Cost of Living in Major US Cities Vs Dubai

Dubai is increasingly on the radar of savvy American investors, expats, and remote professionals thanks to its tax-free environment, high rental yields, and luxury urban lifestyle. Whether you're expanding your portfolio, relocating, or looking for a second home abroad, Dubai offers unmatched advantages for US citizens.

Cost Comparison

Dubai vs US Cities

Compare:

vs Dubai

Currency:

Item

New York, NY

Dubai

Difference

New York, NY vs Dubai

Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant

25.00 $

(92.59 AED)

10.89 $

(40.33 AED)

-56.4%

Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant

-56.4%

New York

$25.00

Dubai

$10.89

Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses)

140.00 $

(518.52 AED)

81.68 $

(302.52 AED)

-41.7%

Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses)

-41.7%

New York

$140.00

Dubai

$81.68

Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent)

14.00 $

(51.85 AED)

9.53 $

(35.30 AED)

-31.9%

Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent)

-31.9%

New York

$14.00

Dubai

$9.53

Domestic Draft Beer (0.5 Liter)

8.00 $

(29.63 AED)

13.61 $

(50.41 AED)

+70.1%

Domestic Draft Beer (0.5 Liter)

+70.1%

New York

$8.00

Dubai

$13.61

Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle)

10.00 $

(37.04 AED)

13.61 $

(50.41 AED)

+36.1%

Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle)

+36.1%

New York

$10.00

Dubai

$13.61

Cappuccino (Regular Size)

5.75 $

(21.30 AED)

6.07 $

(22.48 AED)

+5.6%

Cappuccino (Regular Size)

+5.6%

New York

$5.75

Dubai

$6.07

Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle)

2.85 $

(10.56 AED)

1.50 $

(5.56 AED)

-47.4%

Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle)

-47.4%

New York

$2.85

Dubai

$1.50

Bottled Water (12 oz)

2.50 $

(9.26 AED)

0.81 $

(3.00 AED)

-67.6%

Bottled Water (12 oz)

-67.6%

New York

$2.50

Dubai

$0.81

Milk (Regular, 1 Liter)

1.30 $

(4.81 AED)

1.80 $

(6.67 AED)

+38.5%

Milk (Regular, 1 Liter)

+38.5%

New York

$1.30

Dubai

$1.80

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)

4.69 $

(17.37 AED)

1.34 $

(4.96 AED)

-71.4%

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)

-71.4%

New York

$4.69

Dubai

$1.34

Rice (White, 1kg)

7.64 $

(28.30 AED)

2.41 $

(8.93 AED)

-68.5%

Rice (White, 1kg)

-68.5%

New York

$7.64

Dubai

$2.41

Eggs (12)

6.88 $

(25.48 AED)

3.61 $

(13.37 AED)

-47.5%

Eggs (12)

-47.5%

New York

$6.88

Dubai

$3.61

Local Cheese (1kg)

17.10 $

(63.33 AED)

11.40 $

(42.22 AED)

-33.3%

Local Cheese (1kg)

-33.3%

New York

$17.10

Dubai

$11.40

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

14.81 $

(54.85 AED)

8.46 $

(31.33 AED)

-42.9%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

-42.9%

New York

$14.81

Dubai

$8.46

Beef Round (1kg)

19.93 $

(73.81 AED)

11.65 $

(43.15 AED)

-41.5%

Beef Round (1kg)

-41.5%

New York

$19.93

Dubai

$11.65

Apples (1kg)

6.50 $

(24.07 AED)

2.59 $

(9.59 AED)

-60.2%

Apples (1kg)

-60.2%

New York

$6.50

Dubai

$2.59

Bananas (1kg)

2.43 $

(9.00 AED)

1.87 $

(6.93 AED)

-23.0%

Bananas (1kg)

-23.0%

New York

$2.43

Dubai

$1.87

Oranges (1kg)

5.63 $

(20.85 AED)

1.81 $

(6.70 AED)

-67.9%

Oranges (1kg)

-67.9%

New York

$5.63

Dubai

$1.81

Tomatoes (1kg)

6.00 $

(22.22 AED)

1.37 $

(5.07 AED)

-77.2%

Tomatoes (1kg)

-77.2%

New York

$6.00

Dubai

$1.37

Potatoes (1kg)

3.15 $

(11.67 AED)

1.08 $

(4.00 AED)

-65.7%

Potatoes (1kg)

-65.7%

New York

$3.15

Dubai

$1.08

Onions (1kg)

3.46 $

(12.81 AED)

1.04 $

(3.85 AED)

-69.9%

Onions (1kg)

-69.9%

New York

$3.46

Dubai

$1.04

Lettuce (1kg)

2.93 $

(10.85 AED)

1.39 $

(5.15 AED)

-52.6%

Lettuce (1kg)

-52.6%

New York

$2.93

Dubai

$1.39

Bottled Water (1.5 Liter)

2.49 $

(9.22 AED)

0.61 $

(2.26 AED)

-75.5%

Bottled Water (1.5 Liter)

-75.5%

New York

$2.49

Dubai

$0.61

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)

18.00 $

(66.67 AED)

19.06 $

(70.59 AED)

+5.9%

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)

+5.9%

New York

$18.00

Dubai

$19.06

Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter Bottle)

3.56 $

(13.19 AED)

2.53 $

(9.37 AED)

-28.9%

Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter Bottle)

-28.9%

New York

$3.56

Dubai

$2.53

Imported Beer (0.33 Liter Bottle)

4.28 $

(15.85 AED)

3.16 $

(11.70 AED)

-26.2%

Imported Beer (0.33 Liter Bottle)

