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The Grapeshisha Cost Of Living Spreadsheet 2010

The Grapeshisha UAE Cost of Living Spreadsheet 2010

http://www.grapeshisha.com

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2
3
4
5
6
7

Notes
This spreadsheet has been compiled to assist the numerous expats who venture to the UAE to live, work and holiday in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Prices have been taken from a variety of sources to give a general picture of cost of living in the UAE
Each item is accurate, from an average or range basis, as of the beginning of 2010. Prices may have increased or decreased since that time.
If you have any suggestions, additions or corrections please email editor@grapeshisha.com
For detailed notes regarding the composition of the Grapeshisha UAE Cost of Living Spreadsheet, please see http://www.grapeshisha.com
This document is a working document and we hope to build it to provide you with as much data as we can.
Grapeshisha - Information and Insight on the UAE

Copyright 2010, Grapeshisha.

www.grapeshisha.com

Page 2

GROCERIES
Category
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD
Household
Household
Household
Household
Household
Household
Household
Household
Household
Household
Household
Household
Personal
Personal
Personal
Personal
Personal
Personal
Personal
Personal
Personal
Personal
Personal
Personal
Personal
Personal
Personal
Personal
Publications
Publications
Publications
Publications
Publications
Publications
Publications
Publications

Type of Product
White Bread, loaf
Baguette
Naan bread
Butter
Margarine
Jam
Mayonaise
Rice, white
Spaghetti
Pasta
Bolognese Sauce
Noodles
Flour, white
Sugar, white
Cheese
Treated Cheese
Yoghurt
Milk, pasteurised
Olive Oil
Corn Oil
Ketchup, Tomato
Lemon Juice
Chilli sauce
Corn Flakes
Cereal (children)
Potatoes
Onions
Mushrooms
Tomatoes
Carrots
Pepper
Oranges
Apples
Lemons
Bananas
Lettuce
Eggs
Tomatoes, canned
Baked Beans, canned
Luncheon Meat
Luncheon Meat
Lamb, chops
Beef, sirloin steak
Beef, minced
Chicken, frozen
Chicken, fresh
Chicken, drumstick
Frozen Fishfingers
Fish, fresh
Coffee, instant
Tea bags
Drinking Chocolate
Cola
Mineral Water
Orange Juice
Cordial
Chocolate
Chocolate
Chocolate
Muffins
Gum
Crisps/Chips
Cookies, Choc chip
Cookies, Digestives
Cat Food
Dog Food
Baby Food
Baby Food
Baby Food
Soap
Laundry Detergent
Fabric softener
Toilet Tissue
Toilet Tissue
Dishwashing Liquid
Insect Killer Spray
Light Bulbs
Batteries
Airfreshner
Disinfectant
Home Cleaning
Razor Blades
Toothpaste
Facial Tissue
Shampoo
Shampoo
Lipstick
Feminine Hygiene
Mouthwash
Body Soap
Shaving Gel
Nappies
Condoms
Cough Linctus
Pain Killer
Flu Remedies
Cough Sweets
National Newspaper
Int. Daily Paper
Int. Daily Paper
Int. Financial Paper
Int. Sunday Paper
Int. Business Magazine
Int. CA Magazine
Int. Mens Magazine

Brand
In store
In store
In store
Lurpak equivalent
Flora
Bonne Maman Jam
Helmans Mayonniase
Tilda Basmati Rice
Spaghetti
Buiton Penne
Dolmio Bolognaise sauce
Instant Noodles
In store
In store
Monte Christo
Smoked Cheese with garlic
Tub Yoghurt, local brand
Milk
Local Brand
Local Brand
Heinz
Jiff
Tabasco
Keloggs Cornflakes
Coco Pops

Mushrooms
Carrots
Red Pepper
Green, Granny Smith

Medium
Hunts Diced Tomato
Heinz Baked Beans
Beef Pepperoni Luncheon Meat
Chicken Mortadella
In store
In store
In store
In store
In store
Salmon Filets
Nescafe Gold Coffee
Tetley Tea
Cadburys
Coca-Cola
Masafi Water
Orange Juice
Robinson's Orange
Dairy Milk Bar
Lindt 70% Cocoa Chocolate
8 X 2 stick Kitkat
In store
Wrigley's Extra
Pringles
Chips Ahoy
McVities Digestive Biscuits
Felix
Pedigree Chum
Ceralac Rice and Milk Baby Food
Gerber Pear Baby Food
Farley's rusks
Lux Handwash
Tide
Comfort Softner
Andrex Toilet Tissue
Scottonelle Toilet Roll
Lux Washing up liquid
Pif Paf
GE 75W
Duracel Extra
Glade
Dettol
Cif
Mac 3 Razor
Colgate Confidence
Kleenex Tissues
Baby Shampoo
Herbal Essences
Nivea
Always Ultra
Listerine
Dove
Gillette Gel
Pampers Active Baby
Durex
Actifed Cough and Cold
Panadol
Lemsip
Strepsils
Gulf News
The Times Newspaper
USA Today
The Financial Times
The Sunday Times
The Economist Magazine
TIME Magazine
GQ Magazine

