Cost of living comparison
Abu Dhabi is 8.0% more expensive than United Arab Emirates overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 7.8% more in Abu Dhabi
- Groceries
-
pay 11.4% more in Abu Dhabi
- Transportation
-
pay 14.6% less in Abu Dhabi
- Housing
-
pay 2.4% more in Abu Dhabi
- Childcare
-
pay 44.5% more in Abu Dhabi
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 0.2% more in Abu Dhabi
- Clothing
-
pay 4.1% more in Abu Dhabi
The cost of childcare, groceries, restaurants, clothing, housing, and entertainment and sports in Abu Dhabi are more expensive than in United Arab Emirates.
If you lived in Abu Dhabi instead of United Arab Emirates, you would:
pay 7.8% more for restaurants
|
United Arab Emirates
|
Abu Dhabi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$8.01
AED29.43
|
$10.89
AED40.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$8.22
AED30.18
|
$9.53
AED35.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.02
AED3.73
|
$1.08
AED3.95
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.57
AED2.09
|
$0.42
AED1.53
|
|
pay 11.4% more for groceries
|
United Arab Emirates
|
Abu Dhabi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.26
AED4.64
|
$1.37
AED5.03
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.08
AED18.66
|
$4.80
AED17.63
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.80
AED24.96
|
$6.85
AED25.17
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.47
AED9.07
|
$3.16
AED11.62
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.33
AED12.21
|
$3.61
AED13.24
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.94
AED3.47
|
$1.00
AED3.67
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.74
AED2.72
|
$0.82
AED3.00
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.72
AED2.64
|
$0.81
AED2.97
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.56
AED2.07
|
$0.69
AED2.52
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.45
AED1.64
|
$0.50
AED1.83
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.47
AED1.74
|
$0.58
AED2.13
|
|
pay 14.6% less for transportation
|
United Arab Emirates
|
Abu Dhabi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.06
AED11.23
|
$3.03
AED11.11
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$48.60
AED178.48
|
$24.50
AED89.99
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$42,240.06
AED155,132.97
|
$45,026.41
AED165,366.24
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$8.46
AED31.07
|
$7.23
AED26.56
|
|
pay 2.4% more for housing
|
United Arab Emirates
|
Abu Dhabi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$95.75
AED351.66
|
$103.04
AED378.43
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,395.59
AED5,125.50
|
$1,349.31
AED4,955.53
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$985.52
AED3,619.49
|
$1,005.59
AED3,693.20
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$115.48
AED424.11
|
$119.02
AED437.10
|
|
pay 44.5% more for childcare
|
United Arab Emirates
|
Abu Dhabi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$507.75
AED1,864.80
|
$669.40
AED2,458.46
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$8,162.28
AED29,977.20
|
$12,841.46
AED47,162.17
|
|
pay 0.2% more for entertainment and sports
|
United Arab Emirates
|
Abu Dhabi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$10.55
AED38.75
|
$10.89
AED40.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.03
AED18.46
|
$5.88
AED21.61
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$6.23
AED22.87
|
$6.13
AED22.50
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$84.91
AED311.85
|
$64.83
AED238.11
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.83
AED47.12
|
$13.61
AED50.00
|
|
pay 4.1% more for clothing
|
United Arab Emirates
|
Abu Dhabi
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$64.14
AED235.57
|
$67.20
AED246.79
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$64.91
AED238.40
|
$62.59
AED229.88
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$93.31
AED342.68
|
$103.06
AED378.52
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$96.50
AED354.40
|
$100.93
AED370.68
|
|
Change currency:
Help us improve these prices
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Abu Dhabi or United Arab Emirates. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.