🇨🇦 Canada
111
Cost of Living Index in Canada
Learn more Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between the United Arab Emirates and Cape Town
For one person, living is cheaper in Cape Town: $1,568 a month against $2,227 in the United Arab Emirates, rent and utilities included – about $7,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
-
-
😐 Solo nomad: The United Arab Emirates is 27% more expensive than Cape Town without rent, and 42% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: The United Arab Emirates is 28.6% more expensive than Cape Town without rent, and 36.2% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
United Arab Emirates
Cape Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.40 AED 34.51
$11.78 R 194
-20.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 AED 222
$46.55 R 768
29.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.69 AED 35.60
$5.96 R 98.4
62.58%
Cappuccino
$5.34 AED 19.63
$2.47 R 40.80
116.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 AED 3.86
$1.33 R 21.91
-21.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 AED 1.70
$1.03 R 16.99
-55.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.80 AED 43.33
$3.01 R 49.72
292.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.35 AED 45.35
$3.66 R 60.4
237.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates
Cape Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 AED 6.33
$1.39 R 22.96
23.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 AED 5.38
$1.19 R 19.60
22.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.14 AED 7.85
$2.11 R 34.84
1.42%
Eggs
$3.22 AED 11.82
$3.01 R 49.58
6.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.60 AED 38.92
$8.96 R 148
18.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.82 AED 32.38
$6.65 R 110
32.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.55 AED 42.44
$9.29 R 153
24.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.46 AED 9.04
$1.83 R 30.13
34.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 AED 6.51
$1.90 R 31.31
-6.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 AED 6.18
$1.75 R 28.83
-4.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 AED 4.99
$2.09 R 34.41
-34.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.07 AED 3.92
$1.55 R 25.64
-30.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 AED 3.88
$1.49 R 24.53
-28.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 AED 5.46
$1.30 R 21.41
14.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 AED 2.06
$1.16 R 19.19
-51.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.09 AED 22.38
$3.71 R 61.2
64.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.52 AED 49.66
$6.06 R 100
123.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43 AED 8.94
$1.39 R 22.85
74.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 AED 10.14
$2.20 R 36.32
25.45%
🚌 Getting Around
United Arab Emirates
Cape Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.62 AED 5.94
$1.51 R 24.98
7.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.10 AED 173
$61.0 R 1,006
-22.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 AED 11.93
$0.63 R 10.33
415.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 AED 2.22
$1.53 R 25.29
-60.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.32 AED 30.57
$4.81 R 79.4
72.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 AED 3.48
$1.58 R 26.08
-39.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.9K AED 165.0K
$35.5K R 585.7K
26.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K AED 82.2K
$31.7K R 523.8K
-29.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates
Cape Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$198 AED 726
$116 R 1,920
69.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.4 AED 196
$28.37 R 468
88.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$91.3 AED 335
$40.69 R 671
124.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates
Cape Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 AED 271
$48.85 R 806
51.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.45 AED 123
$11.13 R 184
200.54%
Cinema Ticket
$13.77 AED 50.6
$8.83 R 146
55.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Arab Emirates
Cape Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$570 AED 2,094
$261 R 4,314
118.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K AED 44.8K
$6,702 R 110.6K
81.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates
Cape Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.2 AED 225
$55.4 R 914
10.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 AED 213
$32.27 R 532
79.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.5 AED 365
$118 R 1,939
-15.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 AED 368
$107 R 1,766
-6.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Arab Emirates
Cape Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,553 AED 5,704
$1,015 R 16.7K
53.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,092 AED 4,011
$715 R 11.8K
52.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,731 AED 10.0K
$1,801 R 29.7K
51.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,022 AED 7,427
$1,330 R 22.0K
51.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,628 AED 20.7K
$2,331 R 38.5K
141.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,849 AED 10.5K
$1,513 R 25.0K
88.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Arab Emirates
Cape Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,827 AED 10.4K
$1,636 R 27.0K
72.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.63
10.97
-57.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United Arab Emirates: October 3, 2026
Last update for Cape Town: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
United Arab Emirates $1.1K 48.3%
Cape Town $715 45.3% 34.5% $377
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates $342 15.2%
Cape Town $185 11.7% 45.8% $157
Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates $263 11.6%
Cape Town $222 14.1% 15.4% $41
Eating Out
United Arab Emirates $258 11.4%
Cape Town $174 11% 32.7% $84
Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates $143 6.4%
Cape Town $141 8.9% 2.1% $3
Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates $101 4.5%
Cape Town $67 4.2% 34.4% $35
Getting Around
United Arab Emirates $60 2.7%
Cape Town $75 4.8% 25.8% $15
Accommodation & Living
United Arab Emirates $2K 45%
Cape Town $1.3K 40.8% 34.2% $692
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates $396 8.8%
Cape Town $214 6.6% 46% $182
Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates $599 13.3%
Cape Town $516 15.9% 13.7% $82
Eating Out
United Arab Emirates $801 17.8%
Cape Town $587 18% 26.7% $214
Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates $319 7.1%
Cape Town $312 9.6% 2.1% $6.6
Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates $236 5.3%
Cape Town $144 4.4% 39% $92
Getting Around
United Arab Emirates $123 2.7%
Cape Town $154 4.7% 25% $31
Good to know
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
🇿🇦 Cape Town
Weather
Population
9,890,400
3,740,026 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- United Arab Emirates Cape Town 7,520 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
- United Arab Emirates
- Cape Town
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
United Arab Emirates vs other spots: cost of living compared
Similar countries
🇦🇹 Austria
109
Cost of Living Index in Austria
Learn more 
🇧🇪 Belgium
106
Cost of Living Index in Belgium
Learn more 
🇵🇫 French Polynesia
114
Cost of Living Index in French Polynesia
Learn more 
🇬🇫 French Guiana
114
Cost of Living Index in French Guiana
Learn more 
🇵🇲 Saint-Pierre and Miquelon
