Cost of living comparison

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

Detroit is 50.6% more expensive than United Arab Emirates overall.

Restaurants
pay 2.3 times more in Detroit
Groceries
pay 88.3% more in Detroit
Transportation
pay 24.1% more in Detroit
Housing
pay 11.1% more in Detroit
Childcare
pay 2.3 times more in Detroit
Entertainment and Sports
pay 9.7% less in Detroit
Clothing
pay 22.1% less in Detroit

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

Detroit vs. United Arab Emirates Cost Breakdown

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

pay 2.3 times more for restaurants

 
United Arab Emirates
Detroit
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $8.01
AED29.43
$20.00
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$8.22
AED30.18
$10.00
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $1.02
AED3.73
$2.47
 

Improve prices ·

pay 88.3% more for groceries

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

Improve prices ·

pay 24.1% more for transportation

 
United Arab Emirates
Detroit
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.06
AED11.23
$3.49
 
Monthly public transit pass $48.60
AED178.48
$66.00
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $42,240.06
AED155,132.97
$35,699.74
 

Improve prices ·

pay 11.1% more for housing

 
United Arab Emirates
Detroit
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$95.75
AED351.66
$58.33
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,395.59
AED5,125.50
$1,483.17
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $985.52
AED3,619.49
$1,092.83
 

Improve prices ·

pay 2.3 times more for childcare

 
United Arab Emirates
Detroit
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $507.75
AED1,864.80
$1,294.79
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $8,162.28
AED29,977.20
$16,800.00
 

Improve prices ·

pay 9.7% less for entertainment and sports

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

Improve prices ·

pay 22.1% less for clothing

 
United Arab Emirates
Detroit
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$64.14
AED235.57
$45.58
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$64.91
AED238.40
$32.50
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$93.31
AED342.68
$82.00
 

Improve prices ·
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
Share this

Compare countries by overall cost of living

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.

Help us improve these prices

MyLifeElsewhere is a collaborative project. Please enter price information for your location to help assist us in making these comparisons more accurate. Learn more

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Detroit or United Arab Emirates. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.