Page 1 The Grapeshisha Cost Of Living Spreadsheet 2010

The Grapeshisha UAE Cost of Living Spreadsheet 2010

http://www.grapeshisha.com

Notes
1 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
2 Prices have been taken from a variety of sources to give a general picture of cost of living in the UAE
3 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.
4 If you have any suggestions, additions or corrections please email editor@grapeshisha.com
5 For detailed notes regarding the composition of the Grapeshisha UAE Cost of Living Spreadsheet, please see http://www.grapeshisha.com
6 This document is a working document and we hope to build it to provide you with as much data as we can.
7 Grapeshisha - Information and Insight on the UAE

Copyright © 2010, Grapeshisha.

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 Page 2 The Grapeshisha Cost Of Living Spreadsheet 2010

GROCERIES
High End Low End
Category Type of Product Brand Size Cost (dhs) Cost (dhs)
FOOD White Bread, loaf In store medium sized 4.00 2.00
FOOD Baguette In store medium sized 2.00 2.00
FOOD Naan bread In store 5, small 1.75 1.00
FOOD Butter Lurpak equivalent 227g 6.75 5.80
FOOD Margarine Flora 250g 11.75 7.25
FOOD Jam Bonne Maman Jam 370g 13.95 11.45
FOOD Mayonaise Helmans Mayonniase 500ml 10.25 9.45
FOOD Rice, white Tilda Basmati Rice 5kg 78.25 74.75
FOOD Spaghetti Spaghetti 500g 6.50 4.45
FOOD Pasta Buiton Penne 500g 6.75 4.45
FOOD Bolognese Sauce Dolmio Bolognaise sauce 500g 10.00 9.45
FOOD Noodles Instant Noodles 5X80g 7.25 5.50
FOOD Flour, white In store 2kg 11.75 7.50
FOOD Sugar, white In store 2kg 7.25 7.50
FOOD Cheese Monte Christo 230g 16.75 10.00
FOOD Treated Cheese Smoked Cheese with garlic 250g 14.00 11.00
FOOD Yoghurt Tub Yoghurt, local brand 400g 2.75 2.75
FOOD Milk, pasteurised Milk 1litre 3.95 3.50
FOOD Olive Oil Local Brand 0.5L 35.95 34.00
FOOD Corn Oil Local Brand 2L 24.95 21.50
FOOD Ketchup, Tomato Heinz 513g 10.50 7.20
FOOD Lemon Juice Jiff 55ml 4.50 4.50
FOOD Chilli sauce Tabasco 60ml 17.50 5.40
FOOD Corn Flakes Keloggs Cornflakes 375g 9.75 8.75
FOOD Cereal (children) Coco Pops 375g 14.50 13.50
FOOD Potatoes 1kg 3.25 2.45
FOOD Onions 1kg 3.50 2.65
FOOD Mushrooms Mushrooms tub 5.95 5.45
FOOD Tomatoes 18.5 17.5-22.50 2.95-15.95
FOOD Carrots Carrots 1kg 5.95 6.45
FOOD Pepper Red Pepper 1kg 19.50 7.95
FOOD Oranges 1kg 5.95 4.45
FOOD Apples Green, Granny Smith 1kg 8.95 6.65
FOOD Lemons 1kg 6.95 4.95
FOOD Bananas 1kg 4.75 4.75
FOOD Lettuce 1kg 5.95 4.95
FOOD Eggs Medium 6 4.75 3.50
FOOD Tomatoes, canned Hunts Diced Tomato 411g 5.25 3.25
FOOD Baked Beans, canned Heinz Baked Beans 415g 3.75 4.00
FOOD Luncheon Meat Beef Pepperoni Luncheon Meat 250g 15.00 11.00
FOOD Luncheon Meat Chicken Mortadella 250g 9.00 9.00
FOOD Lamb, chops In store 1kg 65.00 38.90
FOOD Beef, sirloin steak In store 1kg 62.00 68.60
FOOD Beef, minced In store 1kg 29.00 19.90
FOOD Chicken, frozen 1200g 14.35
FOOD Chicken, fresh In store 1kg 19.15 17.60
FOOD Chicken, drumstick In store 1kg 25.50 24.00
FOOD Frozen Fishfingers 8 18.25 8.00
FOOD Fish, fresh Salmon Filets 1kg 66.75 53.90
FOOD Coffee, instant Nescafe Gold Coffee 100g 19.25 21.45
FOOD Tea bags Tetley Tea 40 bags 14.75 14.50
FOOD Drinking Chocolate Cadburys 250g 9.95 9.00
FOOD Cola Coca-Cola 6 cans 5.25 5.25
FOOD Mineral Water Masafi Water 1.5l 1.50 1.40
FOOD Orange Juice Orange Juice 2L 9.00 8.00
FOOD Cordial Robinson's Orange 1litre 10.00 10.00
FOOD Chocolate Dairy Milk Bar 200g 10.25 10.25
FOOD Chocolate Lindt 70% Cocoa Chocolate 100g 10.50 9.20
FOOD Chocolate 8 X 2 stick Kitkat 168g 6.00 6.00
FOOD Muffins In store 6, medium 7.50 6.25
FOOD Gum Wrigley's Extra 1 pack 1.50 1.50
FOOD Crisps/Chips Pringles 163g 7.00 6.55
FOOD Cookies, Choc chip Chips Ahoy 300g 9.00 9.00
FOOD Cookies, Digestives McVities Digestive Biscuits 250g 7.25 7.59
FOOD Cat Food Felix Can 4.75 4.50
FOOD Dog Food Pedigree Chum Can 6.25 6.20
FOOD Baby Food Ceralac Rice and Milk Baby Food 400g 19.00 18.90
FOOD Baby Food Gerber Pear Baby Food 80g 4.75 4.45
FOOD Baby Food Farley's rusks 18 17.00 15.00
Household Soap Lux Handwash 800ml 13.50 10.95
Household Laundry Detergent Tide 2.5kg 18.00 16.70
Household Fabric softener Comfort Softner 2 litres 13.75 12.75
Household Toilet Tissue Andrex Toilet Tissue 9 rolls 54.50 36.70
Household Toilet Tissue Scottonelle Toilet Roll 4 rolls 30.45
Household Dishwashing Liquid Lux Washing up liquid 500ml 6.50 5.90
Household Insect Killer Spray Pif Paf 500ml 10.25 19.00
Household Light Bulbs GE 75W 1 1.25 1.00
Household Batteries Duracel Extra 6 6.75
Household Airfreshner Glade 300ml 10.95 9.40
Household Disinfectant Dettol 500ml 13.25 12.95
Household Home Cleaning Cif 500ml 8.75 8.40
Personal Razor Blades Mac 3 Razor 8 razors 17.50 15.75
Personal Toothpaste Colgate Confidence 125g 5.75 4.65
Personal Facial Tissue Kleenex Tissues 150sheets 18.25 16.75
Personal Shampoo Baby Shampoo 500ml 16.20
Personal Shampoo Herbal Essences 400ml 29.50 23.75
Personal Lipstick Nivea 1 7.75 6.95
Personal Feminine Hygiene Always Ultra 6 pack 6.50 5.70
Personal Mouthwash Listerine 500ml 24.75 23.90
Personal Body Soap Dove 1 bar 5.50 4.75
Personal Shaving Gel Gillette Gel Can 19.25 11.20
Personal Nappies Pampers Active Baby 70 Nappies 53.25 52.00
Personal Condoms Durex 12 pack 41.25 41.00
Personal Cough Linctus Actifed Cough and Cold 200ml 29.00 22.50
Personal Pain Killer Panadol 48 tablets 7.30
Personal Flu Remedies Lemsip 10 sachets 10.40
Personal Cough Sweets Strepsils 24 tablets 14.00
Publications National Newspaper Gulf News paper 3.00
Publications Int. Daily Paper The Times Newspaper 1 day delay 7.00
Publications Int. Daily Paper USA Today 1 day delay 12.00
Publications Int. Financial Paper The Financial Times 1 day delay 15.00
Publications Int. Sunday Paper The Sunday Times 1 day delay 15.00
Publications Int. Business Magazine The Economist Magazine 3 days delay 35.00
Publications Int. CA Magazine TIME Magazine 3 days delay 25.00
Publications Int. Mens Magazine GQ Magazine 1 week delay 45.00

