Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubai and London 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in London is 45.2% higher than in Dubai (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in London is 37.1% higher than in Dubai | |
| Rent Prices in London are 26.3% higher than in Dubai | |
| Restaurant Prices in London are 35.8% higher than in Dubai | |
| Groceries Prices in London are 48.9% higher than in Dubai | |
| Local Purchasing Power in London is 10.6% lower than in Dubai | |
Restaurants | Dubai Edit |
London Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
40.00 AED (8.09 £) |
98.90 AED (20.00 £) |
+147.3 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
300.00 AED (60.67 £) |
395.61 AED (80.00 £) |
+31.9 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
35.00 AED (7.08 £) |
44.51 AED (9.00 £) |
+27.2 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
50.00 AED (10.11 £) |
32.14 AED (6.50 £) |
-35.7 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
50.00 AED (10.11 £) |
29.67 AED (6.00 £) |
-40.7 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
21.19 AED (4.28 £) |
19.71 AED (3.98 £) |
-7.0 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
4.94 AED (1.00 £) |
11.60 AED (2.35 £) |
+135.0 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
2.88 AED (0.58 £) |
7.73 AED (1.56 £) |
+168.8 % |
Markets | Dubai Edit |
London Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
6.78 AED (1.37 £) |
6.86 AED (1.39 £) |
+1.1 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
4.50 AED (0.91 £) |
7.67 AED (1.55 £) |
+70.4 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
3.69 AED (0.75 £) |
3.86 AED (0.78 £) |
+4.6 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
13.58 AED (2.75 £) |
18.95 AED (3.83 £) |
+39.5 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
20.39 AED (4.12 £) |
20.24 AED (4.09 £) |
-0.8 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
14.53 AED (2.94 £) |
15.09 AED (3.05 £) |
+3.8 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
19.86 AED (4.02 £) |
29.04 AED (5.87 £) |
+46.2 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
4.23 AED (0.85 £) |
5.48 AED (1.11 £) |
+29.7 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
3.12 AED (0.63 £) |
2.94 AED (0.59 £) |
-5.9 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
3.06 AED (0.62 £) |
4.90 AED (0.99 £) |
+60.4 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
2.29 AED (0.46 £) |
5.64 AED (1.14 £) |
+146.4 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
1.76 AED (0.36 £) |
2.84 AED (0.57 £) |
+61.7 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
1.67 AED (0.34 £) |
3.11 AED (0.63 £) |
+86.1 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
4.95 AED (1.00 £) |
5.91 AED (1.20 £) |
+19.5 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
2.26 AED (0.46 £) |
6.67 AED (1.35 £) |
+195.4 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
70.00 AED (14.16 £) |
44.51 AED (9.00 £) |
-36.4 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
9.59 AED (1.94 £) |
13.44 AED (2.72 £) |
+40.2 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
11.56 AED (2.34 £) |
15.28 AED (3.09 £) |
+32.1 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
23.00 AED (4.65 £) |
87.78 AED (17.75 £) |
+281.6 % |
Transportation | Dubai Edit |
London Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
6.00 AED (1.21 £) |
17.31 AED (3.50 £) |
+188.5 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
300.00 AED (60.67 £) |
890.13 AED (180.00 £) |
+196.7 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
12.00 AED (2.43 £) |
20.77 AED (4.20 £) |
+73.1 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
4.02 AED (0.81 £) |
19.74 AED (3.99 £) |
+390.6 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
30.00 AED (6.07 £) |
160.72 AED (32.50 £) |
+435.7 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
2.81 AED (0.57 £) |
6.95 AED (1.40 £) |
+146.9 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
120,000.00 AED (24,266.17 £) |
142,890.31 AED (28,895.00 £) |
+19.1 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
81,447.06 AED (16,470.07 £) |
150,067.47 AED (30,346.35 £) |
+84.3 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Dubai Edit |
London Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
893.92 AED (180.77 £) |
1,365.59 AED (276.15 £) |
+52.8 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
224.67 AED (45.43 £) |
67.38 AED (13.62 £) |
-70.0 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
350.98 AED (70.98 £) |
160.63 AED (32.48 £) |
-54.2 % |
Sports And Leisure | Dubai Edit |
London Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
259.21 AED (52.42 £) |
278.07 AED (56.23 £) |
+7.3 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
176.59 AED (35.71 £) |
97.58 AED (19.73 £) |
-44.7 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
52.00 AED (10.52 £) |
74.18 AED (15.00 £) |
+42.6 % |
Childcare | Dubai Edit |
London Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
3,192.75 AED (645.63 £) |
9,431.67 AED (1,907.25 £) |
+195.4 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
63,564.74 AED (12,853.94 £) |
111,744.30 AED (22,596.71 £) |
+75.8 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Dubai Edit |
London Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
264.32 AED (53.45 £) |
423.11 AED (85.56 £) |
+60.1 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
240.00 AED (48.53 £) |
195.20 AED (39.47 £) |
-18.7 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
420.00 AED (84.93 £) |
454.95 AED (92.00 £) |
+8.3 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
433.20 AED (87.60 £) |
530.48 AED (107.27 £) |
+22.5 % |
Rent Per Month | Dubai Edit |
London Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
8,693.00 AED (1,757.88 £) |
11,878.49 AED (2,402.04 £) |
+36.6 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
5,461.79 AED (1,104.47 £) |
8,654.02 AED (1,750.00 £) |
+58.4 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
17,063.83 AED (3,450.62 £) |
18,750.39 AED (3,791.67 £) |
+9.9 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
11,400.00 AED (2,305.29 £) |
14,538.76 AED (2,940.00 £) |
+27.5 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Dubai Edit |
London Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
2,468.08 AED (499.09 £) |
6,758.44 AED (1,366.68 £) |
+173.8 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,369.23 AED (276.88 £) |
3,596.28 AED (727.23 £) |
+162.6 % |
Salaries And Financing | Dubai Edit |
London Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
15,183.67 AED (3,070.41 £) |
18,605.65 AED (3,762.40 £) |
+22.5 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 4.46 | 4.68 | +5.0 % |
| Last update: | 12 January 2026 | 12 January 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 392 | 476 | |
Moving to Dubai? Explore:
Moving to London? 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 London: | Cost of Living in Westminster | 2.09 miles |
| Cost of Living in Southwark | 3.41 miles |
| Cost of Living in Ealing | 10.41 miles |
| Cost of Living in Croydon | 11.15 miles |
| Cost of Living in Kingston upon Thames | 11.19 miles |
| Cost of Living in Barnet | 16.17 miles |
| Cost of Living in Watford | 20.33 miles |
| Cost of Living in Slough | 22.72 miles |
| Cost of Living in Harlow | 24.88 miles |
| Cost of Living in Welwyn Garden City | 25.71 miles |