Cost of Living Comparison Between Sharjah and Fujairah Cost of Living Comparison Between Sharjah and Fujairah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,549 per month in Sharjah vs $1,462 in Fujairah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,243 per month in Sharjah vs $2,397 in Fujairah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,938 per month in Sharjah vs $3,332 in Fujairah, rent included.

Sharjah costs about 6% more than Fujairah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sharjah and Fujairah sit above the global median – Sharjah by 16%, Fujairah by 9%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sharjah
Fujairah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.55 AED 20.36
$7.00 AED 25.69
-20.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.18 AED 122
$41.28 AED 151
-19.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.36 AED 34.36
$6.89 AED 25.29
35.85%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.47 AED 34.76
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.33 AED 34.23
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.25 AED 15.60
$5.73 AED 21.04
-25.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 AED 3.77
$0.71 AED 2.62
45.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 AED 1.28
$0.51 AED 1.88
-31.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$10.72 AED 39.35
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$10.38 AED 38.10
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sharjah
Fujairah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 AED 6.53
$1.66 AED 6.08
7.23%
White Bread (500g)
$1.15 AED 4.21
$1.33 AED 4.88
-13.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 AED 7.46
$1.72 AED 6.31
18.02%
Eggs
$2.73 AED 10.02
$2.22 AED 8.15
22.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.39 AED 38.13
$12.72 AED 46.67
-18.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.05 AED 25.89
$7.66 AED 28.11
-7.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.87 AED 32.56
$15.44 AED 56.7
-42.55%
Apples (1kg)
$1.84 AED 6.76
$2.22 AED 8.16
-17.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 AED 5.47
$1.81 AED 6.65
-17.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.49 AED 5.47
$1.48 AED 5.44
0.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.23 AED 4.52
$1.28 AED 4.68
-3.91%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 AED 3.64
$1.02 AED 3.75
-2.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 AED 4.32
$1.05 AED 3.85
12.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 AED 5.33
$1.81 AED 6.63
-19.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 AED 2.36
$0.50 AED 1.82
28.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$15.73 AED 57.7
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 AED 6.91
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 AED 12.54
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.27 AED 23.01
$6.38 AED 23.41
-1.72%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$13.40 AED 49.18
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.60 AED 9.54
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.15 AED 7.89
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sharjah
Fujairah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.65 AED 6.07
$1.65 AED 6.06
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.17 AED 147
$52.6 AED 193
-23.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.72 AED 13.64
$1.54 AED 5.64
141.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 AED 2.56
$0.65 AED 2.40
7.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 AED 18.03
$8.31 AED 30.48
-40.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 AED 2.78
$0.77 AED 2.84
-1.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.4K AED 166.6K
$45.1K AED 165.6K
0.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K AED 81.5K
$22.4K AED 82.1K
-0.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sharjah
Fujairah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$194 AED 711
$146 AED 537
32.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$66.6 AED 244
$44.07 AED 162
51.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$103 AED 379
$101 AED 369
2.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sharjah
Fujairah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.7 AED 234
$18.52 AED 68.0
243.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.43 AED 141
$38.99 AED 143
-1.44%
Cinema Ticket
$12.98 AED 47.64
$8.80 AED 32.30
47.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sharjah
Fujairah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$272 AED 998
$221 AED 809
23.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,086 AED 22.3K
$5,217 AED 19.1K
16.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sharjah
Fujairah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0 AED 195
$118 AED 432
-54.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$97.0 AED 356
$55.0 AED 202
76.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.0 AED 356
$136 AED 499
-28.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.4 AED 299
$137 AED 504
-40.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sharjah
Fujairah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$769 AED 2,823
$552 AED 2,026
39.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$602 AED 2,208
$410 AED 1,503
46.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,635 AED 5,999
$1,518 AED 5,572
7.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 AED 3,756
$1,101 AED 4,041
-7.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,263 AED 30.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,682 AED 9,841
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sharjah
Fujairah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,283 AED 8,378
$3,647 AED 13.4K
-37.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.42
4.88
-9.43%

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

Last update for Sharjah: April 27, 2026

Last update for Fujairah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $769 in Sharjah versus $552 in Fujairah. 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 60% higher in Fujairah, 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 $33.00 in Sharjah versus $41.00 in Fujairah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $265 – 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 Fujairah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Sharjah and Fujairah compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,549 in Sharjah, $1,462 in Fujairah – roughly 6% apart. Sharjah costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Sharjah compared to Fujairah?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,324 per month in Sharjah and $2,192 in Fujairah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Sharjah and Fujairah?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Fujairah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sharjah and Fujairah?
Kindergarten costs $272 per month in Sharjah and $221 in Fujairah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 39% cheaper in Sharjah – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fujairah, where all-in costs run around $1,462, than in Sharjah at $1,549. In Fujairah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sharjah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Sharjah and Fujairah?
It depends on your priorities. Sharjah has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,462 in Fujairah to $1,549 in Sharjah. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Sharjah or Fujairah safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Sharjah and Fujairah?
If budget matters most, go with Fujairah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sharjah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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