10 minutes read

Written by
Karina Saakova
For many, Dubai is a land of opportunities and luxurious lifestyles. This city has much more to offer than its beautiful skyline and world-class living. Many people come to Dubai to establish themselves, build their careers, and make their dreams come true.
But do you wonder how much is the cost of living in Dubai? What are the expenses you should account for as an individual, a couple, or a family? How should you budget and which salary to ask for to be able to afford to live in Dubai?
This blog delves into the different Dubai living expenses you will have to incur if you decide to make the UAE your new home.
One of the first decisions you need to make when you envision moving to Dubai is the type of house you will be residing in. Regardless of whether you will live in a studio, apartment, or villa, an expat’s cost of living in Dubai will include many other items. Here’s a short list to take into consideration:
Housing, groceries, and utilities will constitute the main monthly expenses you pay; while transport, schooling, entertainment, and healthcare will be secondary expenses. Before we delve deeper into each category, it’s important to remember that your cost of living in Dubai will largely depend on the lifestyle you wish to enjoy and your preferences in general.
Housing costs in Dubai will constitute your biggest expense compared to other costs.
Additionally, your choice of home will hugely impact how much you pay, as rent can vary at a rate of 400% between different locations, apartment sizes, and amenities. On the positive side, Dubai is the land of real estate options. Throughout the city, you can choose from hundreds of different communities that offer a myriad of housing options, from very affordable studios to roomy apartments, luxurious villas and penthouses, and grand mansions.
Aside from rent, you will also have to cover the utility expenses and costs.
Average Rent Prices in Dubai:
Apartment | Location | Average Monthly Cost (AED) |
1-bedroom apartment | Central location | 7,927 |
1-bedroom apartment | Outside of the center | 4,858 |
3-bedroom apartment | Central location | 14,937 |
3-bedroom apartment | Outside of the center | 10,435 |
Average costs for electricity, water, and internet:
Items | Average Cost (AED) |
Basic Utilities for 900 sq. ft apartment (Electricity, Water, Cooling & Garbage) | 650 - 750 |
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan | 204.1 |
Internet (60 Mbps or More) | 365.53 |
Once you make your move, you will have to account for transportation costs in Dubai. On the positive side, in this city, you will be able to easily commute without owning a car, thanks to its rich metro rail network that spans over 74.6 km. You can choose from several modes of public transportation such as local buses, metro, and others.
Here’s a table that details transportation costs in Dubai.
Item | Average Cost (AED) |
Petrol (1 litre) | 2.82 |
One-way Ticket | 4 - 8 |
Nol Card (Monthly Pass, All Zones) | 350/month |
Minimum Taxi fare | 12 |
Taxi (per km) | 3 |
Those who frequently rely on food delivery for their meals will have to budget for their restaurant visits and food deliveries. Here’s what meals would cost based on the level of restaurants you prefer to visit.
Meal | Cost in AED |
Meal for One (Affordable Restaurant) | 40 |
Meal for Two (Mid-range Restaurant, Three Courses) | 200 |
Meal for Two (Fine-Dining Restaurant, Three Courses) | 500 to 1,000 |
For those who prefer to eat in and cook; they need to stock their fridges with various groceries they would need. Dubai has every food item you can think of thanks to the diversity of its population. Dubai food prices will also vary based on your lifestyle and preferences.
Item | Average Cost (AED) |
Milk (regular, 1 liter) | 7.14 |
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | 5.76 |
Rice (white, 1kg) | 9.82 |
Eggs (regular, 12) | 12 |
Local Cheese (1kg) | 33.93 |
Chicken Fillets (1kg) | 31.42 |
Beef Round (1kg) | 36.45 |
Apples (1kg) | 8.69 |
Banana (1kg) | 6.85 |
Oranges (1kg) | 6.76 |
Tomato (1kg) | 6.16 |
Potato (1kg) | 4.19 |
Onion (1kg) | 5.37 |
Lettuce (1 head) | 6.13 |
Water (1.5 liter bottle) | 2.23 |
All residents in the UAE must have health or medical insurance. So you should factor healthcare costs in Dubai into your budget. Health insurance for residents who are sponsored by a company will be covered by the latter, and sometimes the insurance might also cover your family.
If your workplace does not offer health insurance for you and your family, you must cover it yourself from one of the companies that operate in Dubai. The amount you pay for insurance will depend on the type of coverage you wish to acquire.
