Cost of Living Comparison Between United Arab Emirates and China Cost of Living Comparison Between United Arab Emirates and China

😐 Solo nomad: United Arab Emirates is 109.4% more expensive than China without rent, and 189.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: United Arab Emirates is 101.7% more expensive than China without rent, and 174.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United Arab Emirates
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.22 AED 30.17
$2.85 ¥20.46
188.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7 AED 252
$23.97 ¥172
186.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.71 AED 35.65
$4.96 ¥35.61
95.77%
Cappuccino
$5.32 AED 19.54
$3.13 ¥22.47
69.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 AED 4.11
$0.44 ¥3.18
154.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 AED 1.99
$0.29 ¥2.1
86.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.64 AED 42.75
$0.95 ¥6.83
1125.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.43 AED 45.66
$2.14 ¥15.32
480.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 AED 6.96
$1.85 ¥13.23
2.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 AED 5.29
$1.68 ¥12.06
-14.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.15 AED 7.88
$0.95 ¥6.81
126.32%
Eggs
$3.23 AED 11.85
$1.55 ¥11.11
108.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.44 AED 38.34
$13.25 ¥95.1
-21.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.69 AED 31.9
$3.28 ¥23.52
164.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.63 AED 42.72
$10.85 ¥77.8
7.19%
Apples (1kg)
$2.23 AED 8.17
$1.77 ¥12.66
25.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 AED 6.5
$1.26 ¥9.01
40.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.7 AED 6.24
$1.5 ¥10.73
13.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 AED 5.29
$1.19 ¥8.5
21.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 AED 3.96
$0.75 ¥5.4
44.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.22 AED 4.46
$0.86 ¥6.15
41.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.57 AED 5.77
$0.61 ¥4.37
157.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 AED 2.25
$0.58 ¥4.14
5.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.42 AED 23.57
$3.45 ¥24.74
86.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.13 AED 55.6
$11.3 ¥81.1
33.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 AED 8.55
$0.84 ¥6
177.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 AED 10.59
$1.68 ¥12.05
71.43%
🚌 Getting Around
United Arab Emirates
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.38 AED 5.06
$0.4 ¥2.86
245.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.5 AED 204
$20.83 ¥149
166.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 AED 11.92
$1.36 ¥9.74
138.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.7 AED 2.56
$0.35 ¥2.55
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.32 AED 30.56
$6.8 ¥48.75
22.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.8 AED 2.95
$1.12 ¥8.05
-28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45K AED 165.1K
$19.2K ¥137.7K
134.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22K AED 81K
$16.7K ¥119.8K
32.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$182 AED 670
$51.4 ¥369
254.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.8 AED 220
$9.77 ¥70.1
512.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$99.6 AED 366
$11.34 ¥81.3
778.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.1 AED 261
$39.55 ¥284
79.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.98 AED 143
$14.89 ¥107
161.79%
Cinema Ticket
$13.36 AED 49.06
$6.23 ¥44.71
114.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Arab Emirates
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$666 AED 2,446
$417 ¥2,989
59.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K AED 44.5K
$17.7K ¥126.8K
-31.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67 AED 246
$45.65 ¥327
46.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.6 AED 237
$33.49 ¥240
92.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.4 AED 365
$71.8 ¥515
38.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 AED 379
$72.9 ¥523
41.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Arab Emirates
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,744 AED 6,405
$445 ¥3,194
291.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,196 AED 4,390
$255 ¥1,830
368.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,407 AED 12.5K
$915 ¥6,566
272.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,472 AED 9,079
$543 ¥3,895
355.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,645 AED 24.4K
$6,142 ¥44.1K
8.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,693 AED 13.6K
$2,860 ¥20.5K
29.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Arab Emirates
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,154 AED 11.6K
$942 ¥6,755
234.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.63
4.06
14.04%

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

Last update for United Arab Emirates: October 29, 2025

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

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