Cost of Living Comparison Between Sharjah and Mussaffah Cost of Living Comparison Between Sharjah and Mussaffah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,549 per month in Sharjah vs $1,791 in Mussaffah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,243 per month in Sharjah vs $2,621 in Mussaffah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,938 per month in Sharjah vs $3,452 in Mussaffah, rent included.

Sharjah is about 13% cheaper than Mussaffah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sharjah and Mussaffah sit above the global median – Sharjah by 16%, Mussaffah by 34%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.55 AED 20.36

$6.91 AED 25.37

-19.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.18 AED 122

$33.15 AED 122

0.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.36 AED 34.36

$9.68 AED 35.53

-3.31%

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

$4.93 AED 18.10

-13.79%

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

$1.03 AED 3.77

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 AED 1.28

$0.38 AED 1.38

-7.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.42 AED 34.55

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.40 AED 34.51

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 AED 6.53

$1.77 AED 6.50

0.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 AED 4.21

$1.19 AED 4.38

-3.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 AED 7.46

$1.96 AED 7.20

3.57%

Eggs

$2.73 AED 10.02

$2.87 AED 10.53

-4.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.39 AED 38.13

$10.49 AED 38.49

-0.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 AED 25.89

$6.86 AED 25.16

2.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.87 AED 32.56

$8.76 AED 32.13

1.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.84 AED 6.76

$1.90 AED 6.96

-3.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 AED 5.47

$1.48 AED 5.42

0.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 AED 5.47

$1.49 AED 5.45

Tomato (1kg)

$1.23 AED 4.52

$1.18 AED 4.35

4.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 AED 3.64

$1.00 AED 3.66

-1.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 AED 4.32

$1.23 AED 4.50

-4.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 AED 5.33

$1.44 AED 5.27

0.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 AED 2.36

$0.60 AED 2.19

6.67%

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

$6.10 AED 22.40

2.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.42 AED 49.26

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 AED 6.93

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 AED 7.91

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 AED 6.07

$1.59 AED 5.84

3.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.17 AED 147

$52.5 AED 193

-23.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 AED 13.64

$3.28 AED 12.05

13.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 AED 2.56

$0.56 AED 2.04

25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.91 AED 18.03

$4.84 AED 17.76

1.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 AED 2.78

$0.81 AED 2.97

-6.17%

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

$45.4K AED 166.6K

$45.0K AED 165.1K

0.91%

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

$22.2K AED 81.5K

$22.5K AED 82.7K

-1.39%

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

$194 AED 711

$144 AED 528

34.70%

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

$66.6 AED 244

$66.5 AED 244

0.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$103 AED 379

$103 AED 378

0.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.7 AED 234

$64.6 AED 237

-1.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.43 AED 141

$40.20 AED 148

-4.40%

Cinema Ticket

$12.98 AED 47.64

$12.68 AED 46.54

2.37%

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

$272 AED 998

$627 AED 2,301

-56.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,086 AED 22.3K

$6,873 AED 25.2K

-11.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 AED 195

$52.4 AED 192

1.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$97.0 AED 356

$56.4 AED 207

72.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.0 AED 356

$90.6 AED 332

7.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.4 AED 299

$81.5 AED 299

-0.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$769 AED 2,823

$737 AED 2,704

4.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$602 AED 2,208

$769 AED 2,822

-21.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,635 AED 5,999

$2,562 AED 9,404

-36.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,023 AED 3,756

$1,346 AED 4,938

-23.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,263 AED 30.3K

$4,756 AED 17.5K

73.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,682 AED 9,841

$2,319 AED 8,510

15.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,283 AED 8,378

$2,916 AED 10.7K

-21.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.42

4.75

-6.95%

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

Last update for Sharjah: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mussaffah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $769 in Sharjah versus $737 in Mussaffah. 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 28% higher in Mussaffah, 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 $33.00 in Mussaffah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $230 – 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 Mussaffah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mussaffah is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,324 per month in Sharjah and $2,686 in Mussaffah. 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 $272 per month in Sharjah and $627 in Mussaffah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Mussaffah, 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 $1,549, than in Mussaffah at $1,791. In Sharjah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mussaffah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sharjah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Mussaffah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.