Food Prices in UAE — August 2026

Updated: 1 August 2026

Current Index

138.4

vs World Average

+38.4%

Official (IMF + World Bank)

Real grocery prices

Price per unit in your currency

Prices known for 4 of 10 items — help fill the rest

Milk 1 L

open data

$1.81

+2% World (base = 100)
Eggs 12 pcs

open data

$2.72

-21% World (base = 100)
Chicken 1 kg

open data

$7.49

+27% World (base = 100)
Rice 1 kg

open data

$2.45

+8% World (base = 100)
Bread 500 g loaf
Water 1.5 L bottle
Cheese 1 kg
Tomatoes 1 kg
Potatoes 1 kg
Beer 0.5 L bottle

Monthly basket, 1 person

Directional: 4 milk + 2 eggs + 4 chicken + 4 rice

$52.44

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Every traveller price is reviewed by hand; the row shows how many reports from the last 90 days back the figure.

Data: WhereNext (CC BY 4.0, January 2026)

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Product

Price (€ EUR)

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Reports are reviewed by hand — only what an editor confirms reaches the site.

Recent real receipts

Real purchases logged in this country (crowdsourced, local names)

B/C CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFIN MIX

Betty Crocker · 500g

Carrefour, أبو ظبي 7 Aug

20.99 AED
ANTISEPTIC PAINT

BETADINE

Al Manara Pharmacy, أبو ظبي 10 Jun

36.5 AED
Natural deodorant Lavender+sage

Desert Essence · 473ml

Barakat, دبي 25 May deal

31.21 AED
Celtic Sea Salt

Mystic Nature

Barakat, دبي 9 May deal

59 AED
Caramel Crêpes

Chic n Choc

Barakat, دبي 19 Mar

11.99 AED
Chocolate crêpes

CHIC n CHOC

Barakat, دبي 19 Mar

10.99 AED
Chocolate crêpes

CHIC n CHOC

Barakat, دبي 19 Mar

11.99 AED
HIBISCUS TEA CHILLED

BARAKAT · 1000ml

Barakat, دبي 11 Mar

19.95 AED
JUICE POP MANGO PASSION

BARAKAT

Barakat, دبي 11 Mar

9.5 AED
JUICE POP LEMON MINT

BARAKAT

Barakat, دبي 11 Mar

9.5 AED
Cooking Cream

Puck

Carrefour Express, دبي 1 Feb

16.29 AED
مونادة لاسيگون

لاسيگون

Marjan, عجمان 11 Dec

5 MAD

Data: Open Food Facts — Open Prices (ODbL)

What this means for vanlife

Food in UAE is significantly more expensive — 38.4% above the world average. One of the pricier food destinations: the same basket costs around $415 per month (vs $300 world average).

↓ Year-over-year change: -0.3% 2026

Index History

Index:

Based on World Bank ICP 2021, adjusted with IMF CPI

Compare with UAE

UAE

138.4

World (base = 100)

100

If you spend 100 at home:

100

Select home and destination countries to compare food costs

Similar Countries

Sweden 138.3 +38.3%

Denmark 140.2 +40.2%

New Zealand 142.5 +42.5%

Finland 133 +33%

France 132.1 +32.1%

More countries in Middle East

Egypt 65 -35%

Turkey 88 -12%

Lebanon 95 -5%

Jordan 110 +10%

Oman 120 +20%

Qatar 127.9 +27.9%

FAQ

Is food expensive in UAE?

Yes, food in UAE is above average. The VanBasket Index is 138.4 (world average = 100), meaning food costs 38.4% more than the global average.

How much should I budget for food in UAE per month?

If the world average monthly food spend is $300, in UAE you can expect to spend around $415. This is based on the VanBasket Index of 138.4 (world = 100).

How does UAE compare to similar countries?

UAE has a VanBasket Index of 138.4. Similar or nearby countries: Sweden, Denmark, New Zealand.

How often is the food price data for UAE updated?

The index is updated monthly using IMF Consumer Price Index data. The baseline is from World Bank ICP 2021.

About the data: The VanBasket Index is based on World Bank ICP 2021 food price level data, adjusted monthly using IMF CPI. World average = 100. Index > 100 means food is more expensive than the global average. API for developers →

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