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 Page 3 The Grapeshisha Cost Of Living Spreadsheet 2010

Entertainment
Product Size Cost (dhs) Outlet Notes
Spirit 1 30-50 Bar Alcohol freely available for non-Muslims in licensed premises
bottle beer 1 15-25 Bar Alcohol freely available for non-Muslims in licensed premises
Bar/Club Entry 1 50-100 Bar
Shisha smoking 1 30-50
Marlborough Lights 1 6.5 Street Store Pack of 20.
Cinema Ticket 1 30 Cinema
New DVD 1 65-85 Supermarket
Old DVD 1 50-60 Supermarket
Black Market DVD 1 10 Street
CD 1 60-120 Supermarket
Big Mac Meal regular 17 MacDonalds
Big Mac 1 9 MacDonalds
Chicken Shawarma 1 5-10 Street stall
Cappuccino tall 14 Starbucks
Cappuccino venti 16 Starbucks
Cappuccino grande 18 Starbucks
Mocca Frappuccino tall 17 Starbucks
Mocca Frappuccino venti 19 Starbucks
Mocca Frappuccino grande 21 Starbucks
Blueberry Muffin 1 10 Starbucks
Teryaki Entrée meal 1 22 Emirates Mall
Pizza Tom & Mozzarella 1 28 street restaurant
Chicken Shish Tawouk main course 1 40 street restaurant
Tuna sandwich with salad and fries 1 30 street restaurant

