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Dubai Vs Abu Dhabi: Rent, Living Costs - Where Can You Actually Afford to Live?

Ever tried to figure out whether Dubai or Abu Dhabi is the better choice in the UAE? It's a tough decision to make for sure, as both the iconic Emirates are known for being luxurious, full of potential, and offering a really good standard of living. But they each have their own unique feel, and the price tags on things can vary.

Kunal Gaur
Kunal Gaur, Content WriterAn Economist by Degree, Passionate About Sharing Thoughts on UAE, Science, Sports, and Art.
Dubai Housing
Dubai Housing
Real Estate
Dubai Vs Abu Dhabi: Rent, Living Costs - Where Can You Actually Afford to Live?

So, if you're thinking about packing your bags, investing in some real estate, or just wondering how these famous Emirates compare in terms of what you'd spend day-to-day, what kind of salary you could expect, how safe you'd be, and just the overall lifestyle. This detailed comparison showcased through charts and tables containing the recent data of both the countries tells it all. From a loaf of bread to apartment prices, public transport to preschool fees, this head-to-head breakdown reveals which city gives you more bang for your dirham.

Let's begin the comparison between the two iconic Emirates by showing the cost contrasts via charts and tables. The comparison will portray different sectors, day-to-day grocery items, public transport options, academic costs, and many more.

