Cost of living comparison
Dubai is 2.8 times more expensive than China overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 3.0 times more in Dubai
- Groceries
-
pay 45.5% more in Dubai
- Transportation
-
pay 2.1 times more in Dubai
- Housing
-
pay 6.6 times more in Dubai
- Childcare
-
pay 20.0% more in Dubai
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 3.9 times more in Dubai
- Clothing
-
pay 42.4% more in Dubai
The cost of housing, entertainment and sports, restaurants, transportation, groceries, and clothing in Dubai are more expensive than in China. Notably, housing, entertainment and sports, and restaurants are significantly more expensive in Dubai.
If you lived in Dubai instead of China, you would:
pay 3.0 times more for restaurants
|
China
|
Dubai
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$2.85
CN¥20.46
|
$10.89
AED40.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$5.07
CN¥36.31
|
$9.53
AED35.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.49
CN¥3.51
|
$1.30
AED4.78
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.30
CN¥2.15
|
$1.11
AED4.08
|
|
pay 45.5% more for groceries
|
China
|
Dubai
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.59
CN¥11.41
|
$1.48
AED5.43
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.85
CN¥41.94
|
$4.37
AED16.07
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.86
CN¥49.18
|
$6.78
AED24.89
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.60
CN¥11.44
|
$3.23
AED11.86
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.54
CN¥11.05
|
$3.81
AED14.00
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.76
CN¥5.47
|
$1.11
AED4.06
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.57
CN¥4.11
|
$0.83
AED3.05
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.65
CN¥4.69
|
$0.86
AED3.17
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.52
CN¥3.75
|
$0.69
AED2.54
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.32
CN¥2.30
|
$0.52
AED1.92
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.40
CN¥2.87
|
$0.67
AED2.47
|
|
pay 2.1 times more for transportation
|
China
|
Dubai
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.44
CN¥31.86
|
$3.16
AED11.59
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$22.47
CN¥161.08
|
$81.68
AED300.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$19,071.53
CN¥136,715.24
|
$33,487.61
AED123,000.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$3.97
CN¥28.49
|
$8.71
AED32.00
|
|
pay 6.6 times more for housing
|
China
|
Dubai
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$11.70
CN¥83.84
|
$101.47
AED372.72
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$328.33
CN¥2,353.65
|
$2,224.54
AED8,170.74
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$205.78
CN¥1,475.15
|
$1,400.70
AED5,144.76
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$40.46
CN¥290.03
|
$162.54
AED596.99
|
|
pay 20.0% more for childcare
|
China
|
Dubai
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$459.70
CN¥3,295.37
|
$775.09
AED2,846.91
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$18,318.08
CN¥131,314.07
|
$13,081.61
AED48,048.76
|
|
pay 3.9 times more for entertainment and sports
|
China
|
Dubai
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.09
CN¥7.82
|
$12.25
AED45.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.07
CN¥21.99
|
$6.02
AED22.10
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.23
CN¥23.18
|
$6.53
AED24.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$41.41
CN¥296.84
|
$81.24
AED298.40
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$5.93
CN¥42.48
|
$13.61
AED50.00
|
|
pay 42.4% more for clothing
|
China
|
Dubai
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$48.23
CN¥345.70
|
$62.51
AED229.62
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$31.67
CN¥227.04
|
$56.33
AED206.90
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$72.53
CN¥519.91
|
$99.15
AED364.17
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$75.53
CN¥541.47
|
$94.67
AED347.73
|
|
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