Dubai: cheap or expensive?
Where do we rank against world cities for essentials?

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Apple iPad (32GB, Wi-Fi model)
Dubai Dhs2,499
Sao Paolo Dhs3,389
Amsterdam Dhs2,654
London Dhs2,696
Istanbul Dhs3,120
Beijing Dhs2,608
Hong Kong Dhs2,216
Dubai's cheapest supermarkets, click here
Dubai's cheapest cafes, click here
Dubai's cheapest flights, click here
Cheapest high street fashions, click here -
Apple iPhone (32GB)
Dubai Dhs2,999
Sao Paolo Dhs3,567
Amsterdam Dhs1,303
London Dhs3,371
Istanbul Dhs4,630
Beijing Dhs3,486
Hong Kong Dhs2,784 -
Regular cinema ticket
Dubai Dhs30
Sao Paolo Dhs39
Amsterdam Dhs46
London Dhs69
Istanbul Dhs36
Beijing Dhs40
Hong Kong Dhs33 -
Popcorn at the cinema
Dubai Dhs20
Sao Paolo Dhs25
Amsterdam Dhs14
London Dhs22.5
Istanbul Dhs11
Beijing Dhs8
Hong Kong Dhs21 -
A pair of basic men’s jeans
Dubai Dhs150
Sao Paolo Dhs139
Amsterdam Dhs140
London Dhs113
Istanbul Dhs110
Beijing Dhs145
Hong Kong Dhs142 -
A basic men’s T-shirt
Dubai Dhs39
Sao Paolo Dhs40
Amsterdam Dhs47
London Dhs56
Istanbul Dhs73
Beijing Dhs58
Hong Kong Dhs38 -
1 litre of milk
Dubai Dhs5.50
Sao Paolo Dhs6.30
Amsterdam Dhs3
London Dhs5
Istanbul Dhs3.60
Beijing Dhs8
Hong Kong Dhs12 -
A pack of 20 cigarettes
Dubai Dhs7
Sao Paolo Dhs8.90
Amsterdam Dhs22.40
London Dhs24.48
Istanbul Dhs15
Beijing Dhs11
Hong Kong Dhs23.60 -
A standard inner-city bus ride
Dubai Dhs2
Sao Paolo Dhs5.90
Amsterdam Dhs12.60
London Dhs11.25
Istanbul Dhs3.60
Beijing Dhs0.50
Hong Kong Dhs2 -
A book
Dubai Dhs80
Sao Paolo Dhs69
Amsterdam Dhs79
London Dhs44.96
Istanbul Dhs55
Beijing Dhs23
Hong Kong Dhs56 -
A regular women’s haircut
Dubai Dhs180
Sao Paolo Dhs109
Amsterdam Dhs210
London Dhs253
Istanbul Dhs73
Beijing Dhs29
Hong Kong Dhs189 -
Entry to a regular nightclub
Dubai Dhs100
Sao Paolo Dhs59.50
Amsterdam Dhs32
London Dhs84.4
Istanbul Dhs100
Beijing Dhs40
Hong Kong Dhs70 -
A ticket to a regular music concert
Dubai Dhs200
Sao Paolo Dhs118
Amsterdam Dhs116
London Dhs107
Istanbul Dhs150
Beijing Dhs100
Hong Kong Dhs70 -
One year in public university
Dubai Dhs8,867
Sao Paolo Dhs27,771
Amsterdam Dhs11,680
London Dhs18,150
Istanbul Dhs918
Beijing Dhs14,530
Hong Kong Dhs33,099 -
A daily newspaper
Dubai Dhs2
Sao Paolo Dhs5.90
Amsterdam Dhs9.35
London Dhs3
Istanbul Dhs1.80
Beijing Dhs1.10
Hong Kong Dhs3.31 -
1 litre of unleaded petrol
Dubai Dhs1.83
Sao Paolo Dhs5.46
Amsterdam Dhs7.39
London Dhs7.48
Istanbul Dhs8.44
Beijing Dhs4
Hong Kong Dhs8.03