United States vs. United Arab Emirates Cost of Living Summary

United States is 64.8% more expensive than United Arab Emirates overall.

Restaurants
pay 2.4 times more in United States
Groceries
pay 2.1 times more in United States
Transportation
pay 34.4% more in United States
Housing
pay 15.5% more in United States
Childcare
pay 2.7 times more in United States
Entertainment and Sports
pay 5.2% less in United States
Clothing
pay 13.0% less in United States

The cost of childcare, restaurants, groceries, transportation, and housing in United States are more expensive than in United Arab Emirates. Expenses including clothing and entertainment and sports are lower in United States. Notably, childcare, restaurants, and groceries are significantly more expensive in United States.

United States vs. United Arab Emirates Cost Breakdown

If you lived in United States instead of United Arab Emirates, you would:

pay 2.4 times more for restaurants

 
United Arab Emirates
United States
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $8.01
AED29.44
$18.59
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$8.22
AED30.19
$10.47
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $1.02
AED3.73
$2.50
 

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pay 2.1 times more for groceries

 
United Arab Emirates
United States
Bread
1 loaf
$1.26
AED4.64
$3.49
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.08
AED18.66
$6.33
 
Milk (1 gallon) $6.80
AED24.96
$3.91
 

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pay 34.4% more for transportation

 
United Arab Emirates
United States
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.06
AED11.23
$3.61
 
Monthly public transit pass $48.60
AED178.50
$65.15
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $42,240.06
AED155,148.17
$31,583.67
 

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pay 15.5% more for housing

 
United Arab Emirates
United States
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$95.75
AED351.70
$67.50
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,395.59
AED5,126.00
$1,655.99
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $985.52
AED3,619.84
$1,423.40
 

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pay 2.7 times more for childcare

 
United Arab Emirates
United States
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $507.75
AED1,864.99
$1,351.84
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $8,162.28
AED29,980.14
$22,265.44
 

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pay 5.2% less for entertainment and sports

 
United Arab Emirates
United States
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $10.55
AED38.75
$5.78
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $5.03
AED18.46
$5.04
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$6.23
AED22.88
$9.68
 

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pay 13.0% less for clothing

 
United Arab Emirates
United States
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$64.14
AED235.60
$50.38
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$64.91
AED238.43
$40.66
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$93.31
AED342.72
$85.52
 

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: January 2025
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