Dubai, United Arab Emirates
In Dubai, $10 covers a chicken shawarma wrap in Karama, general admission to Global Village, and a karak chai and samosa combo — all three, with change to spare.
Index score 157 (rank 15 of 20) — the full basket totals $31.78, so $10 covers about 31.5% of it.
Share this city
The basket
| Item | Dubai | NYC | vs NYC |
|---|---|---|---|
| White bread (500g) | $1.38 | $4.61 | -70% |
| Milk (1L) | $1.83 | $1.44 | +27% |
| Eggs (12) | $3.48 | $5.90 | -41% |
| Bananas (1kg) | $1.94 | $2.10 | -8% |
| Bottled water (1.5L) | $0.65 | $2.50 | -74% |
| Domestic beer (0.5L, store) | $3.61 | $3.21 | +12% |
| Cappuccino (cafe) | $6.19 | $6.09 | +2% |
| White rice (1kg) | $2.50 | $6.64 | -62% |
| Chicken breast (1kg) | $8.84 | $14.41 | -39% |
| Public transit, one-way ticket | $1.36 | $3.00 | -55% |
| Total | $31.78 | $49.90 |
What $10 actually buys here
- A chicken shawarma wrap in Karama~$2.45
Al Mallah-style casual eatery pricing.
- Global Village general admission~$4.08
Seasonal cultural and entertainment park.
- A karak chai and samosa combo~$1.63
A classic cheap street-side snack pairing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a basic grocery basket cost in Dubai?
$31.78 for a basic grocery basket in Dubai — about $18 less than New York City's $49.90.
What can $10 buy in Dubai?
A chicken shawarma wrap in Karama for $2.45 and general admission to Global Village for $4.08 — together for about $6.53.
Is Dubai cheaper than New York for everyday expenses?
Yes — Dubai's index score of 157 means a dollar goes roughly 1.6 times as far as in New York.
How much is a cappuccino in Dubai?
$6.19 — actually pricier than New York City's $6.09, despite Dubai's lower overall basket total.
How much is a karak chai and samosa combo in Dubai?
About $1.63 for a classic cheap street-side snack pairing.
Enjoyed this? Share it
Keep exploring
In Mumbai, $10 covers a round-trip ferry to Elephanta Island with cave-temple entry, a full street-food crawl of vada pav and pav bhaji, or a Bollywood movie with popcorn.
In New York City, $10 covers a halal-cart chicken-and-rice platter, three subway or bus rides, or a pay-what-you-wish museum ticket — the baseline this whole index is measured against.
In Seoul, $10 covers a classic bibimbap meal with money to spare, a weekday movie ticket at a CGV or Megabox multiplex, or three short taxi rides across the neighborhood.
Prices are researched estimates (July 2026), not live data — treat them as illustrative, not exact. See the methodology page for details.