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:
- $ 57 for 2 ppl.
- $ 13 per person
- $ 9.1 per person
- Free activities
Total budget:
$ 1409* (4648 AED)
Average budget
(traveller)
Daily budget:
- $ 113 for 2 ppl.
- $ 38 per person
- $ 14 per person
- $ 14 per person
Total budget:
$ 3375* (11130 AED)
High budget
(tourist)
Daily budget:
- $ 123 for 2 ppl.
- $ 67 per person
- $ 21 per person
- $ 28 per person
Total budget:
$ 4910* (16198 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 9% 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 | 4% less | Travel budget and cost of living in Abu Dhabi |
| Sharjah | 11% less | Travel budget and cost of living in Sharjah |
| Ajman | 32% 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 6% less than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
$ 9.1/person
($ 4.1 to $ 20)
($ 4.1 to $ 20)
59% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 233 course dinner
$ 32/person
($ 13 to $ 72)
($ 13 to $ 72)
29% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44McDonald's meal
$ 9.1/person
($ 7.3 to $ 10.6)
($ 7.3 to $ 10.6)
18% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12Local beer
$ 12 for 500ml
($ 6.6 to $ 17)
($ 6.6 to $ 17)
79% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.7Imported beer
$ 7.3 for 330ml
($ 2.2 to $ 20)
($ 2.2 to $ 20)
94% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8Cappuccino
$ 5.6/cup
($ 3 to $ 8.2)
($ 3 to $ 8.2)
7% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3Fizzy drink
$ 1.2/can
($ 0.7 to $ 2.9)
($ 0.7 to $ 2.9)
54% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6Water bottle
$ 0.7/bottle
($ 0.4 to $ 2.3)
($ 0.4 to $ 2.3)
67% 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
$ 93/night
($ 73 to $ 126)
($ 73 to $ 126)
26% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1262-star hotel
$ 121/night
($ 96 to $ 155)
($ 96 to $ 155)
17% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1473-star hotel
$ 106/night
($ 69 to $ 202)
($ 69 to $ 202)
50% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2114-star hotel
$ 140/night
($ 94 to $ 260)
($ 94 to $ 260)
55% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3165-star hotel
$ 286/night
($ 162 to $ 531)
($ 162 to $ 531)
58% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 684Hostel/Youth Hostel
$ 61/month
($ 53 to $ 70)
($ 53 to $ 70)
53% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 131Room with kitchen
$ 152/month
($ 106 to $ 267)
($ 106 to $ 267)
27% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 208Hotel with swimming pool
$ 165/month
($ 97 to $ 318)
($ 97 to $ 318)
14% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 193Cottage or guest house
$ 322/month
($ 183 to $ 550)
($ 183 to $ 550)
26% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 257Family room
$ 348/month
($ 213 to $ 610)
($ 213 to $ 610)
76% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 199United Arab Emirates: Supermarket food budget
On average, the price of supermarket food in the United Arab Emirates costs 38% less than in the United States (USA).
Milk
$ 2.2/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 3.6)
($ 1.2 to $ 3.6)
87% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1Bread
$ 1.6/500g
($ 1 to $ 3)
($ 1 to $ 3)
60% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9Rice
$ 2.6/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 6.1)
($ 1.2 to $ 6.1)
44% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.7Eggs
$ 3.3/12 eggs
($ 1.8 to $ 5.5)
($ 1.8 to $ 5.5)
34% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1Chicken
$ 8.5/kg
($ 3.6 to $ 16)
($ 3.6 to $ 16)
37% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14Apples
$ 2.4/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 3.3)
($ 1.3 to $ 3.3)
56% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.5Tomatoes
$ 1.6/kg
($ 1 to $ 2.4)
($ 1 to $ 2.4)
69% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1Potatoes
$ 1.3/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 3)
($ 0.6 to $ 3)
58% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.1Water bottle
$ 0.7
($ 0.5 to $ 1.2)
($ 0.5 to $ 1.2)
71% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.4United 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
$ 2.3/ticket
($ 0.6 to $ 4.9)
($ 0.6 to $ 4.9)
18% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.8Taxi (per km)
$ 1/km
($ 0.6 to $ 2.4)
($ 0.6 to $ 2.4)
48% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9Petrol
$ 1.1/litre
($ 0.8 to $ 1.3)
($ 0.8 to $ 1.3)
7% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 3.6
($ 2.2 to $ 5.9)
($ 2.2 to $ 5.9)
7% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9Car hire
$ 16/24hrs
($ 6 to $ 93)
($ 6 to $ 93)
58% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38United Arab Emirates: Leisure activity budget
On average, budget for leisure activities in the United Arab Emirates is 32% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
$ 14/ticket
($ 10.6 to $ 18)
($ 10.6 to $ 18)
0% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14Tennis
$ 35/hr
($ 16 to $ 57)
($ 16 to $ 57)
65% 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 essentially the same as in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
$ 6.7/pack
($ 6.1 to $ 8.5)
($ 6.1 to $ 8.5)
33% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10.1Levi's jeans
$ 63
($ 17 to $ 122)
($ 17 to $ 122)
8% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 58Summer dress
$ 61
($ 22 to $ 96)
($ 22 to $ 96)
32% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 46Plane ticket budget
London → Dubai
$ 433
(fair price: $ 396)
(fair price: $ 396)
Manchester → Dubai
$ 543
(fair price: $ 484)
(fair price: $ 484)
Dublin → Dubai
$ 544
(fair price: $ 446)
(fair price: $ 446)
New York City → Dubai
$ 944
(fair price: $ 777)
(fair price: $ 777)
London → Abu Dhabi
$ 428
(fair price: $ 278)
(fair price: $ 278)
Sydney → Dubai
$ 1462
(fair price: $ 1254)
(fair price: $ 1254)
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, Easyvoyage and Hotels.com.
Information about cost of living in the United Arab Emirates updated on 30-05-2023.
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