Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubai and Sydney 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Sydney is 23.5% higher than in Dubai (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Sydney is 11.5% higher than in Dubai | |
| Rent Prices in Sydney are 4.6% lower than in Dubai | |
| Restaurant Prices in Sydney are 6.0% higher than in Dubai | |
| Groceries Prices in Sydney are 69.0% higher than in Dubai | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Sydney is 12.9% lower than in Dubai | |
Restaurants | Dubai Edit |
Sydney Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
40.00 AED (16.23 A$) |
73.92 AED (30.00 A$) |
+84.8 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
300.00 AED (121.76 A$) |
306.61 AED (124.44 A$) |
+2.2 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
35.00 AED (14.21 A$) |
39.42 AED (16.00 A$) |
+12.6 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
50.00 AED (20.29 A$) |
26.41 AED (10.72 A$) |
-47.2 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
50.00 AED (20.29 A$) |
27.10 AED (11.00 A$) |
-45.8 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
21.19 AED (8.60 A$) |
13.49 AED (5.47 A$) |
-36.4 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
4.94 AED (2.00 A$) |
9.82 AED (3.98 A$) |
+98.9 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
2.88 AED (1.17 A$) |
8.18 AED (3.32 A$) |
+184.5 % |
Markets | Dubai Edit |
Sydney Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
6.78 AED (2.75 A$) |
6.90 AED (2.80 A$) |
+1.8 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
4.50 AED (1.83 A$) |
9.10 AED (3.69 A$) |
+102.1 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
3.69 AED (1.50 A$) |
3.74 AED (1.52 A$) |
+1.4 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
13.58 AED (5.51 A$) |
20.43 AED (8.29 A$) |
+50.4 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
20.39 AED (8.28 A$) |
19.03 AED (7.72 A$) |
-6.7 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
14.53 AED (5.90 A$) |
15.01 AED (6.09 A$) |
+3.3 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
19.86 AED (8.06 A$) |
23.66 AED (9.60 A$) |
+19.1 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
4.23 AED (1.72 A$) |
5.42 AED (2.20 A$) |
+28.3 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
3.12 AED (1.27 A$) |
4.84 AED (1.96 A$) |
+54.8 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
3.06 AED (1.24 A$) |
5.08 AED (2.06 A$) |
+66.2 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
2.29 AED (0.93 A$) |
8.25 AED (3.35 A$) |
+260.7 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
1.76 AED (0.71 A$) |
4.43 AED (1.80 A$) |
+152.4 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
1.67 AED (0.68 A$) |
3.88 AED (1.57 A$) |
+132.5 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
4.95 AED (2.01 A$) |
8.28 AED (3.36 A$) |
+67.3 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
2.26 AED (0.92 A$) |
4.38 AED (1.78 A$) |
+94.1 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
70.00 AED (28.41 A$) |
49.28 AED (20.00 A$) |
-29.6 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
9.59 AED (3.89 A$) |
16.83 AED (6.83 A$) |
+75.5 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
11.56 AED (4.69 A$) |
18.50 AED (7.51 A$) |
+60.0 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
23.00 AED (9.33 A$) |
128.12 AED (52.00 A$) |
+457.1 % |
Transportation | Dubai Edit |
Sydney Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
6.00 AED (2.44 A$) |
12.32 AED (5.00 A$) |
+105.3 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
300.00 AED (121.76 A$) |
535.63 AED (217.39 A$) |
+78.5 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
12.00 AED (4.87 A$) |
14.29 AED (5.80 A$) |
+19.1 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
4.02 AED (1.63 A$) |
9.91 AED (4.02 A$) |
+146.4 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
30.00 AED (12.18 A$) |
147.83 AED (60.00 A$) |
+392.8 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
2.81 AED (1.14 A$) |
4.66 AED (1.89 A$) |
+65.5 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
120,000.00 AED (48,703.68 A$) |
109,452.93 AED (44,423.00 A$) |
-8.8 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
81,447.06 AED (33,056.43 A$) |
93,823.48 AED (38,079.57 A$) |
+15.2 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Dubai Edit |
Sydney Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
893.92 AED (362.81 A$) |
750.06 AED (304.42 A$) |
-16.1 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
224.67 AED (91.18 A$) |
85.25 AED (34.60 A$) |
-62.1 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
350.98 AED (142.45 A$) |
196.89 AED (79.91 A$) |
-43.9 % |
Sports And Leisure | Dubai Edit |
Sydney Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
259.21 AED (105.20 A$) |
247.84 AED (100.59 A$) |
-4.4 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
176.59 AED (71.67 A$) |
81.05 AED (32.90 A$) |
-54.1 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
52.00 AED (21.10 A$) |
49.28 AED (20.00 A$) |
-5.2 % |
Childcare | Dubai Edit |
Sydney Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
3,192.75 AED (1,295.82 A$) |
7,680.11 AED (3,117.08 A$) |
+140.5 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
63,564.74 AED (25,798.64 A$) |
89,390.14 AED (36,280.24 A$) |
+40.6 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Dubai Edit |
Sydney Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
264.32 AED (107.28 A$) |
275.39 AED (111.77 A$) |
+4.2 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
240.00 AED (97.41 A$) |
230.75 AED (93.65 A$) |
-3.9 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
420.00 AED (170.46 A$) |
375.38 AED (152.35 A$) |
-10.6 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
433.20 AED (175.82 A$) |
470.28 AED (190.87 A$) |
+8.6 % |
Rent Per Month | Dubai Edit |
Sydney Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
8,693.00 AED (3,528.18 A$) |
8,397.05 AED (3,408.06 A$) |
-3.4 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
5,461.79 AED (2,216.74 A$) |
5,699.48 AED (2,313.21 A$) |
+4.4 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
17,063.83 AED (6,925.60 A$) |
16,719.32 AED (6,785.77 A$) |
-2.0 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
11,400.00 AED (4,626.85 A$) |
9,851.93 AED (3,998.54 A$) |
-13.6 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Dubai Edit |
Sydney Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
2,468.08 AED (1,001.70 A$) |
4,371.41 AED (1,774.20 A$) |
+77.1 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,369.23 AED (555.72 A$) |
2,535.30 AED (1,028.99 A$) |
+85.2 % |
Salaries And Financing | Dubai Edit |
Sydney Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
15,183.67 AED (6,162.51 A$) |
14,752.78 AED (5,987.62 A$) |
-2.8 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 4.46 | 6.10 | +37.0 % |
| Last update: | 12 January 2026 | 12 January 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 392 | 207 | |
Moving to Dubai? Explore:
Moving to Sydney? Explore:
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 |
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 |