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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,584 per month in Sharjah vs $1,818 in Mussaffah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,291 per month in Sharjah vs $2,675 in Mussaffah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,997 per month in Sharjah vs $3,533 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 19%, Mussaffah by 37%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.54 AED 20.34

$6.90 AED 25.35

-19.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 AED 120

$32.49 AED 119

0.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.21 AED 33.84

$9.71 AED 35.67

-5.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.55 AED 35.07

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.45 AED 34.72

Cappuccino

$4.44 AED 16.29

$4.96 AED 18.21

-10.48%

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

$0.95 AED 3.50

$1.01 AED 3.71

-5.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 AED 1.37

$0.37 AED 1.38

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.73 AED 35.74

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.67 AED 35.53

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 AED 6.48

$1.83 AED 6.71

-3.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 AED 4.41

$1.15 AED 4.22

4.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 AED 7.50

$2.03 AED 7.47

0.49%

Eggs

$2.77 AED 10.16

$2.86 AED 10.50

-3.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.28 AED 37.75

$10.21 AED 37.49

0.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.82 AED 25.05

$6.92 AED 25.43

-1.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.45 AED 31.03

$8.57 AED 31.48

-1.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.84 AED 6.75

$1.84 AED 6.77

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 AED 5.46

$1.54 AED 5.65

-3.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.42 AED 5.22

$1.42 AED 5.20

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 AED 4.33

$1.17 AED 4.31

0.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 AED 3.67

$1.04 AED 3.83

-3.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 AED 4.32

$1.17 AED 4.29

0.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 AED 5.48

$1.52 AED 5.58

-1.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 AED 2.33

$0.59 AED 2.15

8.47%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$15.34 AED 56.3

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 AED 7.18

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 AED 12.14

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.33 AED 23.24

$6.34 AED 23.27

-0.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.48 AED 49.52

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 AED 7.05

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 AED 8.31

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.66 AED 6.11

$1.62 AED 5.94

2.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.20 AED 148

$52.6 AED 193

-23.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 AED 13.21

$3.22 AED 11.84

11.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 AED 2.43

$0.57 AED 2.08

15.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.77 AED 17.53

$4.82 AED 17.72

-1.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 AED 2.77

$0.76 AED 2.78

-1.32%

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

$44.9K AED 165.0K

$44.9K AED 164.7K

0.14%

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

$22.5K AED 82.7K

$21.8K AED 80.1K

3.23%

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

$197 AED 725

$142 AED 522

38.86%

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

$64.5 AED 237

$64.7 AED 238

-0.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 AED 371

$101 AED 370

0.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.4 AED 229

$64.4 AED 237

-3.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.49 AED 141

$38.74 AED 142

-0.65%

Cinema Ticket

$12.90 AED 47.36

$12.91 AED 47.42

-0.08%

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

$274 AED 1,005

$639 AED 2,347

-57.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,120 AED 22.5K

$6,792 AED 24.9K

-9.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.2 AED 188

$52.8 AED 194

-3.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$98.6 AED 362

$57.2 AED 210

72.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 AED 353

$93.3 AED 343

3.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.3 AED 302

$82.1 AED 302

0.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 AED 2,763

$755 AED 2,774

-0.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$603 AED 2,214

$748 AED 2,748

-19.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,609 AED 5,908

$2,534 AED 9,308

-36.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,041 AED 3,823

$1,346 AED 4,942

-22.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,029 AED 29.5K

$4,975 AED 18.3K

61.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,747 AED 10.1K

$2,345 AED 8,611

17.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,246 AED 8,251

$2,930 AED 10.8K

-23.34%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Mussaffah: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $752 in Sharjah versus $755 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 30% 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 $32.00 in Mussaffah. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Sharjah vs $230 in Mussaffah – so Sharjah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 15%, 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 $2,376 per month in Sharjah and $2,727 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 $274 per month in Sharjah and $639 in Mussaffah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% 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 $1,584, than in Mussaffah at $1,818. 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.