United Arab Emirates

Compared with South Korea, using real observed prices.

Baseline: South Korea = 1×

United Arab Emirates vs

South Korea

Overall verdict

United Arab Emirates is about 0.96× South Korea.

Average across 5 categories, 6 items with data

The shape of prices (vs South Korea = 1×)

How to read this

The centre line is South Korea. A bar running right means United Arab Emirates is pricier; running left means cheaper. The thin bar behind shows the range from the cheapest to the priciest item in that category.

← Cheaper than

South Korea South Korea = 1×

United Arab Emirates is pricier →

🍔 Food & Dining 1 item

×1.38
🎟 Leisure 1 item

×1.38
📱 Electronics 1 item

×1.05
⛽ Transport 2 items

×0.66
⚡ Utilities 1 item

×0.63

Thin bar shows the range (cheapest to priciest item in the category)

In United Arab Emirates, Big Mac costs 1.4× what it does in South Korea — but Gasoline 1L costs only 0.6×. What is expensive here is labour, not the goods that carry a world price.

Real prices. Real sources. Real dates.

Big Mac 1 burger ×1.38

United Arab Emirates ₩7,603 AED 19

South Korea ₩5,500 KRW 5,500

Observed 2026-01-01 · The Economist Big Mac Index
PC game (Cyberpunk 2077) 1 game ×1.38

United Arab Emirates ₩91,213 AED 229

South Korea ₩66,000 KRW 66,000

Observed 2026-07-27 · Steam Store
iPhone (base model, base storage) 1 unit ×1.05

United Arab Emirates ₩1,353,856 AED 3,399

South Korea ₩1,290,000 KRW 1,290,000

Observed 2026-07-27 · Apple official online store
Diesel 1L 1 L ×0.69

United Arab Emirates ₩1,527 USD 0.98

South Korea ₩2,205 USD 1.415

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.63

United Arab Emirates ₩120 USD 0.08

South Korea ₩191 USD 0.127

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×0.63

United Arab Emirates ₩1,396 USD 0.896

South Korea ₩2,223 USD 1.427

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com