High End
Low End
Size
Cost (dhs) Cost (dhs)
medium sized
4.00
2.00
medium sized
2.00
2.00
5, small
1.75
1.00
227g
6.75
5.80
250g
11.75
7.25
370g
13.95
11.45
500ml
10.25
9.45
5kg
78.25
74.75
500g
6.50
4.45
500g
6.75
4.45
500g
10.00
9.45
5X80g
7.25
5.50
2kg
11.75
7.50
2kg
7.25
7.50
230g
16.75
10.00
250g
14.00
11.00
400g
2.75
2.75
1litre
3.95
3.50
0.5L
35.95
34.00
2L
24.95
21.50
513g
10.50
7.20
55ml
4.50
4.50
60ml
17.50
5.40
375g
9.75
8.75
375g
14.50
13.50
1kg
3.25
2.45
1kg
3.50
2.65
tub
5.95
5.45
18.5
17.5-22.50
2.95-15.95
1kg
5.95
6.45
1kg
19.50
7.95
1kg
5.95
4.45
1kg
8.95
6.65
1kg
6.95
4.95
1kg
4.75
4.75
1kg
5.95
4.95
6
4.75
3.50
411g
5.25
3.25
415g
3.75
4.00
250g
15.00
11.00
250g
9.00
9.00
1kg
65.00
38.90
1kg
62.00
68.60
1kg
29.00
19.90
1200g
14.35
1kg
19.15
17.60
1kg
25.50
24.00
8
18.25
8.00
1kg
66.75
53.90
100g
19.25
21.45
40 bags
14.75
14.50
250g
9.95
9.00
6 cans
5.25
5.25
1.5l
1.50
1.40
2L
9.00
8.00
1litre
10.00
10.00
200g
10.25
10.25
100g
10.50
9.20
168g
6.00
6.00
6, medium
7.50
6.25
1 pack
1.50
1.50
163g
7.00
6.55
300g
9.00
9.00
250g
7.25
7.59
Can
4.75
4.50
Can
6.25
6.20
400g
19.00
18.90
80g
4.75
4.45
18
17.00
15.00
800ml
13.50
10.95
2.5kg
18.00
16.70
2 litres
13.75
12.75
9 rolls
54.50
36.70
4 rolls
30.45
500ml
6.50
5.90
500ml
10.25
19.00
1
1.25
1.00
6
6.75
300ml
10.95
9.40
500ml
13.25
12.95
500ml
8.75
8.40
8 razors
17.50
15.75
125g
5.75
4.65
150sheets
18.25
16.75
500ml
16.20
400ml
29.50
23.75
1
7.75
6.95
6 pack
6.50
5.70
500ml
24.75
23.90
1 bar
5.50
4.75
Can
19.25
11.20
70 Nappies
53.25
52.00
12 pack
41.25
41.00
200ml
29.00
22.50
48 tablets
7.30
10 sachets
10.40
24 tablets
14.00
paper
3.00
1 day delay
7.00
1 day delay
12.00
1 day delay
15.00
1 day delay
15.00
3 days delay
35.00
3 days delay
25.00
1 week delay
45.00

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The Grapeshisha Cost Of Living Spreadsheet 2010

Page 3

Entertainment
Product
Spirit
bottle beer
Bar/Club Entry
Shisha smoking
Marlborough Lights
Cinema Ticket
New DVD
Old DVD
Black Market DVD
CD
Big Mac Meal
Big Mac
Chicken Shawarma
Cappuccino
Cappuccino
Cappuccino
Mocca Frappuccino
Mocca Frappuccino
Mocca Frappuccino
Blueberry Muffin
Teryaki Entre meal
Pizza Tom & Mozzarella
Chicken Shish Tawouk main course
Tuna sandwich with salad and fries

Size Cost (dhs) Outlet

1
30-50 Bar
1
15-25 Bar
1
50-100 Bar
1
30-50
1
6.5 Street Store
1
30 Cinema
1
65-85 Supermarket
1
50-60 Supermarket
1
10 Street
1
60-120 Supermarket
regular
17 MacDonalds
1
9 MacDonalds
1
5-10 Street stall
tall
14 Starbucks
venti
16 Starbucks
grande
18 Starbucks
tall
17 Starbucks
venti
19 Starbucks
grande
21 Starbucks
1
10 Starbucks
1
22 Emirates Mall
1
28 street restaurant
1
40 street restaurant
1
30 street restaurant

The Grapeshisha Cost Of Living Spreadsheet 2010

Notes
Alcohol freely available for non-Muslims in licensed premises
Alcohol freely available for non-Muslims in licensed premises

Pack of 20.

