Travel budget and cost of living in the United Arab Emirates how much does a trip cost?

Travel budget in the United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates: calculate your travel budget

United Arab Emirates: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in the United Arab Emirates for 2 people.

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).

Cost of living in the United Arab Emirates in 2025

Cost of living: United Arab Emirates VS United States

On average, the cost of living in the United Arab Emirates in 2025 is 12% less than in the United States (USA).

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:

Cost of living in the United Arab Emirates by city

See the table below for the variation in the cost of living in different cities in the United Arab Emirates compared to the national average.

Local prices in the United Arab Emirates by expense type

United Arab Emirates: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 8.1/person
($ 4.9 to $ 21)

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59% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

3 course dinner

$ 32/person
($ 17 to $ 69)

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18% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 39

McDonald's meal

$ 9.5/person
($ 8.1 to $ 11)

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20% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Local beer

$ 11 for 500ml
($ 8.1 to $ 17)

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82% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6

Imported beer

$ 2.8 for 330ml
($ 1.6 to $ 4.9)

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23% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Cappuccino

$ 5.6/cup
($ 2.2 to $ 8.1)

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4% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Fizzy drink

$ 1/can
($ 0.7 to $ 2.7)

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58% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Water bottle

$ 0.6/bottle
($ 0.2 to $ 1.7)

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73% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

United Arab Emirates: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 123/night
($ 63 to $ 363)

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27% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 169

2-star hotel

$ 205/night
($ 68 to $ 818)

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24% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 166

3-star hotel

$ 168/night
($ 65 to $ 790)

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31% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 244

4-star hotel

$ 181/night
($ 78 to $ 832)

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47% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 346

5-star hotel

$ 302/night
($ 116 to $ 1135)

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47% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 577

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 120/month
($ 28 to $ 456)

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31% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 176

Room with kitchen

$ 245/month
($ 82 to $ 798)

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7% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 264

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 194/month
($ 88 to $ 539)

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13% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 223

Cottage or guest house

$ 140/month
($ 34 to $ 515)

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44% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 254

Family room

$ 363/month
($ 111 to $ 899)

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68% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 217

United Arab Emirates: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 1.9/litre
($ 1 to $ 3)

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70% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 1.4/500g
($ 0.8 to $ 2.8)

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60% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Rice

$ 2.2/kg
($ 1 to $ 4.1)

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52% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 3.1/12 eggs
($ 1.6 to $ 5.9)

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28% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.4

Chicken

$ 8.6/kg
($ 4.1 to $ 15)

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29% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 2.3/kg
($ 1.4 to $ 3.6)

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55% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Tomatoes

$ 1.3/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 2.2)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Potatoes

$ 1/kg
($ 0.7 to $ 1.5)

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63% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.9

Water bottle

$ 0.6
($ 0.5 to $ 0.8)

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73% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3

United Arab Emirates: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 1.4/ticket
($ 0.7 to $ 2.7)

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45% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Taxi (per km)

$ 0.7/km
($ 0.5 to $ 1.4)

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60% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8

Petrol

$ 0.8/litre
($ 0.7 to $ 0.8)

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13% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 3.3
($ 1.5 to $ 4.1)

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6% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Car hire

$ 33/24hrs
($ 24 to $ 56)

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60% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 83

United Arab Emirates: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 14/ticket
($ 11 to $ 23)

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9% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 16

Tennis

$ 40/hr
($ 20 to $ 55)

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76% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

United Arab Emirates: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 6.3/pack
($ 5.5 to $ 7.7)

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39% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10.4

Levi's jeans

$ 68
($ 24 to $ 124)

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24% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 54

Summer dress

$ 63
($ 23 to $ 110)

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45% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44

Plane ticket budget

Manchester → Dubai

$ 819
(fair price: $ 694)

London → Dubai

$ 648
(fair price: $ 546)

Dublin → Dubai

$ 775
(fair price: $ 652)

London → Abu Dhabi

$ 808
(fair price: $ 538)

Montreal → Dubai

$ 1291
(fair price: $ 1142)

Edinburgh → Dubai

$ 818
(fair price: $ 652)

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