Cost of Living Comparison Between Ras al-Khaimah and Ruwais Cost of Living Comparison Between Ras al-Khaimah and Ruwais

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,984 per month in Ras al-Khaimah vs $1,668 in Ruwais, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,024 per month in Ras al-Khaimah vs $2,463 in Ruwais, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,063 per month in Ras al-Khaimah vs $3,257 in Ruwais, rent included.

Ras al-Khaimah costs about 19% more than Ruwais, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Ras al-Khaimah and Ruwais sit above the global median – Ras al-Khaimah by 48%, Ruwais by 24%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.45 AED 49.41

$6.56 AED 24.11

105.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.18 AED 181

$38.72 AED 142

27.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.73 AED 24.72

$7.77 AED 28.55

-13.38%

Cappuccino

$5.68 AED 20.87

$4.80 AED 17.64

18.33%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 AED 4.64

$0.75 AED 2.77

68.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 AED 2.68

$0.34 AED 1.27

114.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$11.06 AED 40.64

$10.61 AED 38.96

4.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.07 AED 36.97

$9.74 AED 35.78

3.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 AED 5.96

$1.79 AED 6.56

-9.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 AED 5.32

$1.52 AED 5.60

-4.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 AED 6.59

$1.92 AED 7.07

-6.77%

Eggs

$2.29 AED 8.42

$3.10 AED 11.38

-26.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.51 AED 45.94

$2.77 AED 10.18

351.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.77 AED 28.55

$7.57 AED 27.81

2.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.34 AED 56.4

$6.62 AED 24.32

131.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.20 AED 8.09

$2.87 AED 10.53

-23.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 AED 6.75

$1.65 AED 6.05

11.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 AED 5.52

$1.40 AED 5.13

7.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 AED 4.61

$0.79 AED 2.89

58.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 AED 3.71

$0.70 AED 2.55

44.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 AED 3.64

$0.43 AED 1.58

130.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.82 AED 6.67

$1.66 AED 6.09

9.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 AED 1.87

$0.67 AED 2.46

-23.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.36 AED 23.36

$6.36 AED 23.35

Wine (Bottle)

$13.56 AED 49.81

$12.06 AED 44.30

12.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 AED 9.66

$1.34 AED 4.92

96.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 AED 10.95

$2.76 AED 10.13

7.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 AED 8.69

$1.62 AED 5.94

46.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.8 AED 231

$52.1 AED 191

20.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 AED 5.41

$2.76 AED 10.13

-46.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 AED 3.41

$0.71 AED 2.62

30.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 AED 30.29

$8.34 AED 30.65

-1.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 AED 3.00

$0.81 AED 2.97

1.23%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$45.2K AED 166.0K

$46.2K AED 169.7K

-2.19%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.3K AED 81.9K

$21.9K AED 80.6K

1.68%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$148 AED 544

$92.6 AED 340

59.93%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$45.04 AED 165

$52.3 AED 192

-13.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 AED 370

$96.5 AED 355

4.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 AED 201

$63.8 AED 234

-14.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.07 AED 147

$38.95 AED 143

2.88%

Cinema Ticket

$13.13 AED 48.24

$11.33 AED 41.61

15.89%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$246 AED 904

$584 AED 2,145

-57.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,166 AED 19.0K

$3,753 AED 13.8K

37.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$116 AED 427

$21.60 AED 79.3

438.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.6 AED 197

$81.6 AED 300

-34.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 AED 507

$80.7 AED 296

71.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 AED 505

$54.9 AED 202

150.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$734 AED 2,695

$731 AED 2,685

0.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$776 AED 2,851

$748 AED 2,749

3.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 AED 7,156

$2,556 AED 9,389

-23.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,515 AED 5,563

$1,340 AED 4,920

13.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,831 AED 17.7K

$4,662 AED 17.1K

3.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,980 AED 7,272

$2,166 AED 7,957

-8.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,601 AED 5,882

$2,736 AED 10.0K

-41.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.88

4.71

3.61%

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 Ruwais: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $734 in Ras al-Khaimah versus $731 in Ruwais. 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 71% higher in Ruwais, 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 $39.00 in Ruwais. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 vs $207 – making Ruwais 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 Ruwais: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ras al-Khaimah is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,977 per month in Ras al-Khaimah and $2,502 in Ruwais. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ruwais, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Ras al-Khaimah and $39.00 in Ruwais. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ruwais, where all-in costs run around $1,668, than in Ras al-Khaimah at $1,984. In Ruwais it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ras al-Khaimah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ruwais – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Ruwais. 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.