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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,573 per month in Sharjah vs $1,463 in Fujairah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,253 per month in Sharjah vs $2,413 in Fujairah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,933 per month in Sharjah vs $3,363 in Fujairah, rent included.

Sharjah costs about 8% more than Fujairah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sharjah and Fujairah sit above the global median – Sharjah by 17%, Fujairah by 9%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sharjah
Fujairah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.36 AED 19.70
$6.92 AED 25.43
-22.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.97 AED 121
$41.04 AED 151
-19.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.06 AED 33.29
$6.96 AED 25.58
30.17%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.27 AED 34.05
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.64 AED 35.42
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.21 AED 15.48
$5.81 AED 21.32
-27.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 AED 3.72
$0.79 AED 2.88
27.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 AED 1.28
$0.52 AED 1.90
-32.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$10.86 AED 39.90
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$10.14 AED 37.24
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sharjah
Fujairah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 AED 6.24
$1.57 AED 5.76
8.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.19 AED 4.36
$1.33 AED 4.87
-10.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.04 AED 7.50
$1.71 AED 6.29
19.30%
Eggs
$2.73 AED 10.04
$2.31 AED 8.49
18.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.18 AED 37.38
$12.95 AED 47.58
-21.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.96 AED 25.56
$7.75 AED 28.47
-10.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.46 AED 31.08
$15.24 AED 56.0
-44.49%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 AED 6.73
$2.28 AED 8.38
-19.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 AED 5.42
$1.75 AED 6.42
-15.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.49 AED 5.48
$1.51 AED 5.54
-1.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.23 AED 4.51
$1.26 AED 4.63
-2.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.01 AED 3.71
$1.03 AED 3.77
-1.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 AED 4.46
$1.04 AED 3.80
16.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.52 AED 5.60
$1.76 AED 6.46
-13.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 AED 2.35
$0.54 AED 1.97
18.52%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$15.76 AED 57.9
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 AED 7.06
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 AED 12.56
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.29 AED 23.11
$6.32 AED 23.23
-0.47%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$13.83 AED 50.8
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.63 AED 9.65
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.21 AED 8.12
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sharjah
Fujairah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.60 AED 5.88
$1.60 AED 5.86
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.57 AED 153
$53.3 AED 196
-22.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.77 AED 13.84
$1.47 AED 5.39
156.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.71 AED 2.59
$0.70 AED 2.59
1.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.04 AED 18.49
$8.26 AED 30.34
-38.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 AED 3.01
$0.74 AED 2.72
10.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.1K AED 165.5K
$45.9K AED 168.5K
-1.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K AED 81.3K
$22.0K AED 81.0K
0.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sharjah
Fujairah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$200 AED 734
$147 AED 539
36.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$65.9 AED 242
$45.22 AED 166
45.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$103 AED 379
$100 AED 368
3.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sharjah
Fujairah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.9 AED 231
$18.47 AED 67.9
240.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.58 AED 138
$39.53 AED 145
-4.93%
Cinema Ticket
$12.73 AED 46.75
$8.62 AED 31.66
47.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sharjah
Fujairah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 AED 1,011
$221 AED 813
24.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,018 AED 22.1K
$5,275 AED 19.4K
14.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sharjah
Fujairah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.4 AED 189
$117 AED 429
-56.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$97.2 AED 357
$55.4 AED 203
75.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 AED 353
$134 AED 492
-28.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4 AED 295
$138 AED 507
-41.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sharjah
Fujairah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$775 AED 2,845
$543 AED 1,993
42.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$603 AED 2,215
$415 AED 1,524
45.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,613 AED 5,923
$1,523 AED 5,595
5.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,026 AED 3,768
$1,081 AED 3,972
-5.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,277 AED 30.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,688 AED 9,872
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sharjah
Fujairah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,281 AED 8,377
$3,671 AED 13.5K
-37.86%
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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Fujairah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $775 in Sharjah versus $543 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 61% 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: $188 vs $266 – 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: $1,573 in Sharjah, $1,463 in Fujairah – roughly 8% 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 $2,360 per month in Sharjah and $2,195 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 $275 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 42% 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 $1,463, than in Sharjah at $1,573. 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 $1,463 in Fujairah to $1,573 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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