United Arab Emirates
A futuristic desert city of record-breaking skyscrapers, luxury shopping, and artificial islands. Tax-free living attracts professionals from around the globe.
#19 of 250
121% above average
Monthly cost, one adult
$ 3 206
Based on NYC = 100 index
Dubai is the 19. most expensive of the 250 cities we track — a month here comes to $ 3 206 for one adult.
Most of that goes on housing, which runs 123% above the median city and adds $ 1 284 a month: 1br apartment (city center) $ 2 723, 1br apartment (outside center) $ 1 929. It is also pricier than usual for utilities.
Cheaper here than almost anywhere else is transportation, 25% below the median: taxi start $ 3, taxi 1km $ 0.60.
Percentages compare this city against the median of all tracked cities, category by category.
38 prices on this page come from live scrapers (6 sources, observed September 17, 2026 to October 13, 2026). They are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit CostCompass and link this page.
CostCompass (2026). Cost of living in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Data as of 2026-10-14. https://costcompass.net/living/cities/dubai. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
| Item | Price (USD) | Observations | Last observed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (City Center) | 2,722.94 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Property Finder |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside Center) | 1,928.66 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Property Finder |
| 3BR Apartment (City Center) | 5,445.88 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Property Finder |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside Center) | 5,332.33 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Property Finder |
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | 6.83 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Carrefour, Choithrams |
| Beef (1kg) | 16.36 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Carrefour, Choithrams |
| Fish Fillet (1kg) | 14.39 / item | 1 | 2026-09-17 | Carrefour |
| Deli Meat / Ham (1kg) | 3.58 / item | 1 | 2026-09-17 | Carrefour |
| Milk (1 liter) | 1.69 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Carrefour, Choithrams |
| Yogurt (150g) | 1.23 / item | 1 | 2026-09-17 | Carrefour |
| Cheese (1kg) | 4.87 / item | 1 | 2026-09-17 | Carrefour |
| Butter (200g) | 4.39 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Carrefour, Choithrams |
| Eggs (12) | 2.70 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Carrefour, Choithrams |
| Bread (500g) | 1.46 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Carrefour, Choithrams |
| Bread Roll (1pc) | 0.10 / item | 1 | 2026-09-17 | Carrefour |
| Pasta (500g) | 2.17 / item | 1 | 2026-09-17 | Carrefour |
| Rice (1kg) | 2.25 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Carrefour, Choithrams |
| Oats (500g) | 6.06 / item | 1 | 2026-09-17 | Carrefour |
| Potatoes (1kg) | 0.95 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Carrefour, Choithrams |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | 3.14 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Carrefour, Choithrams |
| Bell Peppers (1kg) | 2.00 / item | 1 | 2026-09-17 | Carrefour |
| Carrots (1kg) | 2.07 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Carrefour, Choithrams |
| Onions (1kg) | 2.43 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Carrefour, Choithrams |
| Garlic (1kg) | 0.81 / item | 1 | 2026-09-17 | Carrefour |
| Apples (1kg) | 2.53 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Carrefour, Choithrams |
| Banana (1kg) | 2.73 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Carrefour, Choithrams |
| Oranges (1kg) | 2.19 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Carrefour, Choithrams |
| Lentils (1kg) | 2.57 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Carrefour, Choithrams |
| Canned Tomatoes (400g) | 1.73 / item | 1 | 2026-09-17 | Carrefour |
| Sunflower Oil (1L) | 4.22 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Carrefour, Choithrams |
| Flour (1kg) | 1.63 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Carrefour, Choithrams |
| Sugar (1kg) | 1.06 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Carrefour, Choithrams |
| Coffee (250g) | 7.28 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Carrefour, Choithrams |
| Water (1.5 liter) | 1.28 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Carrefour, Choithrams |
| Orange Juice (1L) | 1.91 / item | 1 | 2026-09-17 | Carrefour |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 1.17 / liter | 1 | 2026-10-13 | National fuel price sources |
| Cold Medicine (6 days) | 3.25 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Global Local Pharmacies |
| Business Shoes (Leather) | 57.18 / pair | 1 | 2026-10-12 | Local Shoe Stores (world) |
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Similar share of Housing & Utilities
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Similar share of Housing & Basic Grocery Basket
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Similar share of Housing & Basic Grocery Basket
Monthly average costs by category
$ 2 326
per month
$ 125
per month
$ 219
per month
$ 48
per month
$ 292
per month
$ 142
per month
$ 29
per month
$ 26
per month