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

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

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

Ruwais is about 16% cheaper than Ras al-Khaimah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.56 AED 24.11

$13.45 AED 49.41

-51.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.72 AED 142

$49.18 AED 181

-21.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.77 AED 28.55

$6.73 AED 24.72

15.45%

Cappuccino

$4.80 AED 17.64

$5.68 AED 20.87

-15.49%

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

$0.75 AED 2.77

$1.26 AED 4.64

-40.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 AED 1.27

$0.73 AED 2.68

-53.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.61 AED 38.96

$11.06 AED 40.64

-4.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.74 AED 35.78

$10.07 AED 36.97

-3.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 AED 6.56

$1.62 AED 5.96

10.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 AED 5.60

$1.45 AED 5.32

4.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 AED 7.07

$1.79 AED 6.59

7.26%

Eggs

$3.10 AED 11.38

$2.29 AED 8.42

35.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.77 AED 10.18

$12.51 AED 45.94

-77.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.57 AED 27.81

$7.77 AED 28.55

-2.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.62 AED 24.32

$15.34 AED 56.4

-56.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 AED 10.53

$2.20 AED 8.09

30.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 AED 6.05

$1.84 AED 6.75

-10.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 AED 5.13

$1.50 AED 5.52

-6.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 AED 2.89

$1.25 AED 4.61

-36.80%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 AED 2.55

$1.01 AED 3.71

-30.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 AED 1.58

$0.99 AED 3.64

-56.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.66 AED 6.09

$1.82 AED 6.67

-8.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 AED 2.46

$0.51 AED 1.87

31.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.36 AED 23.35

$6.36 AED 23.36

Wine (Bottle)

$12.06 AED 44.30

$13.56 AED 49.81

-11.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 AED 4.92

$2.63 AED 9.66

-49.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 AED 10.13

$2.98 AED 10.95

-7.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.62 AED 5.94

$2.37 AED 8.69

-31.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.1 AED 191

$62.8 AED 231

-17.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 AED 10.13

$1.47 AED 5.41

87.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 AED 2.62

$0.93 AED 3.41

-23.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.34 AED 30.65

$8.25 AED 30.29

1.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 AED 2.97

$0.82 AED 3.00

-1.22%

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

$46.2K AED 169.7K

$45.2K AED 166.0K

2.24%

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

$21.9K AED 80.6K

$22.3K AED 81.9K

-1.66%

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

$92.6 AED 340

$148 AED 544

-37.47%

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

$52.3 AED 192

$45.04 AED 165

16.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$96.5 AED 355

$101 AED 370

-4.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 AED 234

$54.8 AED 201

16.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.95 AED 143

$40.07 AED 147

-2.80%

Cinema Ticket

$11.33 AED 41.61

$13.13 AED 48.24

-13.71%

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

$584 AED 2,145

$246 AED 904

137.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,753 AED 13.8K

$5,166 AED 19.0K

-27.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.60 AED 79.3

$116 AED 427

-81.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$81.6 AED 300

$53.6 AED 197

52.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 AED 296

$138 AED 507

-41.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.9 AED 202

$138 AED 505

-60.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$731 AED 2,685

$734 AED 2,695

-0.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$748 AED 2,749

$776 AED 2,851

-3.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,556 AED 9,389

$1,948 AED 7,156

31.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,340 AED 4,920

$1,515 AED 5,563

-11.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,662 AED 17.1K

$4,831 AED 17.7K

-3.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,166 AED 7,957

$1,980 AED 7,272

9.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,736 AED 10.0K

$1,601 AED 5,882

70.85%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Ras al-Khaimah: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $731 in Ruwais versus $734 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 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 $39.00 in Ruwais versus $49.00 in Ras al-Khaimah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $207 vs $268 – 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 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 $2,502 per month in Ruwais and $2,977 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 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 $39.00 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 $1,668, 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.