Cost of living in the United Arab Emirates
If you're planning on relocating from Singapore to the United Arab Emirates it’s important to build a realistic budget based on the cost of living in your chosen destination. The cost of everyday life, from rent and utilities, to childcare and education, tax and other unavoidable costs, can vary enormously based on market forces, the strength of the local economy and government policies.
Read on as we explore key information about the differences in cost of living between the United Arab Emirates & Singapore, focusing on everything from the costs of food, healthcare, entertainment and more.
What contributes to the cost of living between the United Arab Emirates & Singapore?
In this guide we look at differences in cost of living between the United Arab Emirates & Singapore, so you can start to build up a budget to cover your costs when you relocate. Cost of living is highly personalised, and can depend on the things you like to do, food you like to eat, type of home you want to live in, and so on. Naturally, living in a new country with a family, paying for a larger property, education and healthcare, would cost significantly more than an international student looking only to cover basic expenses during a relatively short term stay.
To help you plan your spending we’ve covered different common expenses in the United Arab Emirates such as transport, healthcare, childcare and entertainment. Read on for more detail on each.
Pro tip: Use our international payment comparison tools to work out the best options for you to send international payments to and from the United Arab Emirates & Singapore with low fees and great rates.
Is the United Arab Emirates expensive?
Based on data from Numbeo, the cost of living in the United Arab Emirates is 32.9% lower vs Singapore when you take into account daily spending without rent.
Once you include rent into your calculations, the cost of living in the United Arab Emirates is 36.5% lower vs Singapore.
If you look just at rent, the cost of rent in the United Arab Emirates is 41.6% lower than Singapore.
Your own exact cost of living will depend on many different factors including your lifestyle, hobbies and even health - this guide can help you build up your own budget to live comfortably in your new home.
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Transport in the United Arab Emirates
Getting around will be an important cost to consider when living in the United Arab Emirates. Whether you’re commuting to work, getting to school or travelling for pleasure, the costs of transport can vary widely from country to country, based on fuel and vehicle prices, and the availability of public transport, taxis, and ride hailing services.
| Transport | Singapore | United Arab Emirates | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| One way ticket (local transport) | S$2 (د.إ6) | S$1.8 (د.إ5) | -9.4% |
| Monthly pass (local transport) | S$120 (د.إ335) | S$72.5 (د.إ203) | -39.6% |
| Taxi start | S$4.6 (د.إ13) | S$4.4 (د.إ12) | -5.4% |
| Taxi (1km) | S$1 (د.إ3) | S$0.9 (د.إ3) | -9.4% |
| Taxi (1 hour waiting) | S$20.9 (د.إ58) | S$10.9 (د.إ30) | -48% |
| Gas (1 Litre) | S$2.9 (د.إ8) | S$1 (د.إ3) | -63.7% |
Utilities (monthly) in the United Arab Emirates
No matter where you choose to live in the United Arab Emirates you’ll need to pay utility bills for electricity, gas, water and other similar services. Utility costs are often dictated, or capped, by government policies, as well as market forces, which can mean that what you pay in one country is quite different to another. Here’s a look at utility costs in the United Arab Emirates as an example.
| Item | Singapore | the United Arab Emirates | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bills (electricity, gas, water) for 85m2 Apartment | S$210.9 (د.إ590) | S$241.3 (د.إ675) | 14.4% |
| Mobile Phone Contract (Calls and 10GB+ Data) | S$22.7 (د.إ63) | S$78.5 (د.إ219) | 246.2% |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data) | S$46.1 (د.إ129) | S$134.4 (د.إ376) | 191.5% |
Grocery costs in the United Arab Emirates
Daily grocery costs and availability changes depending on the country you’re in, with factors like the proportion of foods that are imported making a big difference. When you’re in the United Arab Emirates you’ll need to think about building a suitable food budget for your personal tastes, and based on the costs of items you buy often.
| Item | Singapore | the United Arab Emirates | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk (1 Litre) | S$3.7 (د.إ10) | S$2.5 (د.إ7) | -34.5% |
| Loaf of fresh bread | S$2.9 (د.إ8) | S$1.9 (د.إ5) | -36.6% |
| Rice (1kg) | S$3.7 (د.إ10) | S$3 (د.إ8) | -18.7% |
| 12 eggs (regular) | S$4.3 (د.إ12) | S$4 (د.إ11) | -8.5% |
| Local cheese (1kg) | S$23.1 (د.إ65) | S$12.6 (د.إ35) | -45.5% |
| Chicken fillets (1kg) | S$14.1 (د.إ39) | S$11.2 (د.إ31) | -20.5% |
| Beef (1kg) | S$27.8 (د.إ78) | S$15.1 (د.إ42) | -45.6% |
| Apples (1kg) | S$5.7 (د.إ16) | S$3.1 (د.إ9) | -46.6% |
| Bananas (1kg) | S$4 (د.إ11) | S$2.4 (د.إ7) | -39.8% |
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Accommodation in the United Arab Emirates
If you’re moving to the United Arab Emirates you’ll likely need to rent a place to live. No matter where in the world you choose to reside, the costs of rent tend to make up a huge slice of your monthly budget. That said, you can often bring down the overall costs of renting by choosing a less central location or by sharing with others.
