- Basic cost of living in RAK
- Housing
- Groceries
- Utilities
- Schooling
- Transport
- Healthcare
- Entertainment
- Househelp
Over the years, Ras Al Khaimah (or RAK) has started to gain popularity for its affordable, family-oriented lifestyle. As the emirate has developed in terms of infrastructure, housing options and entertainment, more and more residents are choosing to live in RAK. This is also thanks to the fact that the cost of living in Ras Al Khaimah is significantly lower than popular emirates such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
If you are considering moving to Ras Al Khaimah, it’s a good idea to understand the average cost of living in the emirate. Learn more about the basic monthly expenses in Ras Al Khaimah for single professionals, couples and families in our detailed guide.
Breakdown of monthly living cost in Ras Al Khaimah
Here’s a quick overview of the basic monthly expenses in Ras Al Khaimah, such as housing, groceries and utilities.
Let’s take a closer look at the different living expenses in RAK and how much residents can expect to pay.
Housing
When calculating the average cost of living in Ras Al Khaimah, an essential and common expense for most residents is housing. Ras Al Khaimah offers a variety of rental housing options for residents, from budget-friendly apartments to upscale villas. Thus, your housing expenses in Ras Al Khaimah will differ based on your chosen area and type of property. You’ll find that the newer, waterfront communities command higher average rents in Ras Al Khaimah.
For instance, most single professionals would prefer to live in studio flats or 1-bedroom apartments in RAK. While a studio flat for rent in Al Nakheel, an affordable suburb, would cost an average of AED 15k annually, a rental studio apartment in Al Marjan Island costs around AED 22k.
On the other hand, families would prefer more spacious apartments or villas for rent in Ras Al Khaimah. When it comes to rental villas, residents can choose between older, independent villas or new, gated communities. For example, 3-bedroom villas for rent in Al Dhait have average rents of AED 48k, while the same in the up-and-coming seafront community of Mina Al Arab costs around AED 89k. As you can see, it’s possible to find housing options for various budgets and preferences in Ras Al Khaimah.
Ras Al Khaimah is also one of the emirates to open its freehold property market to foreign nationals, meaning expats can purchase property in designated areas. Expat residents can choose to make a lucrative investment in one of the freehold areas in Ras Al Khaimah.
Groceries
Another monthly expense in Ras Al Khaimah for most residents is their groceries. You’ll find several supermarket chains in RAK, including affordable stores such as LuLu and Carrefour as well as premium chains like Spinneys and Choithrams.
Your average grocery bill in Ras Al Khaimah will differ significantly based on where you shop, as well as your personal preferences. For instance, a single person on a budget can bring down their average grocery cost in Ras Al Khaimah to AED 450 per month, by shopping at Lulu or Carrefour supermarkets in RAK. However, a family of four that prefers imported food items from Spinneys or Choithrams can expect their monthly expenses to rise to AED 4,000.
We’ve listed the average food prices in Ras Al Khaimah for essential grocery items, to help you estimate your monthly grocery expenses.
GROCERY ITEM | COST |
|---|---|
GROCERY ITEM Milk (1 litre) | COST AED 5.49 |
GROCERY ITEM Loaf of White Bread | COST AED 4.25 |
GROCERY ITEM White Rice (1 kg) | COST AED 11.00 |
GROCERY ITEM Eggs (12, Regular) | COST AED 11.00 |
GROCERY ITEM Cheese (200 g) | COST AED 8.00 |
GROCERY ITEM Chicken Fillets (1 kg) | COST AED 20.00 |
GROCERY ITEM Apples (1 kg) | COST AED 7.33 |
GROCERY ITEM Bananas (1 kg) | COST AED 7.67 |
GROCERY ITEM Oranges (1 kg) | COST AED 5.00 |
GROCERY ITEM Tomatoes (1 kg) | COST AED 5.50 |
GROCERY ITEM Potatoes (1 kg) | COST AED 5.17 |
GROCERY ITEM Onion (1 kg) | COST AED 3.67 |
GROCERY ITEM Lettuce (1 head) | COST AED 5.62 |
GROCERY ITEM Jam (370 g) | COST AED 14.00 |
Utilities
In Ras Al Khaimah, the distribution of water and electricity is handled by the Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA), which also oversees utility services in other northern emirates. Residents should know the expected utilities cost for their apartment or villa as this will affect their monthly cost of living in RAK.
