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 $1,570 per month in Umm Al Quwain vs $1,943 in Ras al-Khaimah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,232 per month in Umm Al Quwain vs $2,976 in Ras al-Khaimah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,893 per month in Umm Al Quwain vs $4,008 in Ras al-Khaimah, rent included.

Umm Al Quwain is about 19% cheaper than Ras al-Khaimah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Umm Al Quwain and Ras al-Khaimah sit above the global median – Umm Al Quwain by 18%, Ras al-Khaimah by 45%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.89 AED 21.62

$13.47 AED 49.46

-56.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.46 AED 101

$49.37 AED 181

-44.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.22 AED 30.21

$6.96 AED 25.56

18.10%

Cappuccino

$3.69 AED 13.57

$5.55 AED 20.37

-33.51%

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

$0.86 AED 3.16

$1.32 AED 4.83

-34.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 AED 1.50

$0.72 AED 2.63

-43.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.68 AED 39.24

$10.87 AED 39.92

-1.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.02 AED 40.48

$10.05 AED 36.91

9.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 AED 6.98

$1.57 AED 5.75

21.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 AED 4.47

$1.45 AED 5.32

-15.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 AED 5.17

$1.70 AED 6.24

-17.06%

Eggs

$1.90 AED 6.96

$2.21 AED 8.11

-14.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.77 AED 32.22

$12.84 AED 47.15

-31.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.71 AED 24.64

$7.59 AED 27.87

-11.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.28 AED 26.75

$15.28 AED 56.1

-52.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 AED 6.11

$2.19 AED 8.03

-24.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 AED 4.77

$1.76 AED 6.47

-26.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 AED 5.35

$1.51 AED 5.54

-3.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 AED 3.88

$1.31 AED 4.80

-19.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 AED 3.42

$0.97 AED 3.55

-4.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 AED 3.77

$1.03 AED 3.80

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 AED 3.00

$1.80 AED 6.60

-54.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 AED 2.24

$0.51 AED 1.86

19.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.40 AED 23.51

$6.29 AED 23.10

1.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.84 AED 39.79

$13.51 AED 49.60

-19.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 AED 5.82

$2.63 AED 9.67

-39.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 AED 9.94

$2.96 AED 10.87

-8.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.59 AED 5.85

$2.36 AED 8.68

-32.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.6 AED 193

$64.3 AED 236

-18.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 AED 11.88

$1.54 AED 5.65

110.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 AED 3.10

$0.93 AED 3.41

-9.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 AED 29.80

$8.41 AED 30.90

-3.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 AED 2.68

$0.80 AED 2.93

-8.75%

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

$32.8K AED 120.3K

$46.3K AED 169.9K

-29.20%

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

$22.7K AED 83.3K

$22.4K AED 82.3K

1.23%

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

$137 AED 504

$149 AED 549

-8.07%

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

$61.4 AED 226

$45.04 AED 165

36.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$102 AED 375

$101 AED 371

1.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$123 AED 452

$56.3 AED 207

118.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.23 AED 148

$41.13 AED 151

-2.19%

Cinema Ticket

$13.70 AED 50.3

$13.44 AED 49.35

1.93%

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

$597 AED 2,193

$248 AED 912

140.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,667 AED 20.8K

$5,208 AED 19.1K

8.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 AED 217

$117 AED 430

-49.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.5 AED 222

$53.7 AED 197

12.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.4 AED 306

$137 AED 502

-39.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.0 AED 345

$136 AED 498

-30.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 AED 2,547

$718 AED 2,637

-3.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$551 AED 2,023

$783 AED 2,874

-29.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,002 AED 3,681

$1,994 AED 7,322

-49.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$813 AED 2,988

$1,512 AED 5,554

-46.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,828 AED 17.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,965 AED 7,217

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,339 AED 12.3K

$1,571 AED 5,770

112.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.53

4.88

-7.17%

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

Last update for Umm Al Quwain: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ras al-Khaimah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Umm Al Quwain versus $718 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 113% 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 $49.00 in Ras al-Khaimah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $267 – 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 24%, 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 $2,355 per month in Umm Al Quwain and $2,914 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.

Groceries cost about 31% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Umm Al Quwain and $49.00 in Ras al-Khaimah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Umm Al Quwain, where all-in costs run around $1,570, than in Ras al-Khaimah at $1,943. 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.