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

🙂 Solo nomad: United Arab Emirates is 12.8% cheaper than United States without rent, and 17.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: United Arab Emirates is 13.9% cheaper than United States without rent, and 10% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United Arab Emirates
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.22 AED 30.17
$20.33 $20.33
-59.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7 AED 252
$74.4 $74.4
-7.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.71 AED 35.65
$11.49 $11.49
-15.49%
Cappuccino
$5.32 AED 19.54
$5.09 $5.09
4.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 AED 4.11
$2.54 $2.54
-55.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 AED 1.99
$2.11 $2.11
-74.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.64 AED 42.75
$6.09 $6.09
91.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.43 AED 45.66
$7.1 $7.1
75.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 AED 6.96
$1.08 $1.08
75.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 AED 5.29
$3.7 $3.7
-61.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.15 AED 7.88
$4.65 $4.65
-53.76%
Eggs
$3.23 AED 11.85
$4.21 $4.21
-23.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.44 AED 38.34
$12.75 $12.75
-18.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.69 AED 31.9
$12.24 $12.24
-29.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.63 AED 42.72
$16.08 $16.08
-27.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.23 AED 8.17
$5.41 $5.41
-58.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 AED 6.5
$1.73 $1.73
2.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.7 AED 6.24
$4.37 $4.37
-61.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 AED 5.29
$4.94 $4.94
-70.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 AED 3.96
$2.88 $2.88
-62.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.22 AED 4.46
$3.07 $3.07
-60.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.57 AED 5.77
$2.25 $2.25
-30.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 AED 2.25
$2.21 $2.21
-72.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.42 AED 23.57
$10.09 $10.09
-36.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.13 AED 55.6
$14.73 $14.73
2.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 AED 8.55
$1.91 $1.91
21.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 AED 10.59
$3.54 $3.54
-18.64%
🚌 Getting Around
United Arab Emirates
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.38 AED 5.06
$2.56 $2.56
-46.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.5 AED 204
$63.9 $63.9
-13.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 AED 11.92
$3.81 $3.81
-14.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.7 AED 2.56
$1.77 $1.77
-60.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.32 AED 30.56
$30.4 $30.4
-72.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.8 AED 2.95
$0.94 $0.94
-14.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45K AED 165.1K
$30K $30K
50.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22K AED 81K
$25.8K $25.8K
-14.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$182 AED 670
$209 $209
-12.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.8 AED 220
$57.9 $57.9
3.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$99.6 AED 366
$71.1 $71.1
40.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.1 AED 261
$45.88 $45.88
54.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.98 AED 143
$22.25 $22.25
75.19%
Cinema Ticket
$13.36 AED 49.06
$14.14 $14.14
-5.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Arab Emirates
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$666 AED 2,446
$1,373 $1,373
-51.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K AED 44.5K
$22.4K $22.4K
-45.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67 AED 246
$51.5 $51.5
30.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.6 AED 237
$41.96 $41.96
54.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.4 AED 365
$88.3 $88.3
12.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 AED 379
$112 $112
-7.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Arab Emirates
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,744 AED 6,405
$1,731 $1,731
0.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,196 AED 4,390
$1,446 $1,446
-17.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,407 AED 12.5K
$2,846 $2,846
19.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,472 AED 9,079
$2,366 $2,366
4.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,645 AED 24.4K
$3,245 $3,245
104.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,693 AED 13.6K
$2,667 $2,667
38.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Arab Emirates
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,154 AED 11.6K
$4,312 $4,312
-26.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.63
6.51
-28.88%

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 United States: October 27, 2025

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