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

Name: United Arab Emirates
Address: AE

😐 Solo nomad: United States is 17.1% more expensive than United Arab Emirates without rent, and 18.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: United States is 19.1% more expensive than United Arab Emirates without rent, and 7.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.22 $20.22

$8.29 AED 30.42

143.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.7 $75.7

$69.4 AED 255

8.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.47 $11.47

$9.58 AED 35.15

19.73%

Cappuccino

$5.13 $5.13

$5.46 AED 20.03

-6.04%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$1.07 AED 3.93

143.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$0.59 AED 2.16

262.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.17 $6.17

$11.65 AED 42.74

-47.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 $7.07

$12.20 AED 44.79

-42.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.84 AED 6.77

-41.30%

White Bread (500g)

$3.74 $3.74

$1.40 AED 5.15

167.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$2.09 AED 7.66

118.66%

Eggs

$4.20 $4.20

$3.16 AED 11.62

32.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.02 $13.02

$10.18 AED 37.36

27.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.18 $12.18

$8.56 AED 31.41

42.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.14 $16.14

$11.69 AED 42.92

38.07%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$2.28 AED 8.35

132.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.82 AED 6.67

-5.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$1.78 AED 6.52

157.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$1.41 AED 5.17

251.77%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.09 AED 4.00

175.23%

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.22 AED 4.48

149.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.50 AED 5.50

45.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$0.64 AED 2.35

242.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.16 $10.16

$6.27 AED 23.03

62.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.16 $15.16

$15.09 AED 55.4

0.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.32 AED 8.50

-14.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 $3.71

$2.85 AED 10.46

30.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.33 AED 4.88

86.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.9 $63.9

$54.4 AED 200

17.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.19 AED 11.71

15.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$0.71 AED 2.61

147.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.06 $30.06

$8.33 AED 30.56

260.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$0.74 AED 2.73

29.73%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

$44.7K AED 164.0K

-32.36%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$22.3K AED 82.0K

17.75%

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

$207 $207

$178 AED 652

16.62%

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

$57.0 $57.0

$58.1 AED 213

-1.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.5 $71.5

$102 AED 375

-30.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.91 $45.91

$70.5 AED 259

-34.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.25 $22.25

$37.79 AED 139

-41.12%

Cinema Ticket

$14.13 $14.13

$13.80 AED 50.7

2.39%

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

$1,385 $1,385

$683 AED 2,506

102.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$12.2K AED 44.6K

82.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 $52.1

$66.2 AED 243

-21.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.53 $42.53

$63.9 AED 235

-33.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.9 $89.9

$102 AED 373

-11.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$102 AED 374

12.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,743 $1,743

$1,702 AED 6,245

2.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,422 $1,422

$1,188 AED 4,358

19.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,821 $2,821

$3,372 AED 12.4K

-16.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,370 $2,370

$2,443 AED 8,965

-2.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,338 $3,338

$5,823 AED 21.4K

-42.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,615 $2,615

$3,267 AED 12.0K

-19.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,230 $4,230

$3,153 AED 11.6K

34.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

4.63

40.60%

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

Last update for United States: January 13, 2026

Last update for United Arab Emirates: January 11, 2026

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

Similar countries

🇳🇱 Netherlands

🇮🇪 Ireland

🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)

🇬🇱 Greenland

🇬🇮 Gibraltar

🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands

🇦🇬 Antigua And Barbuda

🇳🇷 Nauru