NB - The upper and lower range of prices charged depends on type of venues

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Page 4

White Goods & Electricals

Product

Brand

Size/capacity/model

LCD TV
LCD TV
LCD TV
LCD TV S Series
LCD TV S Series

Supra
Supra
Samsung
Sony
Sony

19"
22"
20"
22"
32"

699
899
649
1299
1899

Ipod Shuffle
Ipod Touch
Ipod Touch

Apple
Apple
Apple

2gb
8gb
32gb

299 Jumbo Elec

795 PriceoutUAE
1070 PriceoutUAE

DVD Player

Intex

Laptop Notebook
Laptop Notebook
Laptop Notebook

Acer
HP
TOSHIBA SATELLITE

AS5738
HP2140
A300

2599 Carrefour
1350 PriceoutUAE
3799 PriceoutUAE

Phone DECT
Mobile Phone
Mobile Phone
Mobile Phone
Mobile Phone
Mobile Phone
Mobile Phone
Mobile Phone

Motorola
Palm Treo
Blackberry
Blackberry
I Phone Apple
Sony Ericsson
Nokia
Nokia

D1101
750
Curve 8900
Bold 9000
3G 8GB
SE W890I
Nokia N900
N2720

249
2399
1655
2145
2525
799
2999
285

Camera Lumix

Panasonic

DMC FX180

1499 Carrefour

USB flash drive

San Disk

16gb

Food Processor
Microwave
Vacuum Cleaner
Washing Machine
Washer Dryer
Fridge
Fridge

Black and Decker

Daewoo
Black and Decker
Nikai
Samsung
Bompani
Samsung

Cost (dhs) Store

Jumbo Elec
Jumbo Elec
Carrefour
Jumbo Elec
Jumbo Elec

90 PriceoutUAE

1800w
5kg
6.5kg
280L
770L

Carrefour
Jumbo Elec
PriceoutUAE
PriceoutUAE
PriceoutUAE
Jumbo Elec
Jumbo Elec
Jumbo Elec

225 PriceoutUAE
359
599
375
939
2099
1099
2660

Carrefour
Carrefour
Carrefour
Carrefour
Carrefour
Carrefour
Carrefour

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The Grapeshisha Cost Of Living Spreadsheet 2010

Page 5

Utilities
Utility
Service
Internet Dial Up
Etisalat
Dial n surf
Etisalat
ADSL (al Shamil)
Etisalat
Broadband Internet
DU
Landline Telephone (Post paid conEtisalat
Landline telephone
DU
Mobile GSM Post pay
Etisalat
Mobile Post Pay monthly plan
DU
Mobile Pre Pay (Wasel)
Etisalat
Mobile Pay as you go
DU
Cable TV
Electricity
Water
Petrol
Gas

E-vision
Emirate local provider
Emirate local provider
Epco/Adnoc
Emirate local provider

Freq
per month
per hour
per month
per month
per quarter
per quarter
per month
per month
first year
1 year

Cost(Dhs)
20
7.2
249
249
45
45
20
25
165
55

per month
per month
per month
per gallon
per year

58-325
150
50
6.25
100

The Grapeshisha Cost Of Living Spreadsheet 2010

Notes
Assume 1 hour usage/day + 100 registration
The rate is charged per minute
1mb line (always on) + 200 installation + 240 Wireless Modem. Range of speed packages available. See website for info.
Please refer to website for initial set up costs etc
plus calls as below + 180 set up fee
plus calls as below + 125 connection and 30 simcard
no connection charge, and option of choosing own numbers available. See online for details.
plus calls (free credit of AED10) plus annual renewal of 100. Special discounts available. See online for details.
One - of charge and 10 dhs credit included. Add credit as and when needed. Renew contract after 365 days. See online for details.
Based on various packages available plus one time fee for connection 250 and STB deposit 200.
estimate based on average usage for 2 people sharing a 2 bedroom appartment with central a/c
estimate based on average usage for 2 people sharing a 2 bedroom appartment
assuming gas supply installed in building and not manual

Average Phone rates for Etisalat and DU

From

To

Mobile Wasel
Mobile GSM Post Pay
SMS
SMS
Dubai / Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
UAE
UAE
UAE
UAE
UAE
UAE
UAE

UAE
Land Line
UAE
International
Abu Dhabi / Abu Dhabi
Jebel Ali
Jebel Ali
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
UK
North America
Majority of Mainland Eur
India/Pakistan
Philippines
GCC countries
Majority of other Arab st

Cost-Peak Cost-Off
(Dhs) Peak (Dhs)
0.3
0.3
0.18
0.6
0.24
0.18
0.05
free
free
2.69
2.12
2.12
2.4
2.12
2.12
2.4

0.18
0.12
0.18
0.6
0.12
0.09
0.025
free
free
1.91
1.37
1.37
1.89
1.37
1.37
1.89

NB
The two telecommunications and internet service providers in the UAE are Etisalat - www.etisalat.ae
and DU - www.du.ae. Please refer to website for further info on pricing plans, tariffs and special offers.