Plan | Cost in AED per year |
Essential benefits plan for an individual | Starting from 600 |
Comprehensive medical coverage for an individual | 5,500 |
Comprehensive medical coverage for a family of four | 15,000 – 25,000 |
Comprehensive medical coverage for a family of four with worldwide coverage and other premium benefits | 70,000 |
UAE citizens are the only ones who benefit from the public healthcare sector in the UAE. This system is managed by the government and hospitals are segregated into different levels of care based on their location and the size of the population they serve.
As for private healthcare, this is a flourishing sector with numerous and varied hospitals available to care for all possible ailments. This is mainly because they cater to all residents and to the mandatory health insurance regimes the Emirates enforces. In light of the high number of expats living in the UAE, demand has increased for health care services.
When you move to Dubai with your family, you will need to account for another expense: your children’s schooling. Dubai has some of the best schools in the world and as it is for many of the other expenses, your children’s tuition will depend on the school they enroll in. Different curricula are available including British, American, Indian, and IB, which are the most popular ones. Here’s a table that highlights tuition fees in major schools.
School | Curriculum | Fee Range | Tuition fees per month in AED |
GEMS Wellington International School | British | Expensive | 6,007 |
The Winchester School | British | Affordable | 1,774 |
GEMS Modern Academy | Indian | Expensive | 4,031 |
The Millennium School | Indian | Affordable | 1,863 |
GEMS Dubai American Academy | American | Expensive | 7,320 |
Mirdif American School | American | Affordable | 2,642 |
GEMS World Academy | International Baccalaureate | Expensive | 7,973 |
Dubai International Academy, Emirates Hills | International Baccalaureate | Mid-Range | 5,085 |
There are many things in which Dubai excels, lifestyle and entertainment are certainly some of those things. There are countless attractions and activities in the city you can do, starting with fine-dining restaurants to IMAX cinemas, fitness centers and gyms, extreme sports, and famous tourist attractions. Here are some numbers to take into consideration when you are budgeting for your fun-filled weekends in Dubai.
Entertainment | Cost in AED |
Movie Ticket for One | 45 |
Gym Membership for One Month | 270 to 400 |
We have detailed above the most important expenses you will have to budget for when moving to Dubai. However, this is far from being a comprehensive list. Other expenses might come up based on the lifestyle you decide to embrace. You might want to hire a cleaning service for your apartment or a live-in maid; you might also wish to pamper yourself at a salon or beauty center; or maybe hire a private trainer to achieve your fitness goals.
Your living in Dubai cost will consequently change based on how much you wish to pamper yourself and what additional perks you wish to enjoy.
Dubai certainly isn’t the cheapest city to live in; however, it has so much to offer you in terms of opportunities and growth. Having concrete numbers on the costs you might have to incur will help make the transition smoother and assist you in making informed decisions about your new life in Dubai.
The tuition fees of your children in Dubai will depend on the private school you decide to enroll them in. The yearly tuition can range between AED 1750 and AED 7750. Regardless of which school you choose, rest assured that Dubai’s educational institutions are world-class and promise a great education to your children.
Dubai is rich in entertainment options for you to choose from. These include museums, cinemas, parks, arcades, restaurants, shows, and much more. You can check the website of each of these entertainment venues for a clearer idea of fees and costs.
The decision to rent or buy property in Dubai will depend on many factors related to your lifestyle and ambitions. If you are staying for a short while in Dubai, renting might be a better option. However, Dubai real estate offers great value. So, buying property in Dubai will certainly prove lucrative whether at the level of saving rent or making returns on your investment.
The average cost of basic utilities for a 900 sq. ft apartment which includes electricity, water, cooling, and garbage, is between AED 650 and AED 750. A mobile phone monthly plan is AED 204.1 AED and internet with a 60 Mbps speed or higher costs about AED 365.53.
After purchasing a car, your costs for owning it will include RTA car registration (one-time yearly payment) AED 500; Salik registration (initial payment) AED 100; insurance (monthly) AED 165; fuel consumption (4 full tanks per month) AED 400; and Salik top up (monthly) AED 100.
Yes, you can certainly find tasty and affordable dining options in Dubai. The food scene in Dubai is rich with international fast food chains. If you also prefer ethnic and street food options; you can satisfy your cravings on a budget, probably very close to where you are living.