Cost of Living Comparison Between Umm Al Quwain and Ras al-Khaimah Cost of Living Comparison Between Umm Al Quwain and Ras al-Khaimah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,417 per month in Umm Al Quwain vs $1,843 in Ras al-Khaimah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,986 per month in Umm Al Quwain vs $2,849 in Ras al-Khaimah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,555 per month in Umm Al Quwain vs $3,855 in Ras al-Khaimah, rent included.

Umm Al Quwain is about 23% cheaper than Ras al-Khaimah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Umm Al Quwain and Ras al-Khaimah sit above the global median – Umm Al Quwain by 4%, Ras al-Khaimah by 35%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.59 AED 20.52

$13.52 AED 49.64

-58.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.16 AED 99.8

$40.64 AED 149

-33.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.05 AED 29.56

$7.73 AED 28.41

4.14%

Cappuccino

$3.72 AED 13.65

$5.59 AED 20.52

-33.45%

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

$0.87 AED 3.20

$1.10 AED 4.04

-20.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 AED 1.33

$0.45 AED 1.64

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.92 AED 40.10

$10.14 AED 37.23

7.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.45 AED 45.74

$9.56 AED 35.12

30.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 AED 6.55

$1.64 AED 6.01

8.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 AED 4.69

$2.03 AED 7.45

-36.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 AED 5.45

$1.97 AED 7.22

-24.87%

Eggs

$1.95 AED 7.17

$2.32 AED 8.51

-15.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.70 AED 28.29

$12.64 AED 46.42

-39.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.53 AED 20.30

$9.59 AED 35.22

-42.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.20 AED 30.12

$15.25 AED 56.0

-46.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 AED 6.96

$1.99 AED 7.32

-5.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 AED 4.86

$1.66 AED 6.11

-20.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 AED 5.53

$1.49 AED 5.48

1.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.95 AED 3.48

$1.29 AED 4.75

-26.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 AED 3.67

$0.98 AED 3.61

2.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 AED 3.41

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 AED 3.24

$1.72 AED 6.31

-48.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 AED 2.04

$0.47 AED 1.71

17.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.03 AED 22.15

$6.80 AED 24.96

-11.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.99 AED 40.35

$13.49 AED 49.54

-18.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 AED 5.92

$2.63 AED 9.66

-38.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 AED 8.54

$2.91 AED 10.69

-19.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.14 AED 7.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$113 AED 416

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 AED 12.08

$1.68 AED 6.19

95.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 AED 2.65

$0.84 AED 3.07

-14.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.96 AED 29.22

$8.06 AED 29.60

-1.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 AED 3.16

$0.82 AED 3.01

4.88%

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

$27.5K AED 100.8K

$46.2K AED 169.7K

-40.56%

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

$21.9K AED 80.4K

$21.7K AED 79.5K

1.06%

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

$154 AED 564

$121 AED 445

26.63%

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

$49.23 AED 181

$45.81 AED 168

7.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.4 AED 310

$79.6 AED 292

6.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.60 AED 164

$56.1 AED 206

-20.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.93 AED 150

Cinema Ticket

$13.47 AED 49.45

$12.75 AED 46.84

5.65%

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

$480 AED 1,764

$297 AED 1,092

61.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,804 AED 21.3K

$4,416 AED 16.2K

31.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.2 AED 214

$83.6 AED 307

-30.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.7 AED 212

$53.1 AED 195

8.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 AED 314

$116 AED 427

-26.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.6 AED 340

$118 AED 432

-21.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$672 AED 2,468

$735 AED 2,700

-8.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$539 AED 1,979

$650 AED 2,389

-17.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,023 AED 3,758

$1,642 AED 6,030

-37.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$829 AED 3,044

$1,277 AED 4,689

-35.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,938 AED 18.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,927 AED 7,077

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,406 AED 12.5K

$1,572 AED 5,774

116.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.75

4.92

-3.46%

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

Last update for Umm Al Quwain: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ras al-Khaimah: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $672 in Umm Al Quwain versus $735 in Ras al-Khaimah. 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 117% higher in Umm Al Quwain, 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 $27.00 in Umm Al Quwain versus $41.00 in Ras al-Khaimah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $281 – making Umm Al Quwain 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

Umm Al Quwain vs Ras al-Khaimah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ras al-Khaimah is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,125 per month in Umm Al Quwain and $2,764 in Ras al-Khaimah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Umm Al Quwain, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Umm Al Quwain and $41.00 in Ras al-Khaimah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% more in Ras al-Khaimah, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Umm Al Quwain, where all-in costs run around $1,417, than in Ras al-Khaimah at $1,843. In Umm Al Quwain it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ras al-Khaimah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Umm Al Quwain – 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 Umm Al Quwain. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ras al-Khaimah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.