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:
- $ 53 for 2 ppl.
- $ 9.7 per person
- $ 5.7 per person
- Free activities
Total budget:
$ 1168* (4172 AED)
Average budget
(traveller)
Daily budget:
- $ 106 for 2 ppl.
- $ 32 per person
- $ 9 per person
- $ 12 per person
Total budget:
$ 2913* (10388 AED)
High budget
(tourist)
Daily budget:
- $ 118 for 2 ppl.
- $ 60 per person
- $ 14 per person
- $ 23 per person
Total budget:
$ 4296* (15330 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 2021
Cost of living: United Arab Emirates VS United States
On average, the cost of living in the United Arab Emirates in 2021 is 4% 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 | 11% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Dubai |
| Abu Dhabi | 6% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Abu Dhabi |
| Sharjah | 2% more | Travel budget and cost of living in Sharjah |
| Ajman | 2% 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 is essentially the same as in the United States (USA).
Lunch
$ 6.9/person
($ 3.3 to $ 16)
($ 3.3 to $ 16)
54% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 163 course dinner
$ 29/person
($ 13 to $ 71)
($ 13 to $ 71)
10% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 32McDonald's meal
$ 6.9/person
($ 6.9 to $ 8.4)
($ 6.9 to $ 8.4)
14% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 8.2Local beer
$ 12 for 500ml
($ 6.9 to $ 16)
($ 6.9 to $ 16)
119% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1Imported beer
$ 4.9 for 330ml
($ 1.9 to $ 12)
($ 1.9 to $ 12)
67% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.9Cappuccino
$ 4.9/cup
($ 1.7 to $ 7.3)
($ 1.7 to $ 7.3)
10% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.4Fizzy drink
$ 1/can
($ 0.7 to $ 2.3)
($ 0.7 to $ 2.3)
50% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2Water bottle
$ 0.4/bottle
($ 0.2 to $ 1.1)
($ 0.2 to $ 1.1)
75% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.6United Arab Emirates: Hotel and accommodation budget
On average, hotel and accommodation budget in the United Arab Emirates costs 15% less than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
$ 81/night
($ 61 to $ 124)
($ 61 to $ 124)
26% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1092-star hotel
$ 101/night
($ 79 to $ 132)
($ 79 to $ 132)
20% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1263-star hotel
$ 110/night
($ 84 to $ 157)
($ 84 to $ 157)
38% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1804-star hotel
$ 125/night
($ 89 to $ 182)
($ 89 to $ 182)
52% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2625-star hotel
$ 257/night
($ 161 to $ 420)
($ 161 to $ 420)
49% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 510Hotel/Youth Hostel
$ 55/month
($ 51 to $ 61)
($ 51 to $ 61)
54% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 122Room with kitchen
$ 187/month
($ 141 to $ 257)
($ 141 to $ 257)
11% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 169Hotel with swimming pool
$ 163/month
($ 103 to $ 254)
($ 103 to $ 254)
1% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 165Cottage or guest house
$ 242/month
($ 174 to $ 371)
($ 174 to $ 371)
9% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 223Family room
$ 291/month
($ 143 to $ 514)
($ 143 to $ 514)
67% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 175United Arab Emirates: Supermarket food budget
On average, the price of supermarket food in the United Arab Emirates costs 34% less than in the United States (USA).
Milk
$ 1.6/litre
($ 1.1 to $ 2.7)
($ 1.1 to $ 2.7)
80% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9Bread
$ 1.2/500g
($ 0.6 to $ 2.7)
($ 0.6 to $ 2.7)
55% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.8Rice
$ 1.9/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 3.9)
($ 0.8 to $ 3.9)
53% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.1Eggs
$ 2.5/12 eggs
($ 1.4 to $ 4.3)
($ 1.4 to $ 4.3)
9% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.4Chicken
$ 6.3/kg
($ 2.7 to $ 11)
($ 2.7 to $ 11)
33% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 9.5Apples
$ 2.2/kg
($ 1.4 to $ 2.7)
($ 1.4 to $ 2.7)
54% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6Tomatoes
$ 1.3/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 2.3)
($ 0.6 to $ 2.3)
69% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.4Potatoes
$ 1/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 1.4)
($ 0.6 to $ 1.4)
63% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6Water bottle
$ 0.6
($ 0.5 to $ 0.8)
($ 0.5 to $ 0.8)
67% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8United Arab Emirates: Public and private transport budget
On average, the price of transport in the United Arab Emirates costs 33% less than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
$ 1.4/ticket
($ 0.6 to $ 2.7)
($ 0.6 to $ 2.7)
38% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2Taxi (per km)
$ 0.6/km
($ 0.5 to $ 1.1)
($ 0.5 to $ 1.1)
66% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7Petrol
$ 0.6/litre
($ 0.5 to $ 0.8)
($ 0.5 to $ 0.8)
13% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.7Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 3.3
($ 1.6 to $ 3.7)
($ 1.6 to $ 3.7)
1% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.3Car hire
$ 21/24hrs
($ 6 to $ 73)
($ 6 to $ 73)
48% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 40United Arab Emirates: Leisure activity budget
On average, budget for leisure activities in the United Arab Emirates is 43% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
$ 12/ticket
($ 9.7 to $ 16)
($ 9.7 to $ 16)
9% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13Tennis
$ 33/hr
($ 14 to $ 57)
($ 14 to $ 57)
95% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 17United Arab Emirates: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes
On average, shopping budget in the United Arab Emirates is 15% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
$ 6.1/pack
($ 5.6 to $ 6.9)
($ 5.6 to $ 6.9)
25% less than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 8.2Levi's jeans
$ 59
($ 22 to $ 113)
($ 22 to $ 113)
29% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 46Summer dress
$ 53
($ 20 to $ 84)
($ 20 to $ 84)
40% more than in the United States (USA)
Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38Plane ticket budget
London → Dubai
$ 413
(fair price: $ 365)
(fair price: $ 365)
Manchester → Dubai
$ 524
(fair price: $ 443)
(fair price: $ 443)
Dublin → Dubai
$ 515
(fair price: $ 419)
(fair price: $ 419)
London → Abu Dhabi
$ 486
(fair price: $ 367)
(fair price: $ 367)
New York City → Dubai
$ 823
(fair price: $ 698)
(fair price: $ 698)
Manchester → Abu Dhabi
$ 584
(fair price: $ 477)
(fair price: $ 477)
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 29-09-2021.