Cost of Living & Quality of Life in United Arab Emirates (2026)
What everyday life costs in United Arab Emirates — rent, utilities, eating out, transport and schooling — and how it scores on safety, health care, pollution and climate compared with Western Asia.
- Quality of Life Index
- 163.2
- 2024
- Safety Index
- 84.4
- 2024
- Health Care Index
- 69.2
- 2024
- Rent: 1-bedroom, city centre
- $1,760/mo
- 2023
- Meal, inexpensive restaurant
- $8.36
- 2024
- Average monthly net salary
- $4,090
- 2023
Quality of life trends in United Arab Emirates
Typical living costs in United Arab Emirates
US dollars; national figures are medians/averages across cities reported to Numbeo.
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rent: 1-bedroom, city centreAverage monthly rent of a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre | $1,760/mo | 2023 | +33.3% vs 2022 | Numbeo |
| Rent: 1-bedroom, outside centreAverage monthly rent of a one-bedroom apartment outside the centre | $1,109/mo | 2023 | +30.6% vs 2022 | Numbeo |
| Rent: 3-bedroom, city centreAverage monthly rent of a three-bedroom apartment in the city centre | $3,318/mo | 2023 | +57.9% vs 2022 | Numbeo |
| Utilities for an 85 m² apartmentElectricity, heating, cooling, water and garbage, monthly | $186/mo | 2023 | +11.6% vs 2022 | Numbeo |
| Internet (60 Mbps+)Unlimited broadband, monthly | $94.30/mo | 2023 | -6.5% vs 2022 | Numbeo |
| Mobile plan (calls + 10GB)Monthly mobile phone plan | $58.82/mo | 2023 | — | Numbeo |
| Meal, inexpensive restaurantCountry median of city prices | $8.36 | 2024 | — | Numbeo |
| Dinner for two, mid-range restaurantThree-course meal for two, country median of city prices | $49.01 | 2024 | — | Numbeo |
| CappuccinoRegular cappuccino, country median of city prices | $5.66 | 2024 | — | Numbeo |
| Public transport monthly passCountry median of city prices | $54.45 | 2024 | — | Numbeo |
| Gasoline (1 litre)Country median of city prices | $0.81 | 2024 | — | Numbeo |
| Fitness club membershipCountry median of city prices | $69.28/mo | 2024 | — | Numbeo |
| Private preschool (full day)Country median of city prices | $645/mo | 2024 | — | Numbeo |
| Average monthly net salaryAverage monthly salary after tax | $4,090 | 2023 | +7.4% vs 2022 | Numbeo |
Quality of life indices
| Indicator | Value | Year | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of Life IndexComposite index (higher is better) | 163.2 | 2024 | -7.1% vs 2023 | Numbeo |
| Safety IndexPerceived safety (higher is safer) | 84.4 | 2024 | -0.6% vs 2023 | Numbeo |
| Health Care IndexPerceived quality of the health care system | 69.2 | 2024 | -0.6% vs 2023 | Numbeo |
| Pollution IndexPerceived pollution (lower is better) | 49 | 2024 | +1.7% vs 2023 | Numbeo |
| Climate IndexClimate likeability (higher is more pleasant) | 45.8 | 2024 | ±0% vs 2023 | Numbeo |
| Year | Quality of Life Index | Safety Index | Health Care Index | Pollution Index | Climate Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 163.2 | 84.4 | 69.2 | 49 | 45.8 |
| 2023 | 175.7 | 84.9 | 69.6 | 48.2 | 45.8 |
| 2022 | 160.4 | 84.9 | 68.7 | 49.7 | 45.2 |
| 2021 | 156 | 84.6 | 68 | 50.4 | 45.2 |
| 2020 | 156.7 | 84.3 | 67 | 51.2 | 45.2 |
| 2019 | 167.8 | 83.7 | 68 | 53.1 | 45.2 |
| 2018 | 163.5 | 81.3 | 63.5 | 55.8 | 45.4 |
| 2017 | 139.3 | 79.3 | 60.5 | 58.5 | 8.9 |
United Arab Emirates compared with Western Asia
| Country | Quality of Life Index | Safety Index | Health Care Index | Meal, inexpensive restaurant | Rent: 1-bedroom, city centre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | 163.2 | 84.4 | 69.2 | $8.36 | $1,760/mo |
| Armenia | — | — | — | $11.58 | $367/mo |
| Azerbaijan | 109.8 | 68.4 | 47.7 | $9.12 | $390/mo |
| Cyprus | 148.3 | 67.6 | 57.2 | $16.51 | $1,215/mo |
| Georgia | 117.6 | 73.9 | 54.5 | $9.28 | $601/mo |
| Iraq | — | — | — | $4.94 | $383/mo |
| Israel | 148.9 | 67.6 | 73.5 | $18.64 | $817/mo |
| Jordan | 117 | 59.6 | 65 | $7.06 | $318/mo |
| Kuwait | 140.1 | 67.2 | 57.9 | $8.18 | $816/mo |
| Lebanon | 81.3 | 53.6 | 63.5 | $9.50 | $850/mo |
Related
- Properties for sale in United Arab Emirates
- House prices & rental yields in United Arab Emirates
- United Arab Emirates market overview
Source: Numbeo (indices and prices, crowd-sourced). Salary is the average monthly net wage.