On average, singles can expect their utility bills in Ras Al Khaimah to range between AED 300 to AED 600 for a studio flat. Meanwhile, the average utility cost in RAK for 1-bedroom apartments is between AED 550 to AED 900.
This cost will significantly increase for villa properties in RAK, ranging from AED 1.5k to AED 3k for a 3-bedroom home. Your FEWA monthly bill will also likely increase if you have a private garden, which will require regular maintenance.
Aside from electricity and water bills, you will also need to pay an additional amount for your TV, phone and internet connection. The UAE has two main service providers, Etisalat and du, which have packages at different price points. A basic TV and internet package starts from AED 300, while the more premium packages can even reach up to AED 1,139 per month.
UTILITY | COST |
|---|---|
UTILITY Basic Utilities for 900 sq.ft apartment (Electricity, Water, Cooling & Garbage) | COST AED 730.48 per month |
UTILITY Basic Internet and TV package | COST AED 300 per month |
UTILITY Premium Internet and TV package | COST AED 1,139+ per month |
UTILITY Basic Mobile Postpaid Plan | COST AED 125 per month |
UTILITY Premium Mobile Postpaid Plan | COST AED 500+ per month |
Schooling
Families will also have to take into account the cost of school fees when calculating their monthly living cost in Ras Al Khaimah. There is a wide choice of schools for parents to choose from, catering to different curricula and budget. Overall, the average school fees in Ras Al Khaimah is much more affordable than other emirates such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Parents looking for affordable schooling options can consider Indian schools in RAK, where the monthly school fees are around AED 400 – AED 600 for a Grade 6 student. When it comes to British and American curricula, parents can expect monthly tuition fees in Ras Al Khaimah to start from AED 1,700 – AED 2,600 for a Grade 6 student; more expensive schools have tuition fees reaching up to AED 3,500 per month, too.
Here are the monthly tuition fees (for 10 months) for a Grade/Year 6 student in popular schools in Ras Al Khaimah:
SCHOOL | CURRICULUM | FEE RANGE | TUITION FEES |
|---|---|---|---|
SCHOOL The Ideal English School | CURRICULUM Indian | FEE RANGE Affordable | TUITION FEES AED 415 |
SCHOOL Scholars Indian School | CURRICULUM Indian | FEE RANGE Affordable | TUITION FEES AED 579 |
SCHOOL GEMS Westminster School | CURRICULUM British | FEE RANGE Affordable | TUITION FEES AED 1,698 |
SCHOOL RAK Academy – British School Khuzam | CURRICULUM British | FEE RANGE Expensive | TUITION FEES AED 3,552 |
SCHOOL RAK American Academy | CURRICULUM American | FEE RANGE Affordable | TUITION FEES AED 2,623 |
SCHOOL The Wellspring School | CURRICULUM American | FEE RANGE Expensive | TUITION FEES AED 3,475 |
SCHOOL Emirates National School RAK | CURRICULUM International Baccalaureate | FEE RANGE Expensive | TUITION FEES AED 3,180 |
Transport
Since most residents use their own car to commute within and outside the city, their monthly expenses in Ras Al Khaimah will depend on how often and far they travel. The cost of fuel in the UAE is standard across all emirates and residents enjoy competitive fuel rates when compared globally. When calculating their transportation expenses in Ras Al Khaimah, residents should also take into account how often they travel to other emirates, since this will affect their cost of living in RAK UAE. For instance, for those who live in RAK and work in Dubai, their monthly transport costs are likely to be higher.
