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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,686 per month in Ruwais vs $1,952 in Ras al-Khaimah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,520 per month in Ruwais vs $2,981 in Ras al-Khaimah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,355 per month in Ruwais vs $4,011 in Ras al-Khaimah, rent included.

Ruwais is about 14% cheaper than Ras al-Khaimah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Ruwais and Ras al-Khaimah sit above the global median – Ruwais by 26%, Ras al-Khaimah by 46%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.79 AED 24.91

$13.78 AED 50.6

-50.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.03 AED 140

$49.42 AED 181

-23.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.60 AED 27.89

$6.72 AED 24.67

13.10%

Cappuccino

$4.85 AED 17.79

$5.78 AED 21.20

-16.09%

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

$0.81 AED 2.97

$1.31 AED 4.81

-38.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 AED 1.27

$0.67 AED 2.47

-47.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.42 AED 38.22

$10.74 AED 39.42

-2.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.72 AED 35.68

$10.19 AED 37.41

-4.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 AED 6.84

$1.64 AED 6.01

13.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 AED 5.46

$1.45 AED 5.34

2.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 AED 6.76

$1.70 AED 6.23

8.24%

Eggs

$3.14 AED 11.51

$2.28 AED 8.35

37.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.78 AED 10.22

$12.59 AED 46.20

-77.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.64 AED 28.05

$7.87 AED 28.90

-2.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.88 AED 25.25

$15.30 AED 56.2

-55.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 AED 10.51

$2.23 AED 8.18

28.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 AED 5.86

$1.77 AED 6.50

-9.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 AED 4.94

$1.49 AED 5.46

-9.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 AED 2.87

$1.32 AED 4.83

-40.91%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 AED 2.61

$1.03 AED 3.77

-31.07%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 AED 1.55

$1.00 AED 3.67

-58.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.67 AED 6.12

$1.74 AED 6.37

-4.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 AED 2.47

$0.53 AED 1.96

26.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.51 AED 23.90

$6.38 AED 23.41

2.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.35 AED 45.34

$13.79 AED 50.6

-10.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 AED 5.13

$2.58 AED 9.46

-45.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 AED 10.17

$3.00 AED 11.02

-7.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.66 AED 6.07

$2.33 AED 8.56

-28.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.7 AED 190

$64.1 AED 235

-19.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 AED 10.03

$1.52 AED 5.58

79.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 AED 2.60

$0.90 AED 3.29

-21.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.26 AED 30.31

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 AED 2.96

$0.76 AED 2.77

6.58%

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

$46.1K AED 169.2K

$46.1K AED 169.1K

0.05%

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

$22.6K AED 83.0K

$22.2K AED 81.4K

1.97%

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

$91.0 AED 334

$149 AED 547

-39.00%

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

$53.0 AED 195

$45.20 AED 166

17.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$99.0 AED 363

$103 AED 379

-4.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.0 AED 231

$55.0 AED 202

14.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.17 AED 147

$41.37 AED 152

-2.90%

Cinema Ticket

$11.26 AED 41.32

$13.31 AED 48.86

-15.40%

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

$580 AED 2,130

$249 AED 913

133.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,856 AED 14.2K

$5,192 AED 19.1K

-25.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.21 AED 81.5

$114 AED 420

-80.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$80.0 AED 293

$53.4 AED 196

49.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.6 AED 292

$137 AED 501

-41.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.7 AED 201

$138 AED 505

-60.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$758 AED 2,780

$732 AED 2,688

3.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$747 AED 2,743

$767 AED 2,815

-2.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,544 AED 9,337

$1,970 AED 7,228

29.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,382 AED 5,073

$1,480 AED 5,433

-6.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,267 AED 19.3K

$4,936 AED 18.1K

6.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,058 AED 7,551

$1,941 AED 7,123

6.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,757 AED 10.1K

$1,683 AED 6,177

63.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.71

4.88

-3.48%

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

Last update for Ruwais: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ras al-Khaimah: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $758 in Ruwais versus $732 in Ras al-Khaimah. 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 64% 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 $38 in Ruwais versus $49 in Ras al-Khaimah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $209 vs $269 – 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

Ruwais vs Ras al-Khaimah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ras al-Khaimah is pricier by about 16%, 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 $2,529 per month in Ruwais and $2,928 in Ras al-Khaimah. 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 29% 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 $38.00 in Ruwais and $49.00 in Ras al-Khaimah. 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 $1,686, than in Ras al-Khaimah at $1,952. 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.