| Accommodation | Singapore | the United Arab Emirates | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) City Centre | S$3943.9 (د.إ11,026) | S$2214.3 (د.إ6,190) | -43.9% |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of City Centre | S$2818.6 (د.إ7,880) | S$1546.4 (د.إ4,323) | -45.1% |
| Apartment (3 bedroom) City Centre | S$7779 (د.إ21,747) | S$4393.8 (د.إ12,283) | -43.5% |
| Apartment (3 bedroom) Outside of City Centre | S$4870.8 (د.إ13,617) | S$3172.9 (د.إ8,870) | -34.9% |
Salaries in the United Arab Emirates
The amount of money you have in your pocket when you’re living in the United Arab Emirates is a function of both the salary you can earn, and the amount of tax you need to pay on your income. As taxes can be structured quite differently from one country to the next it’s crucial to get a realistic idea of the amount you’ll lose in taxes - and so the amount you have for spending - before you move.
| Salary | Singapore | the United Arab Emirates | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average monthly salary (after tax) | S$5090.7 (د.إ14,232) | S$4200 (د.إ11,742) | -17.5% |
Education and childcare in the United Arab Emirates
For people moving to the United Arab Emirates with a family, the costs of education and childcare will be an important budget line. Childcare, school fees and university costs can be a huge proportion of your annual budget, particularly when you’re outside of your home country, and may not have access to government funded educational institutions. Here’s a look at some common costs in the United Arab Emirates to help your research.
| Childcare | Singapore | the United Arab Emirates | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | S$1493.8 (د.إ4,176) | S$895.7 (د.إ2,504) | -40% |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | S$36844 (د.إ103,003) | S$15021.3 (د.إ41,994) | -59.2% |
Entertainment and eating out in the United Arab Emirates
Don’t forget to include discretionary spending on entertainment and personal care to your budget for the United Arab Emirates. While your own spending in this area will be unique, planning to have some money for fun activities can help you settle into your new home, make new friends and relax into your new life.
| Entertainment | Singapore | the United Arab Emirates | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee (1 Adult) | S$144.2 (د.إ403) | S$95.8 (د.إ268) | -33.6% |
| Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend) | S$15.8 (د.إ44) | S$51.1 (د.إ143) | 224.5% |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 ticket | S$15 (د.إ42) | S$18.1 (د.إ51) | 20.8% |
| Eating out | Singapore | the United Arab Emirates | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal out (cheap restaurant) | S$14 (د.إ39) | S$14.5 (د.إ41) | 3.6% |
| Meal for 2 (mid-range restaurant), 3 courses | S$100 (د.إ280) | S$90.6 (د.إ253) | -9.4% |
| Meal at McDonalds (or equivalent) | S$10 (د.إ28) | S$12.7 (د.إ36) | 26.9% |
| Local Beer (0.5 litres) | S$10 (د.إ28) | S$14.5 (د.إ41) | 45.1% |
| Imported Beer (0.33 litre) | S$6.7 (د.إ19) | S$3.9 (د.إ11) | -42.2% |
| Cappuccino (regular) | S$6.2 (د.إ17) | S$7.5 (د.إ21) | 20% |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 litre) | S$2.2 (د.إ6) | S$1.5 (د.إ4) | -33.6% |
| Water (0.33 litre) | S$1.6 (د.إ4) | S$0.8 (د.إ2) | -47.2% |
Exchange rates between Singapore & the United Arab Emirates
Understanding the differences in exchange rate between Singapore & the United Arab Emirates is important to allow you to manage your money across currencies. Looking at historical data and trends for the AED/SGD exchange rate can help you understand how far your funds will go once you move.
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Conclusion
Understanding the differences in cost of living between the United Arab Emirates & Singapore is important for anyone who plans to relocate - either for a short period of work or study, or on a long term basis. By understanding how different costs may be for day to day essentials, you can plan your budget effectively and make sure you hit the ground running in your new home.
If you live an international lifestyle, our currency conversion and international payment comparison tools are the perfect way to help you manage your money across currencies. Use our guides and calculators to figure out the cheapest and most convenient ways to spend in your new country, and to send international payments to and from the United Arab Emirates & Singapore with low fees and great rates.