Residents can also make use of the public transport facilities in Ras Al Khaimah, such as taxis and buses. RAK’s transport authority operates both city and intercity buses; the fare for intercity buses ranges between AED 10 – AED 45, depending on the emirate you are travelling to.
TRANSPORT SERVICE | COST |
|---|---|
TRANSPORT SERVICE Petrol (1 litre) | COST AED 1.72 – AED 1.91 |
TRANSPORT SERVICE Taxi (1 km, Normal Tariff) | COST AED 2.00 |
TRANSPORT SERVICE Intercity Bus (One-way Trip) | COST AED 10 – AED 45 |
Healthcare
Another one of the monthly living costs in Ras Al Khaimah for residents to consider is healthcare. Both the public and private hospitals in RAK offer a high standard of medical treatment. While UAE Nationals will receive low-cost to free treatment at public hospitals, expats can purchase health insurance to cover the cost of treatment and consultation.
It’s common practice for employers to provide health insurance for their employees. However, if these benefits are not provided, residents will have to purchase medical insurance for themselves and their dependents.
The medical insurance premiums in Ras Al Khaimah will vary depending on the level of coverage and benefits. The basic cost of health insurance in RAK for a single person starts from AED 500 from affordable providers such as Noor Takaful. However, a more comprehensive plan from a premium provider such as AXA starts from AED 2,250 for a single person and can reach AED 13,000 for worldwide coverage and other benefits.
Entertainment
Over the years, Ras Al Khaimah has developed into a premier leisure destination within the UAE, thanks to beachfront and desert resorts, golf courses, theme parks and outdoor activities at Jebel Jais.
Residents in RAK have a choice of activities to enjoy over weekends, whether they are looking to splurge or save. There are several restaurants, clubs, cinemas, beaches and parks in the emirate. Make sure to allocate a monthly budget for leisure activities and entertainment, as this will impact your cost of living in RAK.
Here are the prices for some popular leisure activities in the emirate, to give you an idea of your monthly expenses:
ACTIVITY | COST |
|---|---|
ACTIVITY Movie Ticket for One | COST AED 35.00 |
ACTIVITY Gym Membership for One Month | COST AED 279.17 |
ACTIVITY Meal for One (Affordable Restaurant) | COST AED 25 – AED 30 |
ACTIVITY Meal for Two (Mid-range Restaurant, Three Courses) | COST AED 150 – AED 250 |
ACTIVITY Meal for Two (Fine-Dining Restaurant, Three Courses) | COST AED 350 – AED 600 |
Househelp
Many families also choose to sponsor a maid in Ras Al Khaimah, in order to have more help around the house. According to TADBEER, RAK residents can expect to pay around AED 5,500 – AED 6,000 for the maid’s visa each year, along with a refundable deposit. This excludes the monthly salary of the maid, which is typically upwards of AED 1,000 – AED 1,500, especially if you cannot provide accommodation. The salary must also be in line with the minimum amount stated by the embassy of the domestic helper’s home country.
Alternatively, you can choose to hire a housemaid through an agency, which will require an additional one-time agency fee. There are also several maid agencies through which you can hire a helper on a part-time basis.
That concludes our guide to the basic cost of living in Ras Al Khaimah for a single person, couple and families! As you can see, Ras Al Khaimah offers an affordable yet comfortable lifestyle, with easy access to lifestyle amenities and attractions.
However, please note that this guide only covers the starting living expenses in Ras Al Khaimah; residents can expect additional expenses for vacations, after-school activities for children and furnishing their home, which can vary significantly based on lifestyle and preference.
If you are debating between moving to Ras Al Khaimah or Dubai, you can compare the expected monthly expenses using our guide to the average cost of living in Dubai. Alternatively, you can also use our guide to the living expenses in Abu Dhabi, to compare the cost of living in RAK and the capital city.
UAE’s other Northern Emirates such as Sharjah and Ajman are also popular with those looking for a budget-friendly lifestyle. Read up on the cost of living in Sharjah vs Ajman to find out which is the better choice for you.
Stay tuned to MyBayut for more articles on the cost of living in the UAE.