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Page 6

Services
Service
Drycleaning Suit
Drycleaning Shirt
Drycleaning Skirt
Drycleaning Trousers
Ironing Shirt
Gym Membership
Gym + Pool Membership
Entrance to beach
Belly Dance Class
Photo Developing
Haircut
Haircut
Haircut
Shave
Cut and Blowdry
Blowdry
Styling
Wax
Wax
Wax
Halawa Wax
Halawa Wax
Threading
Massage
Facial
Manicure
Pedicure
Moroccan Bath (hamam)
Maid Service

Cost (dhs)
42
13.25
20
18.5
8.5
annual
5750-9000
annual, 5* hotels 7,888-14,500
10-300
40
6X4
1.5
Male
50
Male
35
Male
10
Male
20
Female
170-230
Female
70-100
Female
250+
Full Leg
90
Full Arm
75
Full Body
260
Leg
90
Full body
200
Eyebrows
35
1 hour
200
1 hour
200-370
both hands
50
both legs
50
290
16 hours a month
320

Outlet
Local Upmarket Drycleaner
Local Upmarket Drycleaner
Local Upmarket Drycleaner
Local Upmarket Drycleaner
Local Upmarket Drycleaner
per couple
per couple
public beach/weekend hotel
per photo, digital and regular
Upmarket
Midmarket
Lowmarket
Midmarket
Midmarket Salon
Midmarket Salon
Midmarket Salon
Midmarket Salon
Midmarket Salon
Midmarket Salon
Midmarket Salon
Midmarket Salon
Midmarket Salon
Midmarket Salon
Midmarket Salon
Midmarket Salon
Midmarket Salon
Midmarket Salon
hours split weekly plus transport costs

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The Grapeshisha Cost Of Living Spreadsheet 2010

Page 7

Health
Based on a person not owning whole or part private health insurance from company
Treatment
Basic Visit to GP
Basic checkup at Dentist
Hygienist clean
Filling
Optician Eye Test

Outlet

Price
150
100
300-500
450
250-350

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The Grapeshisha Cost Of Living Spreadsheet 2010

Page 8

Transport
Transport
Across town
Across town (evening)
Across town
Across town
Abu Dhabi to Dubai
Dubai to Abu Dhabi
Sharjah to Dubai
Dubai to Sharjah
Shared taxi
Shared taxi
Airport taxi
Local Taxi
Airport taxi
Local Taxi
Airport taxi
Airport taxi
Local Taxi
Local Taxi
Bus
Bus
Car Rental
Car Rental
Car Rental
Car Rental

From/To
Abu Dhabi City
Abu Dhabi City
Dubai
Sharjah
Abu Dhabi to Dubai
Dubai to Abu Dhabi
Sharjah to Dubai
Dubai to Sharjah
Abu Dhabi to Dubai
Dubai to Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Airport to city centre
City Centre to Abu Dhabi Airport
Dubai Airport to World Trade Centre
World Trade Centre to Dubai Airport
Sharjah Airport to Sharjah
Sharjah Airport to Dubai
Dubai to Sharjah Airport
Media city to Sharjah Airport
Abu Dhabi to dubai
Dubai to Abu Dhabi
4X4 Nissan Pathfinder (or similar)
4X4 Nissan Pathfinder (or similar)
Toyota Yaris (or similar)
Toyota Yaris (or similar)

Type
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
bus
bus
1 week
1 month
1 week
1 month

Purchase new Car

Insurance
Petrol (price per gallon)

60,000-130,000
5%
6.25

mid-range

Cost (dhs)
7-20
15-30
15+
270-400
250-300
75
50
50
50
85
50
60
50
20
70
70
250
15
35
2800
6000
630
2,400

The Grapeshisha Cost Of Living Spreadsheet 2010

Notes
Fare starts at 2.5-3
Will demand a fixed rate of 15-30
Fare starts at 2.50 normal taxi or 7.50 hotel/ private limo taxi
Private taxi, seats up to 4
Private taxi, seats up to 4

50 per person, from taxi rank arriving at main bus station

50 per person, from main bus station, arriving at taxi rank
Fixed rate
Will demand fixed rate of 50
Fixed start of 20, followed by meter

Price assumes full rental period / inclusive of insurance

Price assumes full rental period / inclusive of insurance
Price assumes full rental period / inclusive of insurance
Price assumes full rental period / inclusive of insurance

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