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

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 Page 4 The Grapeshisha Cost Of Living Spreadsheet 2010

White Goods & Electricals

Product Brand Size/capacity/model Cost (dhs) Store

LCD TV Supra 19" 699 Jumbo Elec

LCD TV Supra 22" 899 Jumbo Elec
LCD TV Samsung 20" 649 Carrefour
LCD TV S Series Sony 22" 1299 Jumbo Elec
LCD TV S Series Sony 32" 1899 Jumbo Elec

Ipod Shuffle Apple 2gb 299 Jumbo Elec

Ipod Touch Apple 8gb 795 PriceoutUAE
Ipod Touch Apple 32gb 1070 PriceoutUAE

DVD Player Intex 90 PriceoutUAE

Laptop Notebook Acer AS5738 2599 Carrefour

Laptop Notebook HP HP2140 1350 PriceoutUAE
Laptop Notebook TOSHIBA SATELLITE A300 3799 PriceoutUAE

Phone DECT Motorola D1101 249 Carrefour

Mobile Phone Palm Treo 750 2399 Jumbo Elec
Mobile Phone Blackberry Curve 8900 1655 PriceoutUAE
Mobile Phone Blackberry Bold 9000 2145 PriceoutUAE
Mobile Phone I Phone Apple 3G 8GB 2525 PriceoutUAE
Mobile Phone Sony Ericsson SE W890I 799 Jumbo Elec
Mobile Phone Nokia Nokia N900 2999 Jumbo Elec
Mobile Phone Nokia N2720 285 Jumbo Elec

Camera Lumix Panasonic DMC FX180 1499 Carrefour

USB flash drive San Disk 16gb 225 PriceoutUAE

Food Processor Black and Decker 359 Carrefour

Microwave Daewoo 599 Carrefour
Vacuum Cleaner Black and Decker 1800w 375 Carrefour
Washing Machine Nikai 5kg 939 Carrefour
Washer Dryer Samsung 6.5kg 2099 Carrefour
Fridge Bompani 280L 1099 Carrefour
Fridge Samsung 770L 2660 Carrefour

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 Page 5 The Grapeshisha Cost Of Living Spreadsheet 2010

Utilities
Utility Service Freq Cost(Dhs) Notes
Internet Dial Up Etisalat per month 20 Assume 1 hour usage/day + 100 registration
Dial n surf Etisalat per hour 7.2 The rate is charged per minute
ADSL (al Shamil) Etisalat per month 249 1mb line (always on) + 200 installation + 240 Wireless Modem. Range of speed packages available. See website for info.
Broadband Internet DU per month 249 Please refer to website for initial set up costs etc
Landline Telephone (Post paid contract)
Etisalat per quarter 45 plus calls as below + 180 set up fee
Landline telephone DU per quarter 45
Mobile GSM Post pay Etisalat per month 20 plus calls as below + 125 connection and 30 simcard
Mobile Post Pay monthly plan DU per month 25 no connection charge, and option of choosing own numbers available. See online for details.
Mobile Pre Pay (Wasel) Etisalat first year 165 plus calls (free credit of AED10) plus annual renewal of 100. Special discounts available. See online for details.
Mobile Pay as you go DU 1 year 55 One - of charge and 10 dhs credit included. Add credit as and when needed. Renew contract after 365 days. See online for details.

Cable TV E-vision per month 58-325 Based on various packages available plus one time fee for connection 250 and STB deposit 200.
Electricity Emirate local provider per month 150 estimate based on average usage for 2 people sharing a 2 bedroom appartment with central a/c
Water Emirate local provider per month 50 estimate based on average usage for 2 people sharing a 2 bedroom appartment
Petrol Epco/Adnoc per gallon 6.25
Gas Emirate local provider per year 100 assuming gas supply installed in building and not manual

Average Phone rates for Etisalat and DU

Cost-Peak Cost-Off
From To (Dhs) Peak (Dhs) NB
The two telecommunications and internet service providers in the UAE are Etisalat - www.etisalat.ae
Mobile Wasel UAE 0.3 0.18 and DU - www.du.ae. Please refer to website for further info on pricing plans, tariffs and special offers.
Mobile GSM Post Pay Land Line 0.3 0.12
SMS UAE 0.18 0.18
SMS International 0.6 0.6
Dubai / Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi / Abu Dhabi 0.24 0.12
Abu Dhabi Jebel Ali 0.18 0.09
Dubai Jebel Ali 0.05 0.03
Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi free free
Dubai Dubai free free
UAE UK 2.69 1.91
UAE North America 2.12 1.37
UAE Majority of Mainland Europe 2.12 1.37
UAE India/Pakistan 2.4 1.89
UAE Philippines 2.12 1.37
UAE GCC countries 2.12 1.37
UAE Majority of other Arab states 2.4 1.89

