Cost of Living Comparison Between Abu Dhabi and Dubai 

Indices DifferenceInfo
Cost of Living in Dubai is 6.7% higher than in Abu Dhabi (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in Dubai is 20.8% higher than in Abu Dhabi
Rent Prices in Dubai are 46.5% higher than in Abu Dhabi
Restaurant Prices in Dubai are 8.1% higher than in Abu Dhabi
Groceries Prices in Dubai are 2.7% higher than in Abu Dhabi
Local Purchasing Power in Dubai is 1.7% higher than in Abu Dhabi
Currency: Sticky Currency      Switch to metric measurement units
Restaurants
Abu Dhabi Edit Dubai Edit Difference
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 40.00 AED 40.00 AED      0.0 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course 250.00 AED 296.27 AED      +18.5 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) 35.00 AED 35.00 AED      0.0 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) 40.00 AED 45.00 AED      +12.5 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 40.00 AED 50.00 AED      +25.0 %
Cappuccino (regular) 21.45 AED 20.52 AED      -4.3 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) 4.74 AED 4.49 AED      -5.2 %
Water (12 oz small bottle) 1.56 AED 3.36 AED      +115.9 %
Markets
Abu Dhabi Edit Dubai Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) 27.35 AED 27.18 AED      -0.6 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) 5.23 AED 4.69 AED      -10.3 %
Rice (white), (1 lb) 4.00 AED 3.78 AED      -5.4 %
Eggs (regular) (12) 13.40 AED 12.52 AED      -6.5 %
Local Cheese (1 lb) 17.97 AED 16.87 AED      -6.1 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 14.32 AED 15.58 AED      +8.8 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) 18.88 AED 20.92 AED      +10.8 %
Apples (1 lb) 4.05 AED 3.87 AED      -4.4 %
Banana (1 lb) 2.97 AED 3.15 AED      +5.9 %
Oranges (1 lb) 3.08 AED 3.11 AED      +1.0 %
Tomato (1 lb) 2.47 AED 2.52 AED      +2.1 %
Potato (1 lb) 1.91 AED 2.03 AED      +5.9 %
Onion (1 lb) 2.34 AED 2.11 AED      -10.0 %
Lettuce (1 head) 6.69 AED 5.20 AED      -22.3 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle) 2.23 AED 2.47 AED      +11.0 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 50.00 AED 60.00 AED      +20.0 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) 8.55 AED 9.83 AED      +15.0 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 8.07 AED 12.70 AED      +57.4 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) 23.00 AED 24.00 AED      +4.3 %
Transportation
Abu Dhabi Edit Dubai Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) 2.50 AED 6.00 AED      +140.0 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) 95.00 AED 300.00 AED      +215.8 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) 12.00 AED 12.00 AED      0.0 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) 3.22 AED 4.02 AED      +25.0 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) 30.00 AED 30.00 AED      0.0 %
Gasoline (1 gallon) 10.82 AED 10.50 AED      -3.0 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) 165,382.00 AED 120,000.00 AED      -27.4 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) 81,652.38 AED 83,710.71 AED      +2.5 %
Utilities (Monthly)
Abu Dhabi Edit Dubai Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment 524.64 AED 802.89 AED      +53.0 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data 187.14 AED 224.29 AED      +19.8 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) 375.72 AED 370.65 AED      -1.4 %
Sports And Leisure
Abu Dhabi Edit Dubai Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 240.77 AED 326.24 AED      +35.5 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) 126.33 AED 167.00 AED      +32.2 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat 50.00 AED 51.00 AED      +2.0 %
Childcare
Abu Dhabi Edit Dubai Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child 2,324.07 AED 3,133.33 AED      +34.8 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child 45,146.19 AED 52,456.72 AED      +16.2 %
Clothing And Shoes
Abu Dhabi Edit Dubai Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) 212.50 AED 287.51 AED      +35.3 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) 207.50 AED 229.68 AED      +10.7 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 338.54 AED 414.44 AED      +22.4 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes 328.18 AED 430.00 AED      +31.0 %
Rent Per Month
Abu Dhabi Edit Dubai Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre 5,382.73 AED 8,913.04 AED      +65.6 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre 3,981.75 AED 5,676.90 AED      +42.6 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre 11,209.52 AED 16,943.74 AED      +51.2 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre 8,441.67 AED 10,975.43 AED      +30.0 %
Buy Apartment Price
Abu Dhabi Edit Dubai Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 2,039.16 AED 2,497.10 AED      +22.5 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 4,314.21 AED 1,293.27 AED      -70.0 %
Salaries And Financing
Abu Dhabi Edit Dubai Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 11,638.67 AED 14,299.21 AED      +22.9 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate 5.19 4.44      -14.4 %
Last update: 17 June 202522 June 2025
Contributors in the past 12 months:194621