Cost of Living Comparison Between Ras al-Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain Cost of Living Comparison Between Ras al-Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,843 per month in Ras al-Khaimah vs $1,417 in Umm Al Quwain, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,849 per month in Ras al-Khaimah vs $1,986 in Umm Al Quwain, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,855 per month in Ras al-Khaimah vs $2,555 in Umm Al Quwain, rent included.

Ras al-Khaimah costs about 30% more than Umm Al Quwain, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Ras al-Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain sit above the global median – Ras al-Khaimah by 35%, Umm Al Quwain by 4%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.52 AED 49.64

$5.59 AED 20.52

141.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.64 AED 149

$27.16 AED 99.8

49.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.73 AED 28.41

$8.05 AED 29.56

-3.98%

Cappuccino

$5.59 AED 20.52

$3.72 AED 13.65

50.27%

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

$1.10 AED 4.04

$0.87 AED 3.20

26.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 AED 1.64

$0.36 AED 1.33

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.14 AED 37.23

$10.92 AED 40.10

-7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.56 AED 35.12

$12.45 AED 45.74

-23.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 AED 6.01

$1.78 AED 6.55

-7.87%

White Bread (500g)

$2.03 AED 7.45

$1.28 AED 4.69

58.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 AED 7.22

$1.48 AED 5.45

33.11%

Eggs

$2.32 AED 8.51

$1.95 AED 7.17

18.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.64 AED 46.42

$7.70 AED 28.29

64.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.59 AED 35.22

$5.53 AED 20.30

73.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.25 AED 56.0

$8.20 AED 30.12

85.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.99 AED 7.32

$1.89 AED 6.96

5.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 AED 6.11

$1.32 AED 4.86

25.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 AED 5.48

$1.51 AED 5.53

-1.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 AED 4.75

$0.95 AED 3.48

35.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 AED 3.61

$1.00 AED 3.67

-2.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 AED 3.41

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 AED 6.31

$0.88 AED 3.24

95.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 AED 1.71

$0.55 AED 2.04

-14.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.80 AED 24.96

$6.03 AED 22.15

12.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.49 AED 49.54

$10.99 AED 40.35

22.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 AED 9.66

$1.61 AED 5.92

63.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 AED 10.69

$2.33 AED 8.54

24.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.14 AED 7.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$113 AED 416

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.68 AED 6.19

$3.29 AED 12.08

-48.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 AED 3.07

$0.72 AED 2.65

16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.06 AED 29.60

$7.96 AED 29.22

1.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 AED 3.01

$0.86 AED 3.16

-4.65%

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

$46.2K AED 169.7K

$27.5K AED 100.8K

68.25%

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

$21.7K AED 79.5K

$21.9K AED 80.4K

-1.05%

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

$121 AED 445

$154 AED 564

-21.03%

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

$45.81 AED 168

$49.23 AED 181

-6.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.6 AED 292

$84.4 AED 310

-5.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.1 AED 206

$44.60 AED 164

25.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.93 AED 150

Cinema Ticket

$12.75 AED 46.84

$13.47 AED 49.45

-5.35%

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

$297 AED 1,092

$480 AED 1,764

-38.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,416 AED 16.2K

$5,804 AED 21.3K

-23.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.6 AED 307

$58.2 AED 214

43.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 AED 195

$57.7 AED 212

-8.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 AED 427

$85.5 AED 314

36.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 AED 432

$92.6 AED 340

27.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$735 AED 2,700

$672 AED 2,468

9.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 AED 2,389

$539 AED 1,979

20.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,642 AED 6,030

$1,023 AED 3,758

60.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,277 AED 4,689

$829 AED 3,044

54.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,938 AED 18.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,927 AED 7,077

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,572 AED 5,774

$3,406 AED 12.5K

-53.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.92

4.75

3.58%

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 Umm Al Quwain: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $735 in Ras al-Khaimah versus $672 in Umm Al Quwain. 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 117% higher in Umm Al Quwain, 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 $27.00 in Umm Al Quwain. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $281 vs $198 – making Umm Al Quwain 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 Umm Al Quwain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ras al-Khaimah is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,764 per month in Ras al-Khaimah and $2,125 in Umm Al Quwain. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Ras al-Khaimah and $27.00 in Umm Al Quwain. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Umm Al Quwain, where all-in costs run around $1,417, than in Ras al-Khaimah at $1,843. In Umm Al Quwain it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ras al-Khaimah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Umm Al Quwain – 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 Umm Al Quwain. 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.