Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Dubai 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Dubai is 19.7% lower than in Sydney (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Dubai is 11.0% lower than in Sydney | |
| Rent Prices in Dubai are 3.9% higher than in Sydney | |
| Restaurant Prices in Dubai are 7.1% lower than in Sydney | |
| Groceries Prices in Dubai are 40.7% lower than in Sydney | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Dubai is 16.8% higher than in Sydney | |
Restaurants | Sydney Edit |
Dubai Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
30.00 A$ (74.47 AED) |
16.11 A$ (40.00 AED) |
-46.3 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
129.16 A$ (320.64 AED) |
120.85 A$ (300.00 AED) |
-6.4 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
16.00 A$ (39.72 AED) |
14.10 A$ (35.00 AED) |
-11.9 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
10.36 A$ (25.71 AED) |
20.14 A$ (50.00 AED) |
+94.5 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
11.00 A$ (27.31 AED) |
20.14 A$ (50.00 AED) |
+83.1 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
5.49 A$ (13.63 AED) |
8.67 A$ (21.53 AED) |
+57.9 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
3.98 A$ (9.87 AED) |
2.08 A$ (5.16 AED) |
-47.8 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
3.44 A$ (8.54 AED) |
1.21 A$ (3.01 AED) |
-64.7 % |
Markets | Sydney Edit |
Dubai Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
2.80 A$ (6.96 AED) |
2.68 A$ (6.65 AED) |
-4.5 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
3.66 A$ (9.10 AED) |
1.85 A$ (4.60 AED) |
-49.5 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
1.51 A$ (3.75 AED) |
1.53 A$ (3.79 AED) |
+1.1 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
8.21 A$ (20.37 AED) |
5.48 A$ (13.61 AED) |
-33.2 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
7.93 A$ (19.69 AED) |
8.17 A$ (20.29 AED) |
+3.0 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
6.12 A$ (15.18 AED) |
5.92 A$ (14.69 AED) |
-3.3 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
9.57 A$ (23.76 AED) |
7.99 A$ (19.82 AED) |
-16.6 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
2.22 A$ (5.51 AED) |
1.69 A$ (4.21 AED) |
-23.7 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
1.95 A$ (4.84 AED) |
1.26 A$ (3.13 AED) |
-35.4 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
2.09 A$ (5.19 AED) |
1.22 A$ (3.03 AED) |
-41.7 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
3.35 A$ (8.31 AED) |
0.91 A$ (2.27 AED) |
-72.7 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
1.82 A$ (4.51 AED) |
0.72 A$ (1.80 AED) |
-60.1 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
1.61 A$ (3.98 AED) |
0.69 A$ (1.71 AED) |
-57.0 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
3.34 A$ (8.30 AED) |
1.93 A$ (4.80 AED) |
-42.1 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
1.78 A$ (4.43 AED) |
0.92 A$ (2.28 AED) |
-48.4 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
20.00 A$ (49.65 AED) |
28.20 A$ (70.00 AED) |
+41.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
6.75 A$ (16.75 AED) |
3.87 A$ (9.61 AED) |
-42.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
7.39 A$ (18.35 AED) |
4.69 A$ (11.65 AED) |
-36.5 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
50.00 A$ (124.12 AED) |
9.27 A$ (23.00 AED) |
-81.5 % |
Transportation | Sydney Edit |
Dubai Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
5.00 A$ (12.41 AED) |
2.42 A$ (6.00 AED) |
-51.7 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
217.39 A$ (539.65 AED) |
120.85 A$ (300.00 AED) |
-44.4 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
5.40 A$ (13.40 AED) |
4.83 A$ (12.00 AED) |
-10.5 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
4.02 A$ (9.99 AED) |
1.62 A$ (4.02 AED) |
-59.7 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
60.00 A$ (148.94 AED) |
12.09 A$ (30.00 AED) |
-79.9 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
1.90 A$ (4.71 AED) |
1.13 A$ (2.81 AED) |
-40.2 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
44,423.00 A$ (110,275.59 AED) |
48,340.35 A$ (120,000.00 AED) |
+8.8 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
37,485.05 A$ (93,052.82 AED) |
32,596.56 A$ (80,917.65 AED) |
-13.0 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Sydney Edit |
Dubai Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
298.02 A$ (739.80 AED) |
348.83 A$ (865.94 AED) |
+17.0 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
33.43 A$ (82.99 AED) |
87.65 A$ (217.58 AED) |
+162.2 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
79.26 A$ (196.76 AED) |
140.08 A$ (347.73 AED) |
+76.7 % |
Sports And Leisure | Sydney Edit |
Dubai Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
100.13 A$ (248.56 AED) |
104.42 A$ (259.21 AED) |
+4.3 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
33.30 A$ (82.68 AED) |
71.14 A$ (176.59 AED) |
+113.6 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
20.00 A$ (49.65 AED) |
20.95 A$ (52.00 AED) |
+4.7 % |
Childcare | Sydney Edit |
Dubai Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
3,117.08 A$ (7,737.83 AED) |
1,286.16 A$ (3,192.75 AED) |
-58.7 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
36,280.24 A$ (90,062.00 AED) |
25,606.18 A$ (63,564.74 AED) |
-29.4 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Sydney Edit |
Dubai Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
112.78 A$ (279.97 AED) |
106.48 A$ (264.32 AED) |
-5.6 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
93.65 A$ (232.49 AED) |
96.68 A$ (240.00 AED) |
+3.2 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
150.59 A$ (373.82 AED) |
169.19 A$ (420.00 AED) |
+12.4 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
190.87 A$ (473.81 AED) |
174.51 A$ (433.20 AED) |
-8.6 % |
Rent Per Month | Sydney Edit |
Dubai Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
3,440.94 A$ (8,541.80 AED) |
3,501.86 A$ (8,693.00 AED) |
+1.8 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
2,345.67 A$ (5,822.88 AED) |
2,200.21 A$ (5,461.79 AED) |
-6.2 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
6,782.59 A$ (16,837.10 AED) |
6,873.93 A$ (17,063.83 AED) |
+1.3 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
3,998.60 A$ (9,926.12 AED) |
4,632.62 A$ (11,500.00 AED) |
+15.9 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Sydney Edit |
Dubai Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
1,774.20 A$ (4,404.26 AED) |
994.23 A$ (2,468.07 AED) |
-44.0 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,028.99 A$ (2,554.35 AED) |
551.58 A$ (1,369.23 AED) |
-46.4 % |
Salaries And Financing | Sydney Edit |
Dubai Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
5,822.76 A$ (14,454.41 AED) |
6,052.40 A$ (15,024.46 AED) |
+3.9 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.10 | 4.46 | -26.9 % |
| Last update: | 21 January 2026 | 19 January 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 207 | 399 | |
Moving to Sydney? Explore:
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Cities near Sydney: | Cost of Living in Gosford | 46.31 miles |
| Cost of Living in Wollongong | 51.90 miles |
| Cost of Living in Canberra | 178.59 miles |
| Cost of Living in Queanbeyan | 178.95 miles |
| Cost of Living in Forster | 188.67 miles |
Cities near Dubai: | Cost of Living in Ras al-Khaimah | 62.60 miles |
| Cost of Living in Fujairah | 80.82 miles |
| Cost of Living in Kalba | 84.26 miles |
| Cost of Living in Abu Dhabi | 94.68 miles |