😐A single person spends $1,843 per month in Ras al-Khaimah vs $1,472 in Fujairah, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,849 per month in Ras al-Khaimah vs $4,030 in Fujairah, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,855 per month in Ras al-Khaimah vs $6,588 in Fujairah, rent included.
😐Ras al-Khaimah costs about 25% more than Fujairah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah sit above the global median – Ras al-Khaimah by 35%, Fujairah by 8%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ras al-Khaimah
Fujairah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.52AED 49.64
$7.45AED 27.35
81.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.64AED 149
$41.61AED 153
-2.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.73AED 28.41
$7.83AED 28.74
-1.28%
Cappuccino
$5.59AED 20.52
$5.45AED 20.03
2.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10AED 4.04
$1.09AED 3.99
0.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45AED 1.64
$0.40AED 1.47
12.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.14AED 37.23
$9.07AED 33.30
11.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.56AED 35.12
$9.58AED 35.18
-0.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ras al-Khaimah
Fujairah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64AED 6.01
$1.64AED 6.03
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.03AED 7.45
$1.39AED 5.10
46.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97AED 7.22
$1.90AED 6.96
3.68%
Eggs
$2.32AED 8.51
$2.40AED 8.80
-3.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.64AED 46.42
$12.79AED 46.97
-1.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.59AED 35.22
$9.59AED 35.23
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.25AED 56.0
$8.28AED 30.41
84.18%
Apples(1kg)
$1.99AED 7.32
$1.73AED 6.34
15.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66AED 6.11
$1.60AED 5.88
3.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49AED 5.48
$1.55AED 5.69
-3.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.29AED 4.75
$0.92AED 3.39
40.22%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98AED 3.61
$0.85AED 3.11
15.29%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93AED 3.41
$0.93AED 3.40
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.72AED 6.31
$0.86AED 3.16
100.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47AED 1.71
$0.44AED 1.61
6.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.80AED 24.96
$5.49AED 20.16
23.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.49AED 49.54
$13.58AED 49.86
-0.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63AED 9.66
$2.23AED 8.18
17.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91AED 10.69
$2.39AED 8.78
21.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Ras al-Khaimah
Fujairah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.14AED 7.86
$3.29AED 12.08
-34.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$113AED 416
$40.28AED 148
181.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.68AED 6.19
$2.79AED 10.26
-39.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84AED 3.07
$0.53AED 1.94
58.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.06AED 29.60
$7.97AED 29.29
1.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82AED 3.01
$0.88AED 3.23
-6.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.2KAED 169.7K
$25.9KAED 95.0K
78.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7KAED 79.5K
$20.2KAED 74.4K
6.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ras al-Khaimah
Fujairah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121AED 445
$121AED 446
-0.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.81AED 168
$44.71AED 164
2.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.6AED 292
$78.6AED 289
1.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ras al-Khaimah
Fujairah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.1AED 206
$47.12AED 173
18.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.93AED 150
$13.82AED 50.8
196.16%
Cinema Ticket
$12.75AED 46.84
$11.00AED 40.38
15.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ras al-Khaimah
Fujairah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$297AED 1,092
$261AED 958
14.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,416AED 16.2K
$4,449AED 16.3K
-0.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ras al-Khaimah
Fujairah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.6AED 307
$21.47AED 78.8
289.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1AED 195
$13.80AED 50.7
284.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116AED 427
$73.8AED 271
57.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118AED 432
$61.9AED 227
89.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ras al-Khaimah
Fujairah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$735AED 2,700
$586AED 2,153
25.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$650AED 2,389
$523AED 1,921
24.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,642AED 6,030
$5,241AED 19.2K
-68.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,277AED 4,689
$4,635AED 17.0K
-72.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,938AED 18.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,927AED 7,077
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ras al-Khaimah
Fujairah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,572AED 5,774
$3,679AED 13.5K
-57.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.92
2.5
96.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ras al-Khaimah: September 13, 2026
Last update for Fujairah: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $735 in Ras al-Khaimah versus $586 in Fujairah. 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 134% 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 Ras al-Khaimah versus $42.00 in Fujairah. Groceries tell a different story – $281 in Ras al-Khaimah vs $244 in Fujairah – so Fujairah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Ras al-Khaimah vs Fujairah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ras al-Khaimah and in Fujairah compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,843 in Ras al-Khaimah, $1,472 in Fujairah – roughly 25% apart. Ras al-Khaimah costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ras al-Khaimah compared to Fujairah?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,764 per month in Ras al-Khaimah and $2,208 in Fujairah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah?
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 Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah?
Kindergarten costs $297 per month in Ras al-Khaimah and $261 in Fujairah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 15% more in Ras al-Khaimah, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
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 $1,472, than in Ras al-Khaimah at $1,843. In Fujairah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ras al-Khaimah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah?
It depends on your priorities. Ras al-Khaimah has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,472 in Fujairah to $1,843 in Ras al-Khaimah. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ras al-Khaimah or Fujairah 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 Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah?
If budget matters most, go with Fujairah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ras al-Khaimah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Ras al-Khaimah vs other spots: cost of living compared