-26.2%

New York

$4.28

Dubai

$3.16

Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro)

19.00 $

(70.37 AED)

6.26 $

(23.19 AED)

-67.1%

Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro)

-67.1%

New York

$19.00

Dubai

$6.26

One-way Ticket (Local Transport)

3.00 $

(11.11 AED)

1.63 $

(6.04 AED)

-45.7%

One-way Ticket (Local Transport)

-45.7%

New York

$3.00

Dubai

$1.63

Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

134.00 $

(496.30 AED)

89.85 $

(332.78 AED)

-32.9%

Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

-32.9%

New York

$134.00

Dubai

$89.85

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

3.00 $

(11.11 AED)

3.27 $

(12.11 AED)

+9.0%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

+9.0%

New York

$3.00

Dubai

$3.27

Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)

2.17 $

(8.04 AED)

0.68 $

(2.52 AED)

-68.7%

Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)

-68.7%

New York

$2.17

Dubai

$0.68

Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff)

42.00 $

(155.56 AED)

8.17 $

(30.26 AED)

-80.5%

Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff)

-80.5%

New York

$42.00

Dubai

$8.17

Gasoline (1 Liter)

0.87 $

(3.22 AED)

0.77 $

(2.85 AED)

-11.5%

Gasoline (1 Liter)

-11.5%

New York

$0.87

Dubai

$0.77

Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car)

35,458.00 $

(131,325.93 AED)

32,671.73 $

(121,006.41 AED)

-7.9%

Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car)

-7.9%

New York

$35,458.00

Dubai

$32,671.73

Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car)

25,768.64 $

(95,439.41 AED)

22,191.15 $

(82,189.44 AED)

-13.9%

Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car)

-13.9%

New York

$25,768.64

Dubai

$22,191.15

Basic Utilities for 85 m2 Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage)

194.25 $

(719.44 AED)

249.78 $

(925.11 AED)

+28.6%

Basic Utilities for 85 m2 Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage)

+28.6%

New York

$194.25

Dubai

$249.78

Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data)

65.68 $

(243.26 AED)

60.27 $

(223.22 AED)

-8.2%

Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data)

-8.2%

New York

$65.68

Dubai

$60.27

Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher)

66.83 $

(247.52 AED)

95.92 $

(355.26 AED)

+43.5%

Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher)

+43.5%

New York

$66.83

Dubai

$95.92

Monthly Fitness Club Membership

110.38 $

(408.81 AED)

74.22 $

(274.89 AED)

-32.8%

Monthly Fitness Club Membership

-32.8%

New York

$110.38

Dubai

$74.22

Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend)

68.00 $

(251.85 AED)

48.08 $

(178.07 AED)

-29.3%

Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend)

-29.3%

New York

$68.00

Dubai

$48.08

Cinema Ticket (International Release)

22.00 $

(81.48 AED)

13.89 $

(51.44 AED)

-36.9%

Cinema Ticket (International Release)

-36.9%

New York

$22.00

Dubai

$13.89

Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child

3,388.54 $

(12,550.15 AED)

831.05 $

(3,077.96 AED)

-75.5%

Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child

-75.5%

New York

$3,388.54

Dubai

$831.05

International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child

58,729.88 $

(217,518.07 AED)

16,713.37 $

(61,901.37 AED)

-71.5%

International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child

-71.5%

New York

$58,729.88

Dubai

$16,713.37

Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar)

68.86 $

(255.04 AED)

72.35 $

(267.96 AED)

+5.1%

Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar)

+5.1%

New York

$68.86

Dubai

$72.35

Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M)

55.31 $

(204.85 AED)

65.21 $

(241.52 AED)

+17.9%

Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M)

+17.9%

New York

$55.31

Dubai

$65.21

Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)

116.87 $

(432.85 AED)

112.28 $

(415.85 AED)

-3.9%

Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)

-3.9%

New York

$116.87

Dubai

$112.28

Men's Leather Business Shoes

158.67 $

(587.67 AED)

114.35 $

(423.52 AED)

-27.9%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

-27.9%

New York

$158.67

Dubai

$114.35

1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre

4,440.11 $

(16,444.85 AED)

2,368.65 $

(8,772.78 AED)

-46.7%

1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre

-46.7%

New York

$4,440.11

Dubai

$2,368.65

1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre

2,739.42 $

(10,146.00 AED)

1,460.91 $

(5,410.78 AED)

-46.7%

1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre

-46.7%

New York

$2,739.42

Dubai

$1,460.91

3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre

8,853.95 $

(32,792.41 AED)

4,503.59 $

(16,679.96 AED)

-49.1%

3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre

-49.1%

New York

$8,853.95

Dubai

$4,503.59

3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre

4,918.42 $

(18,216.37 AED)

3,082.03 $

(11,414.93 AED)

-37.3%

3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre

-37.3%

New York

$4,918.42

Dubai

$3,082.03

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre

20,614.07 $

(76,348.41 AED)

7,238.97 $

(26,811.00 AED)

-64.9%

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre

-64.9%

New York

$20,614.07

Dubai

$7,238.97

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre

8,639.21 $

(31,997.07 AED)

4,032.19 $

(14,934.04 AED)

-53.3%

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre

-53.3%

New York

$8,639.21

Dubai

$4,032.19

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

5,149.32 $

(19,071.56 AED)

4,255.71 $

(15,761.89 AED)

-17.4%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

-17.4%

New York

$5,149.32

Dubai

$4,255.71

Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %)

6.63 $

(24.56 AED)

4.50 $

(16.67 AED)

-32.1%

Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %)

-32.1%

New York

$6.63

Dubai

$4.50

Source: Numbeo Cost of Living Index 3 February 2026

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