Cost of living comparison

 United Arab Emirates
compared to
 Chicago (IL), United States
Chicago vs. United Arab Emirates Cost of Living Summary

Chicago is 2.2 times more expensive than United Arab Emirates overall.

Restaurants
pay 2.9 times more in Chicago
Groceries
pay 2.3 times more in Chicago
Transportation
pay 34.1% more in Chicago
Housing
pay 23.4% more in Chicago
Childcare
pay 5.0 times more in Chicago
Entertainment and Sports
pay 30.2% more in Chicago
Clothing
pay 9.0% more in Chicago

The cost of childcare, restaurants, groceries, transportation, entertainment and sports, and housing in Chicago are more expensive than in United Arab Emirates. Notably, childcare, restaurants, and groceries are significantly more expensive in Chicago.

Chicago vs. United Arab Emirates Cost Breakdown

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

pay 2.9 times more for restaurants

 
United Arab Emirates
Chicago
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $8.01
AED29.43
$25.00
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$8.22
AED30.18
$11.34
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $1.02
AED3.73
$3.02
 

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pay 2.3 times more for groceries

 
United Arab Emirates
Chicago
Bread
1 loaf
$1.26
AED4.64
$4.19
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.08
AED18.66
$7.87
 
Milk (1 gallon) $6.80
AED24.96
$3.94
 

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pay 34.1% more for transportation

 
United Arab Emirates
Chicago
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.06
AED11.23
$4.16
 
Monthly public transit pass $48.60
AED178.48
$75.00
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $42,240.06
AED155,132.97
$31,965.00
 

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pay 23.4% more for housing

 
United Arab Emirates
Chicago
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$95.75
AED351.66
$58.52
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,395.59
AED5,125.50
$2,360.96
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $985.52
AED3,619.49
$1,512.92
 

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pay 5.0 times more for childcare

 
United Arab Emirates
Chicago
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $507.75
AED1,864.80
$2,475.00
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $8,162.28
AED29,977.20
$42,300.00
 

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pay 30.2% more for entertainment and sports

 
United Arab Emirates
Chicago
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $10.55
AED38.75
$7.50
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $5.03
AED18.46
$5.30
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$6.23
AED22.87
$17.00
 

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pay 9.0% more for clothing

 
United Arab Emirates
Chicago
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$64.14
AED235.57
$64.98
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$64.91
AED238.40
$51.67
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$93.31
AED342.68
$97.00
 

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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 Arab Emirates vs. United States. This provides a comparison of the average cost of living from cities within United Arab Emirates and United States.

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