Cost of living comparison

 Detroit (MI), United States
compared to
 United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates vs. Detroit Cost of Living Summary

United Arab Emirates is 9.6% cheaper than Detroit.

Restaurants
pay 51.2% less in United Arab Emirates
Groceries
pay 24.1% less in United Arab Emirates
Transportation
pay 14.7% less in United Arab Emirates
Housing
pay 2.1% more in United Arab Emirates
Childcare
pay 56.1% less in United Arab Emirates
Entertainment and Sports
pay 39.1% more in United Arab Emirates
Clothing
pay 37.9% more in United Arab Emirates

The cost of entertainment and sports, clothing, and housing in United Arab Emirates are more expensive than in Detroit. Expenses including childcare, restaurants, groceries, and transportation are lower in United Arab Emirates.

United Arab Emirates vs. Detroit Cost Breakdown

If you lived in United Arab Emirates instead of Detroit, you would:

pay 51.2% less for restaurants

 
Detroit
United Arab Emirates
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $20.00
 
$8.01
AED29.44
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$10.00
 
$8.22
AED30.19
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.47
 
$1.02
AED3.73

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pay 24.1% less for groceries

 
Detroit
United Arab Emirates
Bread
1 loaf
$2.75
 
$1.26
AED4.64
Local cheese (8 oz) $4.96
 
$5.08
AED18.66
Milk (1 gallon) $3.28
 
$6.80
AED24.96

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pay 14.7% less for transportation

 
Detroit
United Arab Emirates
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.49
 
$3.06
AED11.23
Monthly public transit pass $66.00
 
$48.60
AED178.49
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $35,699.74
 
$42,240.06
AED155,136.13

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pay 2.1% more for housing

 
Detroit
United Arab Emirates
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$58.33
 
$95.75
AED351.67
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,483.17
 
$1,395.59
AED5,125.60
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,092.83
 
$985.52
AED3,619.56

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pay 56.1% less for childcare

 
Detroit
United Arab Emirates
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,294.79
 
$507.75
AED1,864.84
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $16,800.00
 
$8,162.28
AED29,977.81

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pay 39.1% more for entertainment and sports

 
Detroit
United Arab Emirates
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $6.00
 
$10.55
AED38.75
Cappuccino in mid-range area $4.87
 
$5.03
AED18.46
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$10.00
 
$6.23
AED22.87

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pay 37.9% more for clothing

 
Detroit
United Arab Emirates
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$45.58
 
$64.14
AED235.58
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$32.50
 
$64.91
AED238.41
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$82.00
 
$93.31
AED342.69

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: March 2025
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See the cost of living in United States vs. United Arab Emirates. This provides a comparison of the average cost of living from cities within United States and United Arab Emirates.

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