Dubai vs America

Dubai vs America – has been a long-standing and hotly contested topic for years. Both countries offer unique experiences and plentiful opportunities, but which is the better choice for you or your family?

If you’re seeking a setting quite different from the U.S.- then Dubai may be the better choice. Located in the United Arab Emirates- Dubai has a booming economy and boasts a unique culture with a mix of modern and traditional influences. The desert kingdom also offers a breathtaking skyline filled with skyscrapers and opulent architecture- a diverse selection of restaurants- bars- and clubs- as well as endless shopping opportunities.

Our findings are from a comparative analysis based on location-topography-weather-cost of living-salaries-career opportunities-population, density-things to do and see-education-crime rate and transport facility.

For those looking for a more familiar culture- the USA may be more appealing. With its many cities- states- and regions- the USA offers a wide variety of cultures and scenery. From the bustling boroughs of New York to the famous beaches of California- the USA gives its citizens a chance to experience many different places and lifestyles. The United States also boasts plenty of work, entertainment, and education opportunities.

Ultimately- the decision of whether to live in Dubai or the USA comes down to each person’s preferences. For some, the familiarity of the USA may be a welcoming choice; for others, the unique experience that Dubai provides may be the better option. With its modern skyline- Dubai provides a more contemporary experience- while the USA offers a more familiar atmosphere. In short- the best choice for you or your family will depend on what you’re looking for in a new living situation.

Starting a new life in a new country is always a challenging choice to make. With tons of questions fogging your mind-it’s really a tough call to take. But if your mind is swindling between Dubai and the USA (we call it America with much fondness), we can help you out deciding with the help of this typical faceoff. Dubai vs. America – which one is better for expats!

Dubai and America are places that accommodate an extensive and vibrant ex-pat community. This confirms that both countries offer some of the most lucrative opportunities to settle for a better life!

We found Dubai better for ex-pats to settle down, but there are many factors beyond the ones we considered in this article. And your personal preferences and life goals may differ from ours. So-the final call is on you!

Location

We are starting this head-to-head analysis between Dubai and The USA with their locations. Dubai-one of the most sought-after expat destinations in the Middle East tucked on the eastern coast of the Persian Gulf. America, or the USA-on, the other hand, is a massive country stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean.

Dubai sits close to most parts of Europe-Asia and Africa. Whereas America is only close to Canada-Mexico and the northern part of South America. Every other place on the earth sits far away from The USA.

Traveling from Dubai is much shorter if your destination is anywhere in Europe-Asia or Africa. On the contrary, America can offer only a short flight time if you are going to Canada or Mexico. The rest of the world is quite away from it!

And if your destination is in Australia or New Zealand, both these countries will slap you with lengthy flight journeys!

Winner: Dubai

Topography

Before we compare the weather reports from Dubai and America, take a brief look at their topographies.

When it comes to topography-America probably has every variety that one can imagine. This country is blessed with a wide range of landscapes ranging from snowy mountains to barren deserts-from beautiful coastlines to stunning canyons-and from fertile lands to gorgeous national parks.

Dubai’s topography is undoubtedly not as enchanting as America’s. This emirate features a more or less flat landscape with a tiny element of twist. There is a few oasis and lakes along with a short but impressive coastline. Dubai had grown out of nowhere in the middle of a desert.

The landscape of America is certainly more intriguing than it is in Dubai. Travel enthusiasts will always have something to explore to sedate their adventure-seeking souls in America.

Winner: America

Never underestimate the way climate can determine the way of your life. Moving to a new country exposes you to a new (and possibly completely different) set of climatic conditions. Sometimes it may be hard for your body and soul to take the blow. So give, it was a serious thought before moving either to Dubai or America.

If it’s Dubai-you must be ready to have extended hours of daylight. The days are very bright and sunny. The best time of the year is the winter season. Winter sets in here in November and goes strong till February. Summer is literally unbearable, Dubai-particularly for those coming from winter-dominated countries.

August is the hottest month of the year in Dubai when the average temperature hovers around 36 °C, while January marks the most fabulous month with an average temperature of 19 °C. We would love to add that August is also the best month to swim in the sea when seawater temperature remains nearly at 33 °C.

DUBAI	Highest Temperature (in °C)	Lowest Temperature (in °C)
January	23	14
February	24	15
March	27	17
April	32	20
May	37	24
June	38	26
July	40	29
August	41	30
September	38	27
October	35	23
November	31	19
December	26	16

Let’s see what America has got in its climate section.

The climate of America is highly diverse. This is due to its massive size and multi-faceted landscapes. The climate in America ranges from bright and sunny tropical conditions to super-snowy arctic and alpine conditions.

There are as many as seven major climate regions in America – Northwest, Coastal-High Plains-Midwest-Mi-Atlantic-Southeast-South and Southwest. Each region has its own typical weather patterns-types and amounts of precipitation-temperature-wind flow etc.

Los Angeles hosts the best spot in the country, where the climate throughout the year remains pleasant. No wonder Los Angeles is one of the favorite places in America where everyone wants to settle down!

