Moving to United Arab Emirates from Minnesota

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Minnesota to United Arab Emirates? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Minnesota to United Arab Emirates, you would find that United Arab Emirates is 14.7% cheaper than Minnesota. A $75,000 salary in Minnesota would need to be roughly AED293,653 in United Arab Emirates to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Abu Dhabi averages 93°F vs 56°F in Saint Paul, making it significantly warmer.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Minnesota and United Arab Emirates.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 AED293,653

To maintain the same standard of living in United Arab Emirates

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 53.2% less

Groceries

pay 32.0% less

Transportation

pay 13.2% less

Housing

pay 12.6% more

Childcare

pay 62.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 15.0% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 3.67 AED (August 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Get free moving quotes to United Arab Emirates

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Minnesota to United Arab Emirates.

Living there in 2020
15,620 ↑ 9% vs 2015

people born in United States live in United Arab Emirates · UN DESA

Who's moving to United Arab Emirates?

Top countries of origin for United Arab Emirates's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in United Arab Emirates compared to Minnesota.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

MN
33.9%
AE
31.7%

United Arab Emirates performs significantly better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

MN
91.0%
AE
100.0%

United Arab Emirates performs significantly better than Minnesota across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MN
4.3%
AE
2.7%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

MN
$68,478
AE
$75,600

United Arab Emirates generally does better on employment & economy, though Minnesota leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

MN
79.1 yrs
AE
79.6 yrs

United Arab Emirates performs significantly better than Minnesota across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Saint Paul Rain: 28.5 in/yr (724 mm)
56° / 38°F

Avg. annual high / low

Abu Dhabi Rain: 3.5 in/yr (89 mm)
93° / 68°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Saint Paul Abu Dhabi
Jan–Mar 32°/16°F (0°/-9°C) 78°/56°F (26°/14°C)
Apr–Jun 69°/50°F (21°/10°C) 99°/72°F (37°/22°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/60°F (26°/16°C) 106°/81°F (41°/27°C)
Oct–Dec 43°/27°F (6°/-3°C) 87°/64°F (31°/18°C)
View all months
Month Saint Paul Abu Dhabi
Jan 25°/9°F (-4.1°/-12.6°C) 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.8°C)
Feb 30°/14°F (-1.3°/-9.9°C) 76°/56°F (24.6°/13.2°C)
Mar 42°/26°F (5.5°/-3.6°C) 83°/60°F (28.6°/15.8°C)
Apr 58°/39°F (14.7°/3.9°C) 92°/66°F (33.4°/19.1°C)
May 70°/50°F (21.2°/10.0°C) 101°/73°F (38.4°/22.8°C)
Jun 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) 103°/77°F (39.6°/24.8°C)
Jul 83°/65°F (28.5°/18.1°C) 108°/82°F (42.0°/27.6°C)
Aug 81°/62°F (27.1°/16.8°C) 107°/84°F (41.5°/28.7°C)
Sep 72°/53°F (22.2°/11.7°C) 104°/78°F (40.1°/25.6°C)
Oct 59°/40°F (14.8°/4.7°C) 96°/71°F (35.8°/21.8°C)
Nov 42°/28°F (5.6°/-2.4°C) 87°/64°F (30.6°/17.5°C)
Dec 28°/14°F (-2.5°/-10.1°C) 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and United Arab Emirates. To live, work, or study long-term in United Arab Emirates, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United Arab Emirates's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting United Arab Emirates

Visa on Arrival
United States passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in United Arab Emirates.
United Arab Emirates passport

United Arab Emirates passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
United Arab Emirates passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in United Arab Emirates than Minnesota?

On average United Arab Emirates is around 7% pricier than Minnesota, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to United Arab Emirates?

Budget about AED73,413 for 3 months in United Arab Emirates (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from United Arab Emirates?

From major United Arab Emirates cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Minnesota and United Arab Emirates are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in United Arab Emirates compared to Minnesota?

United Arab Emirates performs significantly better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in United Arab Emirates compared to Minnesota?

The average high temperature in Abu Dhabi is 93°F, compared to 56°F in Saint Paul. Abu Dhabi receives around 3.5 in of rainfall per year, while Saint Paul gets 28.5 in.

What language do they speak in United Arab Emirates?

The official language in United Arab Emirates is Arabic. In Minnesota, the official language is English.

Share this

At a Glance

AE
Population 5,303,925 9,915,803
Currency United States Dollar ($) United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)
Languages English Arabic
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +971
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 999