Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan

Name: Pakistan
Address: PK

For one person, living is cheaper in Pakistan: $472 a month against $2,266 in the United Arab Emirates, rent and utilities included – about $21,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

110

Cost of Living Index in the United Arab Emirates
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United Arab Emirates Living Index
23

Cost of Living Index in Pakistan
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Pakistan Living Index

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🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

$2,266

/mo nomad

🇵🇰 Pakistan

$472

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the United Arab Emirates and in Pakistan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United Arab Emirates and in Pakistan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,266 in the United Arab Emirates versus $472 in Pakistan.

United Arab Emirates $2,266
Pakistan $472

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,384 in the United Arab Emirates versus $718 in Pakistan.

United Arab Emirates $3,384
Pakistan $718

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,501 in the United Arab Emirates versus $964 in Pakistan.

United Arab Emirates $4,501
Pakistan $964

Internal cost variation is higher in the United Arab Emirates: monthly costs span $1,446 to $3,252, compared to $281–$599 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in the United Arab Emirates.

Living in the United Arab Emirates is roughly 380% more expensive than in Pakistan on average.

The United Arab Emirates (68% above) and Pakistan (65% below) straddle the global median.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.45 AED 34.69

$2.15 PKR 596

339.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.5 AED 218

$13.73 PKR 3,800

333.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.28 AED 34.09

$5.54 PKR 1,533

67.51%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 PKR 604

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 PKR 1,214

Cappuccino

$5.36 AED 19.67

$1.96 PKR 543

173.47%

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

$1.11 AED 4.08

$0.36 PKR 98.6

208.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 AED 1.83

$0.21 PKR 57.9

138.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.07 AED 44.33

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.22 AED 44.87

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 AED 6.42

$0.82 PKR 227

113.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 AED 5.39

$0.62 PKR 173

137.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 AED 7.85

$1.19 PKR 329

79.83%

Eggs

$3.11 AED 11.44

$1.18 PKR 326

163.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.85 AED 39.84

$5.36 PKR 1,483

102.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 AED 33.09

$2.89 PKR 801

211.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.56 AED 42.47

$5.00 PKR 1,383

131.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 AED 8.75

$1.15 PKR 318

106.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 AED 6.85

$0.66 PKR 182

181.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 AED 6.44

$0.83 PKR 230

110.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 AED 5.08

$0.53 PKR 148

160.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 AED 3.93

$0.31 PKR 85.1

245.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 AED 3.95

$0.41 PKR 115

163.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 AED 5.32

$0.37 PKR 103

291.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 AED 2.17

$0.38 PKR 105

55.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.07 PKR 572

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 PKR 297

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 PKR 643

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.39 AED 23.47

$2.20 PKR 608

190.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.76 AED 50.5

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 AED 8.60

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 AED 9.69

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.61 AED 5.93

$0.16 PKR 44.99

906.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.73 AED 172

$9.65 PKR 2,671

384.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 AED 12.05

$0.86 PKR 237

281.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 AED 2.37

$0.56 PKR 154

16.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.28 AED 30.40

$2.19 PKR 607

278.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 AED 3.56

$1.30 PKR 359

-25.38%

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

$43.9K AED 161.1K

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

146.39%

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

$22.2K AED 81.5K

$25.4K PKR 7.0M

-12.77%

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

$195 AED 714

$110 PKR 30.5K

76.52%

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

$53.6 AED 197

$5.62 PKR 1,557

853.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$89.7 AED 330

$16.21 PKR 4,486

453.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.0 AED 275

$16.95 PKR 4,691

342.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.77 AED 120

$11.27 PKR 3,120

190.77%

Cinema Ticket

$13.73 AED 50.4

$4.41 PKR 1,220

211.34%

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

$583 AED 2,142

$45.68 PKR 12.6K

1176.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.1K AED 44.4K

$1,539 PKR 426.1K

686.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 AED 221

$17.53 PKR 4,853

243.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.5 AED 208

$23.38 PKR 6,472

141.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.8 AED 366

$76.3 PKR 21.1K

30.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.3 AED 365

$34.50 PKR 9,548

187.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,570 AED 5,767

$139 PKR 38.5K

1028.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,100 AED 4,040

$79.9 PKR 22.1K

1277.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,653 AED 9,743

$323 PKR 89.3K

721.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,032 AED 7,464

$173 PKR 47.8K

1075.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,737 AED 21.1K

$1,021 PKR 282.7K

461.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,888 AED 10.6K

$533 PKR 147.6K

441.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,782 AED 10.2K

$193 PKR 53.3K

1343.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.63

14.1

-67.16%

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

Last update for the United Arab Emirates: October 11, 2026

Last update for Pakistan: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

United Arab Emirates

$1.1K 48.5%

Pakistan

$80 16.9% 92.7% $1K

Monthly Utilities & Internet

United Arab Emirates

$338 14.9%

Pakistan

$132 28% 60.9% $206

Groceries & Markets

United Arab Emirates

$265 11.7%

Pakistan

$93 19.7% 65% $172

Eating Out

United Arab Emirates

$259 11.4%

Pakistan

$60 12.6% 77% $199

Clothing & Footwear

United Arab Emirates

$142 6.3%

Pakistan

$68 14.5% 51.9% $74

Sport & Entertainment

United Arab Emirates

$102 4.5%

Pakistan

$26 5.5% 74.8% $77

Getting Around

United Arab Emirates

$60 2.6%

Pakistan

$14 3% 76.6% $46

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,267 in the United Arab Emirates, $125 in Pakistan. Capital cities: $1,947 in Abu Dhabi vs $276 in Islamabad.

National salary averages: $2,854 in the United Arab Emirates, $185 in Pakistan. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 914% higher in the United Arab Emirates.

Dining out costs 277% more in the United Arab Emirates.

Public transport is 356% more expensive in the United Arab Emirates.

Salaries are 1443% higher in the United Arab Emirates, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United Arab Emirates.

Good to know

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

🇵🇰 Pakistan

🕒 Local time

03:41 3:41 AM

04:41 4:41 AM

1 h ahead of the United Arab Emirates

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

9,890,400

223,773,700

💱 Currency

UAE Dirham AED د.إ

Pakistani Rupee PKR ₨

📈 Exchange rate

1 AED = 0.272 USD

1 AED = 0.242 EUR

1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD

1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PKR, USD, EUR to AED – UAE Dirham Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇦🇪 UAE Dirham (د.إ)

UAE Dirham exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 3.67 AED (1 AED = 0.272 USD). 1 EUR = 4.13 AED (1 AED = 0.242 EUR).

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR).

USD to AED in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

United Arab Emirates Pakistan 2,080 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

United Arab Emirates
Pakistan

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 Pakistan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $472 per month in Pakistan and $2,266 in the United Arab Emirates, there's a 380% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Day-to-day life is cheaper in Pakistan: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,267 in the United Arab Emirates and $125 in Pakistan. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.

In Pakistan, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in the United Arab Emirates it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.

It depends on what you're after: Pakistan wins on affordability; the United Arab Emirates may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.