New York (Eastern Part of the USA)	Highest Temperature (in °C)	Lowest Temperature (in °C)
January	-1	-4.3
February	0	-3.9
March	4.1	0.1
April	10.5	6
May	16	11.8
June	21.3	17.2
July	24.5	20.5
August	23.5	20
September	20	16.5
October	14	10.2
November	7.7	4.4
December	2.5	-0.5

Monthly Highest and Lowest Average Temperature in New York

Los Angeles (Western Part of the USA)	Highest Temperature (in °C)	Lowest Temperature (in °C)
January	12	6.7
February	12.3	7
March	14	8.3
April	16	9.7
May	18.2	12.5
June	21	15
July	24	18
August	24.5	18.2
September	23.2	17
October	19.5	13.5
November	15.5	9.8
December	11.6	6.5

Monthly Highest and Lowest Average Temperature in Los Angeles

We have listed above the average monthly temperature from two American cities – New York (from the eastern part of the USA) and Los Angeles (from the western part of the USA). If you compare the tables-the difference in monthly average temperature is vast. So you must research your part before moving to any particular climate zone in America.

Winner: It’s America for its versatile climate zones that offer more varied options to expats.

Also Read :Dubai: A Beacon of Education for International Students

Be it America or Dubai – extraordinary living conditions are assured when you pick any of these places to settle down. An extravagant lifestyle is a core to Dubai’s living, but America is also known for its expensive ways of enjoying life most whole. Let’s see which offers what when it comes to the cost of living.

You must arrange for at least AED 10000 per month in Dubai to have a decent life. While living in New York-USA, this expense costs you around USD 200-1000 (AED 700-3650). The average monthly expense in Los Angeles in the USA will be around USD 170-900 (AED 700-3300)

Consumer Prices in New York are higher than in Dubai by 53%, whereas Rent Prices in New York are a whopping 116% higher. Although Los Angeles is less costly compared to New York-still, its Consumer Prices and Rent Prices supersede Dubai’s by 20.50% and 57.5%, respectively.

So it’s evident from the data mentioned above that your dream of living in America will surely pinch your pocket harder than Dubai’s. Hosting a wide range of high-end restaurants-retail, shops and regular groceries, America’s price tags are always on the expensive side.

Now comes the best part of working and living in Dubai. You don’t have to pay any tax on your income even when you’re an ex-pat there! This certainly means you can save a considerable amount and have a far better lifestyle in Dubai by spending the same (or maybe a lesser) amount per month.

Note; Data shown in this segment is derived from Numbeo.com. Check out this site for more recent and updated data. You can also go to this page to compare costs of living-safety indexes-health care indexes-property prices, and more between two different cities or countries.

Winner: Dubai

Either in Dubai or in America-the job market is really diversified, and both places are therefore able to accommodate a vast range of skilled people by paying them sincerely. Grabbing a job doesn’t come easy in any of these places, but meticulous planning can help you to achieve your dream.

We list some of the most sought-after professions from Dubai and America that ex-pats often go after. You can compare the salaries side by side.

Please remember that your income in America is not tax-exempted like in Dubai. A foreign national earning in America must pay federal tax on his/her U.S. source income at a more or less 30% flat rate. So set aside the tax part from the annual income we mention in the American Salary column.

Profession	Annual Salary in Dubai	Annual Salary in America
Accountant	161-000 AED	241-300 AED
Civil Engineer	212-000 AED	326-000 AED
Electrical Engineer	222-000 AED	325-000 AED
Business Development Manager	371-000 AED	534-000 AED
Teacher	185-000 AED	273-000 AED
Administrative Assistant	121-000 AED	190-000 AED
Graphic Designer	148-000 AED	225-500 AED
Air Traffic Controller	249-000 AED	378-000 AED
Mechanic	83-000 AED	134-000 AED
HR Manager	372-000 AED	543-5000 AED
Petroleum Engineer	235-000 AED	356-500 AED
Nurse	185-000 AED	285-000 AED
Doctor	630-000 AED	849-000 AED
Dentist	579-000 AED	874-000 AED
Hair Stylist	100-000 AED	160,,000 AED
Occupational Therapist	298-000 AED	445-000 AED
Bar Manager	157-000 AED	247-000 AED
Real Estate Agent	213-000 AED	317-000 AED
Web Developer	214-000 AED	303-000 AED

Approximate Annual Salaries for Different Professions in Dubai and America

The data featured in this table have been derived from SalaryExplorer.com which is a reliable website to compare salaries offered in different countries. Please note that salaries are highly variable as they are decided by a candidate’s academic brilliance-work experience and specific skill sets.

It is very evident from the above salary table that America pays better than Dubai. Even-the tax deduction can’t put American salaries down when compared with the Dubai ones. So-America is a better place to earn big money.

Winner: America

We have already shown how lucrative the salary is in Dubai and America. But what about the chances of grabbing a job in these places?