Cost of Living: Dubai Vs Abu Dhabi

COST OF LIVING

Grocery
S.No Item Dubai Difference Abu Dhabi
1 Milk (Regular),1 Liter 6.44 AED -4.99 6.12 AED
(1.75$) (1.67$)
2 Loaf of fresh white Bread (500g) 5.10 AED -7.68% 4.71AED
(1.39$) (4.71$)
3 Rice (White ) 1,kg 8.67 AED -27.10% 6.32 AED
(2.36$) (1.72 $)
4 Eggs (regular) (12) 11.22 AED -9.05% 10.21 AED
(3.06 $) (2.78 $)
5 Local cheese ( 1 kg) 33.95 AED -5.76% 32.00 AED
(9.24 $) (8.71 $)
6 Chicken Fillets 1kg 29.45 AED -7.29% 27.30 AED
(8.02 $) (7.43 $)
7 Beef Round (1kg) (Or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meet) 40.81 AED -1.73% 40.11 AED
(11.11 $) (10.92$)
8 Apples (1kg) 8.05 AED -4.43% 7.69 AED
(2.19 $) (2.69 $)
9 Banana (1kg) 6.68 AED -7.77% 6.16 AED
(1.82 $) (1.68 $)
10 Oranges(1 kg) 5.94 AED -2.15% 5.81 AED
(1.62 $) (1.58 $)
11 Tomata (1kg) 5.57 AED -11.96% 4.90 AED
(1.52 $) (1.58 $)
12 Potato (1 kg) 3.85 AED -10.13% 3.46 AED
(1.05 $) (0.94 $)
13 Onion (1 kg) 3.34 AED -5.20% 3.17 AED
(0.91 $) (0.86 $)
14 Lettuce ( 1 head) 5.52 AED -17.78% 4.54 AED
(1.50 $) (1.24 $)
15 Water (1.5 Liter bottle) 2.20 AED -6.81% 2.05 AED
(O.60 $) (0.56 $)
16 Bottle of Wine (Mid -Range) 50.00 AED 30.00% 65.00AED
(13.61 $) (17.70 $)
17 Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) 11.95 AED -3.64% 11.51 AED
(3.25 $) (3.25 $)
18 Imported Beer (0.33 Litter Bottle 20.19 AED -36.67% 12.79 AED
(5.50 $) (3.48 $)
19 Cigarettes 20 pack (Marlboro) 22.50 AED -2.22% 22.00 AED
(6.13$) (5.99$)
Restaurants
1 Meal,Inexpensive Restaurant 40.00 AED -26.25% 29.50 AED
(10.89 $) (8.03 $)
2 Meal for 2 people , Mid -range Restaurant Three-Course 250.00 AED -20.00% 200.00 AED
(68.06 $) (54.45 $)
3 Mc Meal At Mc donnalds or Equivalent combo meal 30.00 AED = 30.00 AED
(8.17 $) (8.17 $)
4 Domestic Beer (0.5L draught ) 45.00 AED -11.11% 400.00 AED
(12.25 $) (10.89 $)
5 Imported Beer (0.33L Bottle) 45.00 AED -11.11% 400.00 AED
(12.25 $) (10.89 $)
6 Cappuccino (Regular) 18.65 AED -5.71% 17.58 AED
(5.08 $) (4.79 $)
7 Coke / Pepsi (0.33 Litter Bottle 4.17 AED -21.83% 3.26 AED
(1.14 $) (0.89 $)
8 Water (0.33) Litter Bottle 2.15 AED -46.82% 1.15 AED
(0.59 $) (0.31 $)
Transport
1 One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) 5.00 AED -60.00% 2.00 AED
(1.36 $) (O.54 $)
2 Monthly Pass (Regular Price) 300.00 AED -73.33% 80.00 AED
(81.68 $) (21.78$)
3 Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) 3.00 AED = 12.00 AED
(3.27 $) (3.27$)
4 Taxi 1 Km (Normal Tariff) 3.00 AED -33.33% 2.00 AED
(0.82 $) (0.54 $)
5 Taxi 1 hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) 30.00 AED = 30.00 AED
(8.17 $) (8.17 $)
6 Grasoline ( 1 litert) 4.34 AED -7.03% 4.04 AED
(1.18 $) (1.10 $)
Utilies (Monthly)
1 Volkswagen golf 1.490 KW Trendline (or Equivalent New car ) 96,000.00 AED -11.98% 84,500.00 AED
(26,136,64 $) (23,005.69 $)
2 Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6197 KW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) 75,840.34 AED -1.37% 74,800.00 AED
(20,648.04 $) (20,364.80 $)
3 Basic (Electricity, Heating, Coolig ,Water,Garbage) For 85m 2 Apartment 584.80 AED -4.87% 556.35 AED
(159.22$) (151.47 $)
4 1 Min, Of Prepaid Mobile Tarff Local (No Daiscounts or plans) 0.46 AED 34.24% 0.61 AED
(0.12 $) (0.17 $)
5 Intennet (60 MBPS Or more Unlimited) Data,Cable /ADSL 372.52 AED 3.30% 384.80 AED
(101.42 $) (104.76 $)
Sports and Leisure
1 Fitness Club, Monthly Fee For 1 Adult 295.84 AED -13.19% 256.82 AED
(80.54 $) (69.92 $)
2 Tennis Court Rent (1 hour On weekend) 135.18 AED -3.83% 130.00 AED
(36.80 $) (35.39 $)
3 Cinema,International Release 45.00 AED = 45.00 AED
(12.25 $) (12.25 $)
Childcare
1 Preschool (Or Kinderegarten Full Day, Private Mothly for 1 Child) 2,676.07 AED -24.35% 2,024.51 AED
(728.58 $) (551.19 $)
2 International Primary School Yearly for 1 Child 46,734.43 AED -26.44% 34,376.92 AED
(12,723.76 $) (9,359.35 $)
Clothing and shoes
1 1 Pain of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar ) 235.18 AED -20.91% 186.00 AED
(64.03 $ ) (50.64 $)
2 1 Summer Dress in Chain Store (Zara, H$M….) 213.40 AED -23.81% 162.59 AED
(58.10 $) (44.27 $)
3 1 Pair Of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 296.89 AED -9.59% 325.36 AED
(80.83$) (88.58 $)
4 1 Pair Of Man Leather Business Shoes 328.36 AED -1.78% 322.53 AED
(89.90 $) (87.81 $)
Rent Per Month
1 Apartment (1 Bedroom ) in City Centre 5,884.44 AED 26.67% 7,453.63 AED
(1,602.08$) (2,029.30 $)
2 Apartment (1 Bedroom ) Outside Of Center 3,576.81 AED 14.01% 4,078.09 AED
(973.81 $) (1,110.29 $)
3 Apartment ( 3 Bedrooms) in City Centre 10,768.40 AED -12.80% 9,390.38 AED
(2,931.77$) (2,556.59 $)
4 Apartment ( 3 Bedrooms) Outside of Centre) 7,193.03 AED O.40 7,222.08 AED
(1,958.38 $) (1,966.26 $)
Buy Apartment price
1 Price Par Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Center 14,665.84 AED -18.99% 11,881.07 AED
(3,992.87$) (3,234.70$)
2 Price Par Square Meter to Buy Apartment in Outside of Centre 9,021.83 AED 7.08% 9,660.86 AED
(2,456.25 $) (2,630.23 $)
Salaries and Financing
1 Average Monthly Next Salary (After TAX) 17,134.88AED -34.03% 11,303.58 AED
(4,665.08 $) (30,77.48$)
2 Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages Yearly,for 20 Years Fixed Rate 3.72 15.82% 4.31
CRIME
S.NO Item Dubai Abu Dhabi
1 Level of Crime 12.21 6.75
Very Low Very Low
2 Crime Increasing in The Post 3 Years 41.16 41.16
Moderate Low
3 Worries Home Broken and Things Stolen 14.62 9.4
Very Low Very Low
4 Worries Being mugged Or Robbed 12.91 8.21
Very Low Very Low
5 Worries Car Stolen 10.61 7.42
Very Low Very Low
6 Worries Things Form Car Stolen 16.19 10.7
Very Low Very Low
7 Worries Being Insulted 18.62 13.69
Very Low Very Low
8 13.69 9.8
Very Low Very Low
9 Problem People Using or Dealing drugs 18.33 14.68
Very Low Very Low
10 Problem Property Crims Such as Vandlism and Theft 16.71 11.42
Very Low Very Low
11 Problem Violent Crimes Such as Assault and Armed Robbery 12.29 8.5
Very Low Very Low
12 Problem Corruption and Bribery 24.47 20.06
Low Low
13 Saferty walking alone During day light 91.72 92.62
Veary High Veary High
14 Saferty walking alone during night 83.41 85.88
Veary High Veary High
Quality of Life
1 Purchasing Power Index 133.28 93.51
Veary High Veary High
2 Cost of Living Index 63.23 55.97
Moderate Low
3 Property Price of Income 3.46 4.76
Very Low Very Low
4 Safety Index 83.76 88.38
Veary High Veary High
5 Health Care Index 67.81 73.1
Veary High Veary High
6 Climate Index 50.27 43.89
Moderate Moderate
7 Quality of Life Index 176.93 172.83
Veary High Veary High

Conclusion

The Verdict: Dubai or Abu Dhabi?

Once you compare everything from how much you'll spend on basics like food and gas to what you'll pay for rent, what your salary might be, and the kind of lifestyle you can expect, you realize Dubai and Abu Dhabi each have their own appeal. Dubai is definitely the more go-getting, fast-moving place, and hence, it'll likely cost you a bit more in several areas. But what you get is amazing connections to the world and a really vibrant, international atmosphere. 

Abu Dhabi, on the other hand, edges ahead in affordability across several day-to-day costs and scores higher in safety and purchasing power. Ultimately, the better choice depends on your lifestyle preferences, so whether you crave the hustle of Dubai that its city lifestyle pours you into or the calm sophistication of Abu Dhabi. One thing’s for sure that life in either city is anything but ordinary.

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