Cost of Living Comparison Between Sharjah and Al Fujayrah Cost of Living Comparison Between Sharjah and Al Fujayrah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,547 per month in Sharjah vs $1,631 in Al Fujayrah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,247 per month in Sharjah vs $2,559 in Al Fujayrah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,946 per month in Sharjah vs $3,487 in Al Fujayrah, rent included.

Sharjah is about 5% cheaper than Al Fujayrah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sharjah and Al Fujayrah sit above the global median – Sharjah by 15%, Al Fujayrah by 22%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.35 AED 19.64

$8.08 AED 29.68

-33.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.06 AED 121

$60.5 AED 222

-45.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.53 AED 34.99

$6.62 AED 24.31

43.96%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.48 AED 34.82

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.41 AED 34.56

Cappuccino

$4.30 AED 15.79

$5.46 AED 20.04

-21.25%

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

$0.93 AED 3.42

$0.78 AED 2.86

19.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 AED 1.36

$0.63 AED 2.30

-41.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.36 AED 45.38

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$13.84 AED 50.9

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 AED 6.54

$1.97 AED 7.25

-9.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 AED 4.34

$1.42 AED 5.23

-16.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 AED 7.47

$2.22 AED 8.15

-8.56%

Eggs

$2.79 AED 10.24

$3.38 AED 12.43

-17.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.51 AED 38.61

$10.18 AED 37.40

3.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.69 AED 24.59

$9.43 AED 34.64

-29.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.53 AED 31.31

$12.79 AED 46.98

-33.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 AED 6.70

$2.27 AED 8.35

-19.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 AED 5.75

$1.96 AED 7.21

-20.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 AED 5.40

$1.90 AED 6.98

-22.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 AED 4.47

$1.55 AED 5.70

-21.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 AED 3.80

$1.18 AED 4.33

-11.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 AED 4.30

$1.32 AED 4.86

-11.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 AED 5.33

$1.46 AED 5.35

-0.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 AED 2.17

$0.65 AED 2.37

-9.23%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$15.46 AED 56.8

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 AED 6.92

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 AED 12.68

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.47 AED 23.75

$6.51 AED 23.90

-0.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.62 AED 61.0

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 AED 9.96

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 AED 12.95

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.67 AED 6.14

$1.65 AED 6.05

1.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.17 AED 148

$52.6 AED 193

-23.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 AED 13.21

$3.36 AED 12.34

7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 AED 2.42

$0.78 AED 2.87

-15.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.03 AED 18.47

$8.28 AED 30.42

-39.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 AED 2.99

$0.80 AED 2.93

1.25%

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

$45.4K AED 166.8K

$32.8K AED 120.4K

38.52%

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

$22.3K AED 82.0K

$22.5K AED 82.5K

-0.56%

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

$195 AED 716

$211 AED 775

-7.58%

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

$65.9 AED 242

$61.9 AED 227

6.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$102 AED 374

$102 AED 373

0.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.2 AED 236

$55.2 AED 203

16.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.64 AED 138

$38.82 AED 143

-3.04%

Cinema Ticket

$13.00 AED 47.76

$14.88 AED 54.6

-12.63%

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

$273 AED 1,002

$828 AED 3,043

-67.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,985 AED 22.0K

$14.3K AED 52.5K

-58.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 AED 195

$83.1 AED 305

-36.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$97.4 AED 358

$64.0 AED 235

52.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.4 AED 350

$115 AED 423

-17.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.6 AED 303

$123 AED 451

-32.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 AED 2,771

$541 AED 1,988

39.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$596 AED 2,190

$401 AED 1,474

48.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,617 AED 5,939

$1,149 AED 4,218

40.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 AED 3,702

$980 AED 3,600

2.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,253 AED 30.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 AED 10.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,234 AED 8,203

$3,801 AED 14.0K

-41.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.42

4.49

-1.56%

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

Last update for Sharjah: May 30, 2026

Last update for Al Fujayrah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $755 in Sharjah versus $541 in Al Fujayrah. 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 70% higher in Al Fujayrah, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Sharjah versus $60.0 in Al Fujayrah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $285 – making Sharjah 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

Sharjah vs Al Fujayrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Fujayrah costs about 5% more than Sharjah, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,321 per month in Sharjah and $2,446 in Al Fujayrah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $273 per month in Sharjah and $828 in Al Fujayrah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 51% more in Al Fujayrah, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sharjah, where all-in costs run around $1,547, than in Al Fujayrah at $1,631. In Sharjah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al Fujayrah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sharjah costs $1,547 versus $1,631 in Al Fujayrah. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Sharjah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Al Fujayrah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.