Cost of Living Comparison Between London and Dubai 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Dubai is 27.8% lower than in London (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Dubai is 23.7% lower than in London | |
| Rent Prices in Dubai are 17.2% lower than in London | |
| Restaurant Prices in Dubai are 25.1% lower than in London | |
| Groceries Prices in Dubai are 30.0% lower than in London | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Dubai is 15.4% higher than in London | |
Restaurants | London Edit |
Dubai Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
20.00 £ (97.92 AED) |
8.17 £ (40.00 AED) |
-59.1 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
80.00 £ (391.66 AED) |
61.28 £ (300.00 AED) |
-23.4 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
8.50 £ (41.61 AED) |
7.15 £ (35.00 AED) |
-15.9 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
6.50 £ (31.82 AED) |
10.21 £ (50.00 AED) |
+57.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
6.00 £ (29.37 AED) |
10.21 £ (50.00 AED) |
+70.2 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
4.06 £ (19.87 AED) |
4.43 £ (21.70 AED) |
+9.2 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
2.35 £ (11.53 AED) |
0.90 £ (4.41 AED) |
-61.8 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
1.51 £ (7.40 AED) |
0.64 £ (3.12 AED) |
-57.9 % |
Markets | London Edit |
Dubai Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
1.30 £ (6.35 AED) |
1.40 £ (6.88 AED) |
+8.4 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
1.46 £ (7.13 AED) |
0.95 £ (4.66 AED) |
-34.6 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
0.85 £ (4.18 AED) |
0.78 £ (3.80 AED) |
-9.2 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
3.69 £ (18.07 AED) |
2.71 £ (13.29 AED) |
-26.5 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
3.94 £ (19.30 AED) |
4.50 £ (22.01 AED) |
+14.1 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
3.03 £ (14.81 AED) |
2.96 £ (14.50 AED) |
-2.1 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
5.63 £ (27.57 AED) |
4.12 £ (20.16 AED) |
-26.9 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
1.10 £ (5.38 AED) |
0.82 £ (4.02 AED) |
-25.3 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
0.55 £ (2.71 AED) |
0.63 £ (3.06 AED) |
+12.8 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
0.99 £ (4.85 AED) |
0.57 £ (2.77 AED) |
-42.9 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
1.14 £ (5.57 AED) |
0.45 £ (2.19 AED) |
-60.7 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
0.57 £ (2.80 AED) |
0.36 £ (1.76 AED) |
-37.0 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
0.60 £ (2.95 AED) |
0.34 £ (1.69 AED) |
-42.7 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
1.09 £ (5.34 AED) |
1.02 £ (4.98 AED) |
-6.6 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
1.33 £ (6.49 AED) |
0.48 £ (2.33 AED) |
-64.2 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
9.00 £ (44.06 AED) |
14.30 £ (70.00 AED) |
+58.9 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
2.51 £ (12.28 AED) |
1.96 £ (9.59 AED) |
-21.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
3.09 £ (15.12 AED) |
2.38 £ (11.67 AED) |
-22.9 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
17.00 £ (83.23 AED) |
4.49 £ (22.00 AED) |
-73.6 % |
Transportation | London Edit |
Dubai Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
3.50 £ (17.14 AED) |
1.23 £ (6.00 AED) |
-65.0 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
180.00 £ (881.24 AED) |
67.40 £ (330.00 AED) |
-62.6 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
4.20 £ (20.56 AED) |
2.45 £ (12.00 AED) |
-41.6 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
3.99 £ (19.54 AED) |
0.82 £ (4.02 AED) |
-79.4 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
38.00 £ (186.04 AED) |
6.13 £ (30.00 AED) |
-83.9 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
1.39 £ (6.82 AED) |
0.58 £ (2.83 AED) |
-58.5 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
28,590.00 £ (139,970.77 AED) |
24,510.83 £ (120,000.00 AED) |
-14.3 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
29,864.82 £ (146,212.05 AED) |
17,008.64 £ (83,270.83 AED) |
-43.0 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | London Edit |
Dubai Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
266.17 £ (1,303.14 AED) |
176.52 £ (864.22 AED) |
-33.7 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
14.12 £ (69.12 AED) |
46.64 £ (228.33 AED) |
+230.4 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
33.16 £ (162.34 AED) |
71.01 £ (347.67 AED) |
+114.2 % |
Sports And Leisure | London Edit |
Dubai Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
53.06 £ (259.79 AED) |
61.96 £ (303.33 AED) |
+16.8 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
18.59 £ (91.02 AED) |
36.81 £ (180.24 AED) |
+98.0 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
15.00 £ (73.44 AED) |
12.26 £ (60.00 AED) |
-18.3 % |
Childcare | London Edit |
Dubai Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
1,902.53 £ (9,314.41 AED) |
645.37 £ (3,159.62 AED) |
-66.1 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
23,034.62 £ (112,772.80 AED) |
11,984.61 £ (58,674.18 AED) |
-48.0 % |
Clothing And Shoes | London Edit |
Dubai Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
88.42 £ (432.90 AED) |
57.80 £ (282.95 AED) |
-34.6 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
39.07 £ (191.30 AED) |
50.25 £ (246.00 AED) |
+28.6 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
92.74 £ (454.05 AED) |
93.31 £ (456.82 AED) |
+0.6 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
107.27 £ (525.19 AED) |
91.51 £ (448.00 AED) |
-14.7 % |
Rent Per Month | London Edit |
Dubai Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
2,299.13 £ (11,256.06 AED) |
1,837.53 £ (8,996.19 AED) |
-20.1 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
1,716.18 £ (8,402.05 AED) |
1,165.98 £ (5,708.38 AED) |
-32.1 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
3,818.52 £ (18,694.68 AED) |
3,439.88 £ (16,840.96 AED) |
-9.9 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
2,757.67 £ (13,500.97 AED) |
2,326.26 £ (11,388.89 AED) |
-15.6 % |
Buy Apartment Price | London Edit |
Dubai Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
1,291.12 £ (6,321.08 AED) |
517.52 £ (2,533.67 AED) |
-59.9 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
709.38 £ (3,472.98 AED) |
279.68 £ (1,369.23 AED) |
-60.6 % |
Salaries And Financing | London Edit |
Dubai Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
3,543.85 £ (17,349.94 AED) |
3,122.19 £ (15,285.58 AED) |
-11.9 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 4.66 | 4.46 | -4.4 % |
| Last update: | 8 December 2025 | 6 December 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 579 | 464 |
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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 |
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 |