Cost of Living · US vs AE
🇺🇸 New York vs 🇦🇪 Dubai: what everyday life costs
Monthly essentials: $2,410 in United States vs $1,546 in United Arab Emirates — 35.85% cheaper.
Biggest differences
Much cheaper in United Arab Emirates
- 🏙️ Rent: 1-bedroom, city center: -39.55%
- 🏡 Rent: 1-bedroom, outside center: -39.55%
- 🏢 Rent: 3-bedroom, city center: -39.55%
Closest to United States prices
- 🍻 Imported beer, 330ml bottle: -13.38%
- 👟 Running shoes (brand): -13.4%
- 👖 Jeans (mid-range brand): -13.4%
The full basket (32 items)
| Item | United States | United Arab Emirates | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| 🏙️ Rent: 1-bedroom, city center | $1,750 | $1,058 (3,886 AED) | -39.55% |
| 🏡 Rent: 1-bedroom, outside center | $1,400 | $846 (3,108 AED) | -39.55% |
| 🏢 Rent: 3-bedroom, city center | $3,200 | $1,934 (7,105 AED) | -39.55% |
| Food out | |||
| 🍜 Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $18.00 | $12.12 (45 AED) | -32.67% |
| 🍽️ Dinner for two, mid-range | $75.00 | $50.50 (185 AED) | -32.67% |
| 🍔 Fast-food combo meal | $11.00 | $7.68 (28 AED) | -30.18% |
| Groceries | |||
| 🥛 Milk, 1L | $1.10 | $0.83 (3 AED) | -24.55% |
| 🍞 Bread, fresh loaf 500g | $3.20 | $2.40 (9 AED) | -25% |
| 🥚 Eggs, dozen | $3.40 | $2.55 (9 AED) | -25% |
| 🍗 Chicken breast, 1kg | $10.00 | $7.50 (28 AED) | -25% |
| 🍚 White rice, 1kg | $4.00 | $3.00 (11 AED) | -25% |
| 🍎 Apples, 1kg | $4.80 | $3.60 (13 AED) | -25% |
| 🧀 Local cheese, 1kg | $12.00 | $9.00 (33 AED) | -25% |
| 💧 Water, 1.5L bottle | $2.00 | $1.50 (6 AED) | -25% |
| Drinks | |||
| 🍺 Domestic beer, pint (draught) | $6.00 | $4.04 (15 AED) | -32.67% |
| 🍻 Imported beer, 330ml bottle | $8.00 | $6.93 (25 AED) | -13.38% |
| ☕ Cappuccino | $5.00 | $3.37 (12 AED) | -32.6% |
| 🥤 Coke/Pepsi, 330ml | $2.30 | $1.73 (6 AED) | -24.78% |
| Transport | |||
| 🚇 Public transport, monthly pass | $65.00 | $45.37 (167 AED) | -30.2% |
| 🎫 Public transport, one-way | $2.75 | $1.92 (7 AED) | -30.18% |
| 🚕 Taxi start (normal tariff) | $4.00 | $2.69 (10 AED) | -32.75% |
| 🛣️ Taxi, per km | $1.80 | $1.21 (4 AED) | -32.78% |
| ⛽ Petrol/gasoline, 1L | $0.95 | $0.82 (3 AED) | -13.68% |
| Utilities & comms | |||
| 💡 Basic utilities, 85m² apartment | $200 | $140 (513 AED) | -30.2% |
| 🌐 Internet, 60Mbps+ unlimited | $70.00 | $48.86 (179 AED) | -30.2% |
| 📱 Mobile plan, 10GB+ data | $45.00 | $31.41 (115 AED) | -30.2% |
| Lifestyle | |||
| 🏋️ Gym membership, month | $50.00 | $33.67 (124 AED) | -32.66% |
| 🎬 Cinema seat | $14.00 | $9.43 (35 AED) | -32.64% |
| 💈 Men's haircut | $30.00 | $20.20 (74 AED) | -32.67% |
| 👖 Jeans (mid-range brand) | $55.00 | $47.63 (175 AED) | -13.4% |
| 👟 Running shoes (brand) | $90.00 | $77.94 (286 AED) | -13.4% |
| 💻 Coworking hot desk, month | $250 | $168 (618 AED) | -32.66% |
Estimated from World Bank — Consumption price levels with per-item elasticity — model figures, not quotes. Compare any pair in the interactive tool.
Related
Frequently asked questions
- How much cheaper is United Arab Emirates than United States?
- A single person's monthly essentials run about $1,546 in United Arab Emirates versus $2,410 in United States — 35.85% less. Rents differ the most; world-priced goods like petrol and electronics the least.
- What does a beer cost in United Arab Emirates?
- A domestic draught pint is roughly $4.04 in United Arab Emirates (≈ 14.84 AED), versus about $6.00 in United States.
- How much is rent in United Arab Emirates compared to United States?
- A 1-bedroom city-center apartment is estimated at $1,058/month in United Arab Emirates versus $1,750/month in United States (-39.55%). Housing is the most locally-priced item in the basket.
- How are these prices estimated?
- Curated US baseline prices scaled by each country's purchasing-power price level with per-item elasticities (housing 1.4, services 1.1, groceries 0.8, world-priced goods 0.4) — model estimates for orientation, not quotes.