We can’t deny that tax-free income and a flourishing economy are the two significant reasons that lure millions of ex-pats around the globe to settle in Dubai. Despite the unprecedented turbulence in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, UAE still managed to generate approximately 250-000 jobs in finance-retail-telecoms and technology sectors.

America took a hard blow in the job market due to COVID-19 in 2020. But the country has recovered fast during a post-COVID scenario.

We are listing down the Unemployment Rates in Dubai and America over a couple of years to show how quickly both places have overcome the COVID-19 hangover and created more jobs for the ex-pats.

	Dubai	America
Unemployment Rate
2021	4.0%	5.46%
2020 (COVID-19 Pandemic Year)	5.0%	8.05%
2019	2.35%	3.67%

The Unemployment Rate alone is never enough to gauge the actual job market seen, but it is the most helpful layman’s tool to have a basic idea of the market. Although Dubai features a less frightening Unemployment Rate, the American job market is undoubtedly more dynamic and diversified to create better job opportunities.

Winner: America

Things To Do & See

America and Dubai – are the most celebrated travel destinations in the world, and we don’t want to pick just one! But we can’t really avoid that. With countless tourist attractions-iconic landmarks, and engaging activities-both, both Dubai and America give a tough choice for wanderlusts.

Crime Rates

Before settling anywhere in the world, you must ensure how safe it is to try it. Doesn’t matter what insane amount of money you earn from a job-moving to a foreign destination is never a good call if that place lacks safety issues.

If you are someone with a family-then, you should pay attention to the safety standards a city or country offers to its people. Check out what Dubai and America have for you and your family regarding safety in everyday life.

United Arab Emirates-which Dubai is a part of-records a Crime Rate Index of 14.87 and Safety Index of 85.13 against America’s Crime Rate Index of 48.41 and Safety Index of 51.59. Do we need to say more?

Name of the City	Crime Index	Safety Index
Dubai	16.30	83.70
Los Angeles	50.20	49.80
London	53.20	46.80
New York	47.19	52.81
Sydney	33.64	66.36
Rio de Janeiro	77.67	22.33

We guess-the data furnished in the table is self-explanatory. Dubai wins in this section without any close competition.

Winner: Dubai

Education

Moving to a new city or country with a school-going kid or college-pursuing young one? As a parent-it’s your responsibility, and you can’t shrug it off! It is crucial to analyze the possibility of securing a quality education for them before changing your base.

Dubai is home to many excellent and world-class educational institutes. Many reputed and globally acclaimed colleges and universities have set up their international campuses in the city. The Standard of education is outstanding in Dubai, and your kids can take advantage of everything if you pick Dubai to move in.

There are many international schools in Dubai where ex-pat kids can be well nurtured in a multi-national environment. The only drawback is Dubai doesn’t offer free education to children of foreign origins in their public schools.

Dubai offers a rewarding international student life with plenty of choices. You can also check out our list of the best universities in Dubai for international students.

The education level in America is always good, and it adopts the best ways to be at par with global standards. On the other hand, public schooling is accessible to all in America. You must pay for your kids if you choose private schooling.

Private schooling both in Dubai and America will cost you huge.

America is earning a little extra point in this segment due to its free public schooling education policy.

Winner: America

Population Density is one of the significant factors to be considered before deciding on your new base in a foreign country. No one really likes cities with the overflowing crowd. A highly packed city or country is not an excellent choice to move in as it will need to catch up in civic standards-traffic control, health care facilities, and pollution control segments.

If you consider the latest data-then, America’s population density is 36 per square kilometer, while Dubai stands at 762 per square kilometer. These numbers indicate that Dubai is much more populous than America.

Surprisingly-all major American cities are highly populated compared to Dubai. This is the best explanation for all the impeccably impressive urban systems and medical facilities that Dubai can offer.

So it depends on the particular city in America where you will shift. On the other hand, the whole emirate of Dubai is never that overcrowded and always suitable for leading a peaceful life.

Winner: Dubai

We have reached the last segment, and we will finish this classic face-off with public transport facilities available in Dubai and America. An effective public transport network is the key to beautiful city life as it helps daily commuters to slash down the time wasted on their way home/office.

Dubai features a really upgraded and diversified public transport network that gives you trouble-free-seamless connectivity for getting around the city. There are several modes of transportation available here. You need to choose according to your preference and budget.

Dubai transport offers bus-metro-monorail-taxi-water taxi-and ferry services. Thanks to well-maintained highways-you can access every nook and corner of the city without wasting too much money and time.

What about American public transport? Well-some large cities in the USA feature different methods of public transportation, including buses-taxis or trains. However, in most places-public, transportation could be better. The frequency of stops is less and neighboring places need to be better connected. 

During your USA stay-you will have to rely on your private car for transportation in most cases.

Winner: Dubai

Which Is Better to Live?

As you can see, it was a close fight between Dubai and America. Dubai made a little extra point, but that never claims America to be less good. We are slightly more in love with Dubai, but that’s not the final judgment you have to follow. Moving to Dubai or America is your personal call to take. We wish you luck picking the best option for a you-your family and your career.