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 Page 6 The Grapeshisha Cost Of Living Spreadsheet 2010

Services
Service Cost (dhs) Outlet
Drycleaning Suit 42 Local Upmarket Drycleaner
Drycleaning Shirt 13.25 Local Upmarket Drycleaner
Drycleaning Skirt 20 Local Upmarket Drycleaner
Drycleaning Trousers 18.5 Local Upmarket Drycleaner
Ironing Shirt 8.5 Local Upmarket Drycleaner
Gym Membership annual 5750-9000 per couple
Gym + Pool Membership annual, 5* hotels 7,888-14,500 per couple
Entrance to beach 10-300 public beach/weekend hotel
Belly Dance Class 40
Photo Developing 6X4 1.5 per photo, digital and regular
Haircut Male 50 Upmarket
Haircut Male 35 Midmarket
Haircut Male 10 Lowmarket
Shave Male 20 Midmarket
Cut and Blowdry Female 170-230 Midmarket Salon
Blowdry Female 70-100 Midmarket Salon
Styling Female 250+ Midmarket Salon
Wax Full Leg 90 Midmarket Salon
Wax Full Arm 75 Midmarket Salon
Wax Full Body 260 Midmarket Salon
Halawa Wax Leg 90 Midmarket Salon
Halawa Wax Full body 200 Midmarket Salon
Threading Eyebrows 35 Midmarket Salon
Massage 1 hour 200 Midmarket Salon
Facial 1 hour 200-370 Midmarket Salon
Manicure both hands 50 Midmarket Salon
Pedicure both legs 50 Midmarket Salon
Moroccan Bath (hamam) 290 Midmarket Salon
Maid Service 16 hours a month 320 hours split weekly plus transport costs

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 Page 7 The Grapeshisha Cost Of Living Spreadsheet 2010

Health
Based on a person not owning whole or part private health insurance from company

Treatment Outlet Price

Basic Visit to GP 150
Basic checkup at Dentist 100
Hygienist clean 300-500
Filling 450
Optician Eye Test 250-350

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 Page 8 The Grapeshisha Cost Of Living Spreadsheet 2010

Transport
Transport From/To Type Cost (dhs) Notes
Across town Abu Dhabi City Taxi 7-20 Fare starts at 2.5-3
Across town (evening) Abu Dhabi City Taxi 15-30 Will demand a fixed rate of 15-30
Across town Dubai Taxi 15+ Fare starts at 2.50 normal taxi or 7.50 hotel/ private limo taxi
Across town Sharjah Taxi
Abu Dhabi to Dubai Abu Dhabi to Dubai Taxi 270-400 Private taxi, seats up to 4
Dubai to Abu Dhabi Dubai to Abu Dhabi Taxi 250-300 Private taxi, seats up to 4
Sharjah to Dubai Sharjah to Dubai Taxi 75
Dubai to Sharjah Dubai to Sharjah Taxi 50
Shared taxi Abu Dhabi to Dubai Taxi 50 50 per person, from taxi rank arriving at main bus station
Shared taxi Dubai to Abu Dhabi Taxi 50 50 per person, from main bus station, arriving at taxi rank
Airport taxi Abu Dhabi Airport to city centre Taxi 85 Fixed rate
Local Taxi City Centre to Abu Dhabi Airport Taxi 50 Will demand fixed rate of 50
Airport taxi Dubai Airport to World Trade Centre Taxi 60 Fixed start of 20, followed by meter
Local Taxi World Trade Centre to Dubai Airport Taxi 50
Airport taxi Sharjah Airport to Sharjah Taxi 20
Airport taxi Sharjah Airport to Dubai Taxi 70
Local Taxi Dubai to Sharjah Airport Taxi 70
Local Taxi Media city to Sharjah Airport Taxi 250
Bus Abu Dhabi to dubai bus 15
Bus Dubai to Abu Dhabi bus 35
Car Rental 4X4 Nissan Pathfinder (or similar) 1 week 2800 Price assumes full rental period / inclusive of insurance
Car Rental 4X4 Nissan Pathfinder (or similar) 1 month 6000 Price assumes full rental period / inclusive of insurance
Car Rental Toyota Yaris (or similar) 1 week 630 Price assumes full rental period / inclusive of insurance
Car Rental Toyota Yaris (or similar) 1 month 2,400 Price assumes full rental period / inclusive of insurance

Purchase new Car 60,000-130,000 mid-range

Insurance 5%
Petrol (price per gallon) 6.25

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