Comparative study on cost of living - Dubai vs London

Without doubt the comparison is between cheese and apple:

Indices Difference

• Consumer Prices in London are?21.42% higher?than in Dubai
• Consumer Prices Including Rent in London are?18.76% higher?than in Dubai
• Rent Prices in London are?15.52% higher?than in Dubai
• Restaurant Prices in London are?36.75%?higher than in Dubai
• Groceries Prices in London are?8.16%?higher than in Dubai
• Local Purchasing Power in London is?22.88%?lower than in Dubai

Restaurants (Dubai - London - Percentage)

• Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant -
• 8.17 $(30.00 AED) - 20.78 $(15.00 ￡) -?+154.38 %
• Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course
• 53.09 $ (195.00 AED) - 69.25 $ (50.00 ￡) -?+30.45 %
• McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)
• 6.81 $ (25.00 AED) - 7.62 $ (5.50 ￡) -?+11.93 %
• Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
• 12.25 $ (45.00 AED) - 6.23 $ (4.50 ￡) -?-49.12 %
• Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
• 11.98 $ (44.00 AED) - 6.23 $ (4.50 ￡) -?-47.97 %
• Cappuccino (regular)
• 4.59 $ (16.85 AED) - 3.72 $ (2.69 ￡) -?-18.94 %
• Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle)
• 0.63 $ (2.31 AED) - 1.68 $ (1.21 ￡) -?+166.87 %
• Water (0.33 liter bottle)
• 0.37 $ (1.35 AED) - 1.32 $ (0.95 ￡) -?+258.56 %

Salaries And Financing (Dubai - London - Percentage)

• Median Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
• 3,538.12 $ (12,995.63 AED) - 3,240.55 $ (2,339.58 ￡)- -8.41 %

Rent Per Month?(Dubai - London - Percentage)

• Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre
• 1,834.44 $ - (6,737.93 AED) 2,263.09 $ (1,633.88 ￡)?+23.37 %
• Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre
• 1,274.10 $ - (4,679.80 AED) - 1,642.37 $ - (1,185.74 ￡) -?+28.90 %
• Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre
• 3,643.83 $ - (13,383.90 AED)- 4,167.13 $ - (3,008.54 ￡) -?+14.36 %
• Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre
• 2,595.34 $ - (9,532.74 AED) - 2,726.31 $ - (1,968.32 ￡) -?+5.05 %

Utilities (Monthly) (Dubai - London - Percentage)

• Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment
• 184.86 $ - (679.00 AED) - 188.47 $ - (136.07 ￡) -?+1.96 %
• 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)
• 0.13 $ - (0.47 AED) - 0.15 $ - (0.11 ￡) -?+17.31 %

Transportation (Dubai - London - Percentage)

• One-way Ticket (Local Transport)
• 1.36 $ - (5.00 AED)- 3.46 $ - (2.50 ￡) -?+154.38 %
• Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
• 68.06 $ - (250.00 AED)- 182.83 $ - (132.00 ￡) -?+168.62 %
• Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
• 3.27 $ - (12.00 AED) - 4.71 $ - (3.40 ￡) -?+44.15 %
• Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)
• 0.54 $ - (2.00 AED) - 4.02 $ - (2.90 ￡) -?+637.69 %
• Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
• 8.17 $ - (30.00 AED) - 41.55 $ - (30.00 ￡) -?+408.75 %
• Gasoline (1 liter)
• 0.54 $ - (1.97 AED) - 1.67 $ - (1.21 ￡) -?+211.75 %
• Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)
• 21,780.40 $ - (80,000.00 AED) - 28,048.26 $ - (20,250.00 ￡) -?+28.78 %
• Toyota Corolla 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)
• 17,919.86 $ - (65,820.11 AED) - 29,093.31 $ - (21,004.50 ￡) -?+62.35 %

Clothing And Shoes (Dubai - London - Percentage)

• 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
• 65.13 $ - (239.22 AED) - 87.16 $ - (62.93 ￡) -?+33.83 %
• 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)
• 57.75 $ - (212.12 AED) - 44.50 $ - (32.12 ￡) -?-22.95 %
• 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)
• 85.23 $ - (313.05 AED) - 94.18 $ - (68.00 ￡) -?+10.51 %
• 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes
• 88.08 $ - (323.51 AED) - 112.83 $ - (81.46 ￡) -?+28.10 %
• MY THOUGHTS

Having lived in UAE for more than 18 years with my family, I must say with my perception about quality of life;?I love to be in Dubai more than London. Considering the cultural and value system in which I live and being a female I can take a walk outside my home in the night without worry, very safe neighborhood to reside in Dubai's reputation as one of the safest cities is a result of its severe penalties, lengthy prison terms, well-publicized convictions. Being an avid traveler myself and for numerous International travelers choose Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or increasingly Sharjah as hub airports to connect to flights to Europe, North America, or other parts of Asia.

The only con living in UAE is short of citizenship, to foreign nationals, even those whose families have resided here for generations. Access to good healthcare, clean and safe housing, healthy food, a job that pays your living and the amount of happiness is what would eventually decide the question where to settle down.

References