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 $1,591 per month in Sharjah vs $1,645 in Al Fujayrah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,266 per month in Sharjah vs $2,622 in Al Fujayrah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,940 per month in Sharjah vs $3,599 in Al Fujayrah, rent included.

Sharjah is about 3% cheaper than Al Fujayrah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sharjah and Al Fujayrah sit above the global median – Sharjah by 19%, Al Fujayrah by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.33 AED 19.59

$8.38 AED 30.78

-36.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.93 AED 121

$58.8 AED 216

-44.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.28 AED 34.07

$6.63 AED 24.34

39.97%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.68 AED 35.55

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.63 AED 35.38

Cappuccino

$4.29 AED 15.74

$5.51 AED 20.23

-22.14%

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

$0.96 AED 3.54

$0.80 AED 2.93

20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 AED 1.28

$0.59 AED 2.18

-40.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.31 AED 45.19

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$13.60 AED 49.94

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 AED 6.26

$1.92 AED 7.05

-11.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 AED 4.36

$1.42 AED 5.23

-16.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 AED 7.55

$2.25 AED 8.26

-8.44%

Eggs

$2.73 AED 10.01

$3.27 AED 12.02

-16.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.48 AED 38.48

$9.94 AED 36.52

5.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 AED 25.08

$9.16 AED 33.62

-25.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.58 AED 31.53

$12.57 AED 46.17

-31.74%

Apples (1kg)

$1.85 AED 6.81

$2.37 AED 8.69

-21.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 AED 5.69

$1.85 AED 6.81

-16.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.41 AED 5.17

$1.91 AED 7.01

-26.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 AED 4.29

$1.54 AED 5.67

-24.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 AED 3.67

$1.18 AED 4.33

-15.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 AED 4.31

$1.28 AED 4.70

-8.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 AED 5.38

$1.44 AED 5.30

1.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 AED 2.37

$0.64 AED 2.35

1.56%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$15.77 AED 57.9

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 AED 6.91

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 AED 12.27

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.57 AED 24.14

$6.57 AED 24.12

Wine (Bottle)

$16.16 AED 59.3

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 AED 10.12

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 AED 12.44

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.61 AED 5.90

$1.58 AED 5.82

1.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.24 AED 151

$53.0 AED 195

-22.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 AED 13.71

$3.23 AED 11.86

15.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 AED 2.37

$0.85 AED 3.11

-23.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.02 AED 18.42

$8.14 AED 29.91

-38.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 AED 3.00

$0.79 AED 2.88

3.80%

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

$44.5K AED 163.3K

$32.5K AED 119.5K

36.71%

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

$22.0K AED 80.9K

$22.6K AED 82.8K

-2.27%

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

$201 AED 737

$213 AED 782

-5.83%

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

$64.9 AED 238

$62.0 AED 228

4.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$104 AED 382

$101 AED 371

3.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.4 AED 229

$54.0 AED 198

15.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.36 AED 137

$39.13 AED 144

-4.52%

Cinema Ticket

$12.91 AED 47.41

$14.71 AED 54.0

-12.24%

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

$276 AED 1,014

$849 AED 3,118

-67.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,972 AED 21.9K

$14.3K AED 52.5K

-58.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.8 AED 190

$81.5 AED 299

-36.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$96.5 AED 354

$62.8 AED 231

53.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.8 AED 352

$112 AED 412

-14.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.0 AED 294

$119 AED 437

-32.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$769 AED 2,824

$555 AED 2,037

38.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 AED 2,180

$413 AED 1,516

43.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,592 AED 5,847

$1,131 AED 4,154

40.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,041 AED 3,822

$989 AED 3,631

5.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,094 AED 29.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,749 AED 10.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,206 AED 8,103

$3,739 AED 13.7K

-40.99%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Al Fujayrah: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $769 in Sharjah versus $555 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 69% 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 $59.0 in Al Fujayrah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $280 – 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 3% 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 $2,387 per month in Sharjah and $2,467 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 $276 per month in Sharjah and $849 in Al Fujayrah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 48% 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 $1,591, than in Al Fujayrah at $1,645. 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 $1,591 versus $1,645 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.