabi
$1.4K 10.5% $135
Groceries & Markets
Oxford, MS
$321
Abu Dhabi
$278 13.4% $43
Eating Out
Oxford, MS
$277
Abu Dhabi
$255 7.7% $21
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oxford, MS
$257
Abu Dhabi
$337 31.1% $80
Clothing & Footwear
Oxford, MS
$166
Abu Dhabi
$150 9.7% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Oxford, MS
$49
Abu Dhabi
$125 155% $76
Getting Around
Oxford, MS
$14 *
Abu Dhabi
$35 154% $21

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,293 in Oxford, MS and $1,947 in Abu Dhabi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Oxford, MS pays 71% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $61.0 in Oxford, MS vs $55.0 in Abu Dhabi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $278 per month, with Abu Dhabi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Oxford, MS
🇦🇪 Abu Dhabi
🕒 Local time
07:35 7:35 AM
16:35 4:35 PM
9 h ahead of Oxford, MS
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
23,639
921,000 Capital
💱 Currency
UAE Dirham AED د.إ
Exchange rates and currency converter

AED, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

UAE Dirham exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 3.67 AED (1 AED = 0.272 USD). 1 EUR = 4.13 AED (1 AED = 0.242 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Oxford, MS Abu Dhabi 12,450 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Oxford, MS
  • Abu Dhabi

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
Oxford, MS vs Abu Dhabi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Oxford, MS or Abu Dhabi?
Oxford, MS wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Abu Dhabi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Oxford, MS the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Oxford, MS or in Abu Dhabi?
Average pay runs 71% higher in Oxford, MS, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Oxford, MS compared to Abu Dhabi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,293 in Oxford, MS versus $1,947 in Abu Dhabi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Oxford, MS and in Abu Dhabi?
Childcare runs $1,540 in Oxford, MS versus $787 in Abu Dhabi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Oxford, MS and in Abu Dhabi?
Dining out is cheaper in Oxford, MS – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $55.0 in Abu Dhabi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Oxford, MS or in Abu Dhabi?
At $2,363 in Oxford, MS versus $2,594 in Abu Dhabi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Oxford, MS but tight or insufficient in Abu Dhabi. The gap between the two cities makes Oxford, MS the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Oxford, MS or Abu Dhabi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Oxford, MS delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,363 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Oxford, MS hard to pass up.
How safe is Oxford, MS compared to Abu Dhabi?
Safety-wise, Oxford, MS and Abu Dhabi 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Oxford, MS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Abu Dhabi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Oxford, MS vs other spots: cost of living compared

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