Cost of living comparison
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.
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
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.57
AED2.09
|
$2.44
|
|
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
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.47
AED9.07
|
$3.75
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.33
AED12.21
|
$6.63
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.94
AED3.47
|
$2.44
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.74
AED2.72
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.72
AED2.64
|
$2.19
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.56
AED2.07
|
$2.27
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.45
AED1.64
|
$1.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.47
AED1.74
|
$1.37
|
|
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
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$8.46
AED31.07
|
$14.43
|
|
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
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$115.48
AED424.11
|
$126.63
|
|
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
|
|
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
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$84.91
AED311.85
|
$72.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.83
AED47.12
|
$15.00
|
|
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
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$96.50
AED354.40
|
$146.00
|
|
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