😐A single person spends $1,984 per month in Ras al-Khaimah vs $1,463 in Fujairah, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,024 per month in Ras al-Khaimah vs $2,413 in Fujairah, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,063 per month in Ras al-Khaimah vs $3,363 in Fujairah, rent included.
😐Ras al-Khaimah costs about 36% more than Fujairah, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah sit above the global median – Ras al-Khaimah by 48%, Fujairah by 9%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ras al-Khaimah
Fujairah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.45AED 49.41
$6.92AED 25.43
94.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.18AED 181
$41.04AED 151
19.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.73AED 24.72
$6.96AED 25.58
-3.30%
Cappuccino
$5.68AED 20.87
$5.81AED 21.32
-2.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26AED 4.64
$0.79AED 2.88
59.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73AED 2.68
$0.52AED 1.90
40.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.06AED 40.64
$10.86AED 39.90
1.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.07AED 36.97
$10.14AED 37.24
-0.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ras al-Khaimah
Fujairah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62AED 5.96
$1.57AED 5.76
3.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45AED 5.32
$1.33AED 4.87
9.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.79AED 6.59
$1.71AED 6.29
4.68%
Eggs
$2.29AED 8.42
$2.31AED 8.49
-0.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.51AED 45.94
$12.95AED 47.58
-3.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.77AED 28.55
$7.75AED 28.47
0.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.34AED 56.4
$15.24AED 56.0
0.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.20AED 8.09
$2.28AED 8.38
-3.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.84AED 6.75
$1.75AED 6.42
5.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50AED 5.52
$1.51AED 5.54
-0.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25AED 4.61
$1.26AED 4.63
-0.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01AED 3.71
$1.03AED 3.77
-1.94%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99AED 3.64
$1.04AED 3.80
-4.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.82AED 6.67
$1.76AED 6.46
3.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51AED 1.87
$0.54AED 1.97
-5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.36AED 23.36
$6.32AED 23.23
0.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.56AED 49.81
$13.83AED 50.8
-1.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63AED 9.66
$2.63AED 9.65
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98AED 10.95
$2.21AED 8.12
34.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Ras al-Khaimah
Fujairah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37AED 8.69
$1.60AED 5.86
48.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$62.8AED 231
$53.3AED 196
17.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47AED 5.41
$1.47AED 5.39
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.93AED 3.41
$0.70AED 2.59
32.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25AED 30.29
$8.26AED 30.34
-0.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82AED 3.00
$0.74AED 2.72
10.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.2KAED 166.0K
$45.9KAED 168.5K
-1.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3KAED 81.9K
$22.0KAED 81.0K
1.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ras al-Khaimah
Fujairah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148AED 544
$147AED 539
0.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.04AED 165
$45.22AED 166
-0.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$101AED 370
$100AED 368
0.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ras al-Khaimah
Fujairah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.8AED 201
$18.47AED 67.9
196.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.07AED 147
$39.53AED 145
1.37%
Cinema Ticket
$13.13AED 48.24
$8.62AED 31.66
52.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ras al-Khaimah
Fujairah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$246AED 904
$221AED 813
11.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,166AED 19.0K
$5,275AED 19.4K
-2.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ras al-Khaimah
Fujairah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116AED 427
$117AED 429
-0.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.6AED 197
$55.4AED 203
-3.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138AED 507
$134AED 492
3.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138AED 505
$138AED 507
-0.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ras al-Khaimah
Fujairah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$734AED 2,695
$543AED 1,993
35.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$776AED 2,851
$415AED 1,524
87.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,948AED 7,156
$1,523AED 5,595
27.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,515AED 5,563
$1,081AED 3,972
40.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,831AED 17.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,980AED 7,272
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ras al-Khaimah
Fujairah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,601AED 5,882
$3,671AED 13.5K
-56.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.88
4.88
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ras al-Khaimah: June 9, 2026
Last update for Fujairah: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $734 in Ras al-Khaimah versus $543 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 129% 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 $49.00 in Ras al-Khaimah versus $41.00 in Fujairah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 vs $266 – making Fujairah 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
Ras al-Khaimah vs Fujairah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,984 in Ras al-Khaimah, $1,463 in Fujairah – roughly 36% apart. Ras al-Khaimah costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ras al-Khaimah compared to Fujairah?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,977 per month in Ras al-Khaimah and $2,195 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 $246 per month in Ras al-Khaimah and $221 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 1% 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 $1,463, than in Ras al-Khaimah at $1,984. 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 $1,463 in Fujairah to $1,984 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