Cost Of Living In Dubai Vs Abu Dhabi | Dubai Or Abu Dhabi 2024
Abu Dhabi or Dubai which is better to live?
Before travelling to the United Arab Emirates, I wanted to live in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which are among the largest cities in the UAE. At the beginning of my trip to this country, I stayed in Dubai, but after a few months, I travelled to Abu Dhabi to experience new life in this city and spent more than a month there.
Since I have lived in both of these cities, I am well aware of the cost of living in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. In this article, I will share my experience of living in these cities with you and give you all the information I have obtained about the cost of living in these two cities.
Cost Of Living In Dubai Vs Abu Dhabi
Table of Contents
In the very beginning, the cost of living in Abu Dhabi is lower than in Dubai, but contrary to my imagination, local purchasing power is higher in Abu Dhabi than in Dubai, and people live more comfortably in this city. If you are looking for a quiet town where the cost of living is relatively low, you should choose Abu Dhabi.
In the list below, I have made a comparison in 2024 between the cost of housing rent, transportation, education, food, etc. between these two cities, which you can see:
| Title | Dubai | Abu Dhabi |
| 1 Bedroom apartments for rent in the city center | 1840 $/Per month | 1623 $/ Per month |
| 1 Bedroom apartments for rent on the outskirts of the city | 1030 $/ Per month | 1120 $/ Per month |
| 3 Bedroom apartments for rent in the city center | 4215 $/ Per month | 3660 $/ Per month |
| 3 Bedroom apartments for rent on the outskirts of the city | 3090 $/ Per month | 3174 $/ Per month |
| Preschool/Kindergarten | 5445-10000$/ Per year | 4000-9000$/ Per year |
| Primary School | 8167-19058$/ Per year | 6806-16335$/ Per year |
| Secondary School | 10890-24503$/ Per year | 9529-21781$/ Per year |
| University | 16335-32671$/ Per year | 13613-27226$/ Per year |
| Monthly pass for public transport | $80 | $50 |
| Fitness Club | $90/ Per month | $70/ Per month |
| Medical insurance premiums | $190 | $190 |
| A meal | 12$ | $9 |
| A cup of cappuccino | $6 | $6 |
| Coca-Cola | $1.2 | $1 |
| Milk 1.5 liters | $1.8 | $1.7 |
| Bread (500 grams) | $1.5 | $1.3 |
| 1 kg of rice | 2$ | $1.7 |
| 12 eggs | $3.5 | $2.7 |
| 1 kg of local cheese | $10 | 9$ |
| 1 kg of chicken fillet | $8 | $5 |
| 1 kg of beef fillet | $11 | $7 |
| 1 kg of apples | $2.3 | $2 |
| 1 kg of banana | 2$ | $1.5 |
| 1 kg of oranges | $2 | $1.5 |
| 1 kg of tomatoes | $1.6 | 1.4$ |
| 1 kg of potatoes | 1$ | $1 |
| 1 kg of onions | $1 | 1$ |
| 1 kg of lettuce | $1.6 | $1.2 |
| Water 1.5 liters | $0.6 | $0.55 |
You can also visit the www.propertyfinder.ae to see the prices of different houses in UAE.
How much money is needed to live in each city?
After my trip to Dubai, I found that the costs in Abu Dhabi are about 20% lower than in Dubai, which was very nice for me because I could spend the rest of my money on various entertainments in Abu Dhabi.
I rented a one-bedroom apartment in the city center while I was in Dubai and used most of Dubai’s entertainment. A month’s living in Dubai costs me about $4,000, while the same lifestyle in Abu Dhabi costs me about $3,500.
Lifestyle affects the cost of living
It is clear that each person’s lifestyle is different from another person’s, and that’s why it is impossible to say precisely how much the cost of living in these cities is.
For example, if you like to eat out frequently, you will pay 80% more for food per month than someone who cooks at home.
final word
Living in these two cities has a different mood, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. You should choose one of these two cities to live in according to your priorities.
If you are looking for a lively city to find better job opportunities, go to Dubai, but if you are looking for a quiet and luxurious life, go to Abu Dhabi and experience a calm life.
Finally, I suggest you to read the following articles for more information:
