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