The biggest expense is rent. From $6,500 for solo to $20,000 for family lifestyles.
How much does it cost to live in Dubai? Dubai is a major attraction for expats, although it carries a reputation as a city for the affluent. Despite not being among the topmost expensive cities globally, Dubai ranks 31st in the Mercer rating of costliest places for expats.
But how much does it cost to live in this city for three months? Let’s explore this with insights from experts and tenants of a technologically-empowered rental company offering stylish living spaces, branded services, and a community for tenants Colife Dubai.
The key expense categories to estimate the cost of living in Dubai
Food
Shopping for groceries in Dubai is cheaper than in London, Berlin, or New York. Daily food expenses can range from $30. For instance, having lunch in the center of Dubai during a workday may cost around $30 per person, while dining for two can range from $80 to $150.
The food budget for 3 months can range from $2,700 to $9,000.
Transport
Dubai has a well-developed public transport system, including metro, trams, buses, and water transport. A single trip on public transport costs $0.8–$4.
However, many Dubai residents prefer cars or taxis. The cost of renting an ordinary sedan is around $490 per month, and additional expenses for fuel and taxi rides may amount to $300–$700 per month. A taxi ride costs $15–$30.
The total transportation budget for 3 months is approximately $80 to $2,100.
Clothing
With a hot climate in Dubai, there’s no need for spending on seasonal warm clothing. Estimated clothing expenses can range from $500 to $1,500 for 3 months.
Entertainments
Dubai offers a multitude of entertainment options, both paid and free. For example, enjoying a day at a public beach is free, but for a private beach, the entrance fee is $1–$2, with an additional $20–$30 for an umbrella and lounger. Monthly expenses on activities like visiting a fitness center may exceed $82, while a one-time visit to Burj Khalifa costs $132.
On average, monthly entertainment expenses can vary from $200 to $1,000, resulting in a budget of approximately $600 to $3000 for 3 months.
Health
Health insurance is a mandatory expense. A basic package in Dubai costs $170 per year, with coverage reaching $36,000. The policyholder covers only 20% of medical expenses during each visit to a doctor.
Housing
Renting accommodation is the most significant expense for expat families. According to Polina Fedorova, Head of Sales at Colife Dubai, here are the rental costs in the city’s popular areas per month:
- In Dubai Marina: studio $2,450–$2,700, 1-bedroom $3,400, and 2-bedroom $4,360
- Dubai Hills: studio from $3,000, 1-bedroom from $3,500, 2-bedroom from $5,450
- Downtown Dubai: Studio from $2,450, 1-bedroom from $3,200, 2-bedroom from $4,400
Renting through Colife Dubai allows savings on cleaning, Wi-Fi, maintenance, and entertainment services, all included in the rent. On average, you can rent a studio for $2,450 per month, a one-bedroom apartment for $3,400 per month, and a two-bedroom apartment for $4,000 per month with Colife Dubai.
Certainly, living expenses are individual for each person. Some live alone, while others have three children. Completely different tenants of Colife Dubai shared their life experiences in the UAE and revealed how much it takes to live in one of the most expensive cities in the world.
Anna. Living Alone in Dubai
“I live alone in Dubai, and my budget is calculated for one person. On average, I spend about 8,000 – 10,000 AED ($2,180 – $2,800) per month. Food and accommodation are the major part of my expenses. I don’t cook, and expenses on food (including cafes and restaurants) amount to around 3,500 AED ($950). I use public transport and spend about 500 AED ($136) per month on transportation, as I work quite far from home. Entertainment costs relatively little, as there are many inexpensive activities and good free beaches. Clothing is also not very costly, with familiar store chains and shopping centers for every budget.”
In total, from $6,500 to $8,400 for 3 months of living in Dubai for one person.
IT director of a food tech company. Living alone in Dubai
“My monthly budget for living in Dubai is 30,000 AED ($8,170). I try not to exceed this amount. I don’t specifically plan a budget for each category. My primary focus is not to overspend, and I manage the details from there.
Here’s a breakdown of my expenses for this month:
- The largest expense is rent — 13,000 AED ($3,500)
- Food and groceries — I don’t cook and rely on deliveries or dine out. This cost me around 3,000 AED ($820). An additional 1,100 ($300) AED for snacks and beverages bringing the total to 4,100 AED ($1,120)
- Sports — I engage in regular activities such as tennis, surfing, and paddle tennis, with an expense of 2,500 AED ($680)
- Clothing — 1,700 AED. This isn’t a regular expense. I recently arrived and decided to update my wardrobe ($460)
- Entertainment — various events like concerts and match tickets amount to 1,300 dirhams. This will likely be a recurring expense ($355)
- Transportation — 1,200 AED ($320). I mainly use taxis.”
Total: from $19,500 to $24,500 for 3 months of living in Dubai for one person.
Yaroslav and Sabina. Relocated to Dubai as a Couple
“The main expenses are food, rent, and a car. We prefer to cook at home, but approximately twice a week, we have lunch or dinner at a restaurant. We pay slightly over 10,000 AED ($2,725) for renting a studio in JLT. A car is a necessary expense for us; it’s more convenient than public transport, and we enjoy exploring the surroundings. In Dubai, it’s very challenging without your own car. Renting a regular sedan costs around 1800 AED/month ($490). Additionally, we need to budget for petrol. Once a month, I go to the barbershop, and Sabina visits the beauty salon. These services are not cheap here. Our expenses vary from month to month, but on average, our spending is 15,000 AED ($4,000).”
Total: approximately $12,000 for 3 months of living in Dubai for a couple
Angelina, Living with Husband and Daughter in Dubai
“I’ll say right away that our family expenses in Dubai are not as large as they could be. The thing is, my husband’s employer provides accommodation, a car (including compensating for fuel and parking costs). This is a monthly saving of about 17,000 AED ($4,630) for renting a 2-bedroom apartment and a car.
On weekdays, we eat at home, but on weekends, we don’t stay home, so cafes, restaurants, or food courts are a must.
The budget for a child is a separate matter. Our daughter often needs new clothes, shoes, toys, and we pay for her activities. She’s 4 years old, attends dance classes, and has an English tutor. We don’t have a nanny, but I know that services in Dubai are quite expensive.
It’s hard to name a specific figure for monthly expenses, but I’ll say this — for six months of living, our spending has not been less than 8,000 AED ($2,180) and not more than 11,500 AED ($3,100).
If you add expenses for accommodation and a car, it turns out that for a family with one child, you need somewhere around 25,000 AED ($6,800) for comfortable living.”
In total, about $20,000 for a family with one child to stay in Dubai for 3 months.
Taking into account all the aforementioned expense categories and real-life stories of Dubai residents, the overall budget for living in this city for three months can range from economical at $10,800 to higher at $25,500. In any case, Dubai is indeed not an inexpensive city. However, the standard of living, GDP, and salaries are high here. For example, the average salary in Dubai according to SalaryExpert is 190,337 AED per year ($51,863), which is 15,861 AED per month ($4,318).
