Travel budget and cost of living in the United Arab Emirates how much does a trip cost?
Are you planning to go to the United Arab Emirates and need to budget for your trip? On this page you can see sample prices. This enables you to get to grips with actual prices and the cost of living in the United Arab Emirates. Then, why not use our free tool to calculate your United Arab Emirates travel budget.
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.
Low budget
(backpacker)
Daily budget:
- $ 52 for 2 ppl.
- $ 12 per person
- $ 8.3 per person
- Free activities
Total budget:
$ 1281* (4704 AED)
Average budget
(traveller)
Daily budget:
- $ 109 for 2 ppl.
- $ 33 per person
- $ 13 per person
- $ 13 per person
Total budget:
$ 3131* (11508 AED)
High budget
(tourist)
Daily budget:
- $ 121 for 2 ppl.
- $ 58 per person
- $ 19 per person
- $ 25 per person
Total budget:
$ 4514* (16590 AED)
* 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 2023
Cost of living: United Arab Emirates VS United States
On average, the cost of living in the United Arab Emirates in 2023 is 10% 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:
Explore each type of expense in detail:
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.
| Cities | /United Arab Emirates | View Details |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | 4% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Dubai |
| Abu Dhabi | 2% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Abu Dhabi |
| Sharjah | 9% less | Travel budget and cost of living in Sharjah |
| Ajman | 35% less | Travel budget and cost of living in Ajman |
Local prices in the United Arab Emirates by expense type
United Arab Emirates: Restaurant budget
On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in the United Arab Emirates costs 8% less than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
$ 9.5/person
($ 3.6 to $ 19)
($ 3.6 to $ 19)
52% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 213 course dinner
$ 28/person
($ 14 to $ 69)
($ 14 to $ 69)
28% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 39McDonald's meal
$ 8.2/person
($ 6.6 to $ 10)
($ 6.6 to $ 10)
18% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11Local beer
$ 9.5 for 500ml
($ 5.5 to $ 17)
($ 5.5 to $ 17)
59% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6Imported beer
$ 6.8 for 330ml
($ 2 to $ 18)
($ 2 to $ 18)
95% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5Cappuccino
$ 5.1/cup
($ 2.7 to $ 9.5)
($ 2.7 to $ 9.5)
6% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9Fizzy drink
$ 1.2/can
($ 0.7 to $ 2.7)
($ 0.7 to $ 2.7)
52% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.4Water bottle
$ 0.5/bottle
($ 0.3 to $ 2)
($ 0.3 to $ 2)
71% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1United Arab Emirates: Hotel and accommodation budget
On average, hotel and accommodation budget in the United Arab Emirates costs 20% less than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
$ 85/night
($ 66 to $ 120)
($ 66 to $ 120)
28% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1182-star hotel
$ 116/night
($ 84 to $ 190)
($ 84 to $ 190)
17% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1403-star hotel
$ 102/night
($ 61 to $ 254)
($ 61 to $ 254)
49% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2034-star hotel
$ 139/night
($ 84 to $ 341)
($ 84 to $ 341)
53% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3015-star hotel
$ 261/night
($ 145 to $ 514)
($ 145 to $ 514)
57% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 607Hostel/Youth Hostel
$ 62/month
($ 43 to $ 113)
($ 43 to $ 113)
53% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 133Room with kitchen
$ 168/month
($ 92 to $ 415)
($ 92 to $ 415)
17% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 203Hotel with swimming pool
$ 158/month
($ 87 to $ 368)
($ 87 to $ 368)
14% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 185Cottage or guest house
$ 277/month
($ 161 to $ 467)
($ 161 to $ 467)
10% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 252Family room
$ 331/month
($ 173 to $ 672)
($ 173 to $ 672)
76% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 189United Arab Emirates: Supermarket food budget
On average, the price of supermarket food in the United Arab Emirates costs 39% less than in the United States (USA).
Milk
$ 2/litre
($ 1.1 to $ 3.3)
($ 1.1 to $ 3.3)
88% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1Bread
$ 1.4/500g
($ 0.9 to $ 2.7)
($ 0.9 to $ 2.7)
61% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6Rice
$ 2.3/kg
($ 1.1 to $ 5.5)
($ 1.1 to $ 5.5)
50% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6Eggs
$ 3.1/12 eggs
($ 1.5 to $ 5.2)
($ 1.5 to $ 5.2)
28% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.3Chicken
$ 7.5/kg
($ 3.3 to $ 14)
($ 3.3 to $ 14)
38% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13Apples
$ 2.2/kg
($ 1.1 to $ 3.1)
($ 1.1 to $ 3.1)
60% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.4Tomatoes
$ 1.3/kg
($ 0.9 to $ 2.2)
($ 0.9 to $ 2.2)
71% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.7Potatoes
$ 1.1/kg
($ 0.5 to $ 2.7)
($ 0.5 to $ 2.7)
64% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.1Water bottle
$ 0.7
($ 0.4 to $ 1)
($ 0.4 to $ 1)
72% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2United Arab Emirates: Public and private transport budget
On average, the price of transport in the United Arab Emirates costs 28% less than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
$ 2.1/ticket
($ 0.5 to $ 4.4)
($ 0.5 to $ 4.4)
18% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5Taxi (per km)
$ 0.9/km
($ 0.5 to $ 2.2)
($ 0.5 to $ 2.2)
52% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7Petrol
$ 0.9/litre
($ 0.8 to $ 1.2)
($ 0.8 to $ 1.2)
9% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 3.3
($ 2.1 to $ 5.5)
($ 2.1 to $ 5.5)
7% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5Car hire
$ 15/24hrs
($ 4.4 to $ 149)
($ 4.4 to $ 149)
53% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 31United Arab Emirates: Leisure activity budget
On average, budget for leisure activities in the United Arab Emirates is 30% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
$ 13/ticket
($ 9.5 to $ 17)
($ 9.5 to $ 17)
5% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14Tennis
$ 35/hr
($ 17 to $ 55)
($ 17 to $ 55)
64% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21United Arab Emirates: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes
On average, shopping budget in the United Arab Emirates is 7% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
$ 6.1/pack
($ 5.5 to $ 7.7)
($ 5.5 to $ 7.7)
32% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 9Levi's jeans
$ 61
($ 19 to $ 110)
($ 19 to $ 110)
14% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 53Summer dress
$ 61
($ 22 to $ 108)
($ 22 to $ 108)
39% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 43Plane ticket budget
New York City → Dubai
$ 983
(fair price: $ 819)
(fair price: $ 819)
London → Dubai
$ 403
(fair price: $ 346)
(fair price: $ 346)
Sydney → Dubai
$ 1486
(fair price: $ 1254)
(fair price: $ 1254)
Manchester → Dubai
$ 519
(fair price: $ 448)
(fair price: $ 448)
Melbourne → Dubai
$ 1457
(fair price: $ 1249)
(fair price: $ 1249)
Dublin → Dubai
$ 523
(fair price: $ 410)
(fair price: $ 410)
About the information on the cost of living in the United Arab Emirates
The information about the cost of living in the United Arab Emirates shown on this page comes from multiple sources, including : Numbeo, Skyscanner and Hotels.com.
Information about cost of living in the United Arab Emirates updated on 23-11-2023.
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