Like any international, financial, business and cultural hub, the UAE is known for its high standard of living. Despite this, the cost of living in the UAE is cheaper than in some of the most expensive cities in the United States, Canada, Western Europe and Japan.
Dubai is the most expensive of the emirates, including in terms of real estate and rent. The monthly rental prices in Dubai in the city center or a popular area here look something like this:
- One-bedroom apartment rent costs an average of 5,500 dirhams per month ($ 1,500).
- Three-bedroom apartment rent costs around 10,000 dirhams per month ($ 2,700).
Cost of buying a home
Many expats invest in residential real estate in the UAE. And for good reason: the market is steadily growing, and renting out can bring in considerable income.
Real estate prices in Dubai directly depend on the location. For example, a three-bedroom townhouse in the new Damac Lagoons area can be purchased for 2 million dirhams ($544,500). For the same price, you can buy a one-bedroom apartment in the popular Downtown Dubai area in the center with one bedroom.
Among the most interesting areas of Dubai for buying housing are the following areas:
Meydan with the new Keturah Reserve area;
Damac Lagoons
Dubai Creek and others.
The cost of housing in them is still affordable and is largely determined by the size of the land plots, if we are talking about private houses. To guarantee a better choice for your life, look for vacancies through job search sites such as Layboard.
Utilities
Utilities are an important expense item in the life of a UAE resident – in the UAE they are charged by the DEWA Authority. Moreover, in the summer, due to the climate and the constant use of air conditioners, their cost is higher than in winter. The average cost of utilities for electricity, gas and water will be about 600 AED ($163) per month outside the summer. Also, a property maintenance fee of 5% of the rental price is paid monthly.
Home Internet will cost about $100 per month.
Transport
Public transport
Dubai has an excellent public transport system. You can move around the city by metro, trams, monorail, buses and ferries. For daily trips, it is recommended to get a Nol subscription, since you can’t pay in cash everywhere. It is divided into several types depending on the tariff and types of transport. The most popular is the Red Nol Ticket – it includes up to 10 trips on one type of transport. Such a ticket costs from 2 dirhams ($0.54). It is worth considering that you can also move around the city by taxi.
Personal transport: cost of a car and gasoline
Toyota Land Cruiser 2024 – from 230,000 dirhams ($62,600);
Honda Civic 2024 – from 126,000 dirhams ($34,300);
Hyundai Creta – from 68,000 dirhams ($18,500);
Mercedes-Benz EQS 2024 – from 460,000 dirhams ($125,200).
Daily expenses for a car:
Cost of gasoline: 3.3 dirhams ($0.94) per liter;
Cost of travel on a toll road: 15 – 30 dirhams ($4 – $8).
In addition, the UAE has strict laws that also apply to road users. High fines apply for traffic violations. If you’re searching for high-paying carpenter jobs to support a good lifestyle, then use https://layboard.in/vacancies/jobs-in-uae/jobs-in-dubai/speciality/carpenter.
Medical care
Treatment in Dubai is often higher than in other countries, for example, in Turkey or Europe.
Approximate price list for some medical services:
Dental implant with installation – 5900 dirhams ($ 1600);
Appendicitis removal surgery – from 11,000 dirhams ($ 3000);
Heart valve replacement – from 73,400 dirhams ($ 20,000);
Plastic surgery – from 29,300 dirhams ($8,000)
Health insurance cost
Dubai has a high level of medicine and life expectancy. But for treatment, you need insurance. On average, an individual insurance plan in Dubai in 2024 costs about 10,000 dirhams ($2,723). In addition to insurance, it is recommended to get a medical card from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) to cover access to a more extensive list of medical services. You will have to pay about 320 dirhams ($87) for it, for children under 10 – 120 dirhams ($33).
Low-income workers, non-working residents and dependents can get a special type of insurance – Essential Benefits Plan (EBP), which provides access to high-quality medical are at relatively low prices. Its price is from 650 dirhams ($177) per year.
Education
Dubai has a large number of public and private schools, universities and kindergartens. Many schools and universities are accredited according to international standards and teach in English. We wrote a whole article about this subject, and here we will talk about the key costs of education in Dubai.
Schools
About 90% of schools in Dubai are private. Educational programs and duration of study vary depending on the education system: British, American or other. In private and international schools, the cost of tuition for children of expats ranges on average from AED 13,000 to 45,000 dirhams ($3,600 – $12,200). The price depends on the school’s rating, its location, and the level of education (class).
Universities
The cost of tuition at UAE universities depends on the university’s rating, joint programs with partner countries, location, availability of prestigious specialties, etc. On average, tuition for undergraduate programs can cost from 36,730 dirhams ($10,000) to 147,000 dirhams ($40,000) per year. This amount does not include accommodation on campus
Food in supermarkets
In Dubai, supermarkets are divided into two types: for tourists, foreigners and for those who live in the country on a permanent basis. The cost of products in these places varies. Chain supermarkets Carrefour, Lulu Hypermarket and Union Cooperative belong to the second segment, where you can buy everything you need at a relatively low price.
On average, a food basket for one person can cost about 500 dirhams ($136) per week. This price does not include alcohol, which is significantly more expensive in the Emirates than in Western countries. It is not sold everywhere, and in some emirates of the country it is completely prohibited. In Dubai, a bottle of wine in a supermarket can be purchased for 44 – 110 dirhams ($12 – $30). In restaurants, the price is several times higher.
Average bill in restaurants
For those who do not want to cook, Dubai offers a large selection of cafes and restaurants with cuisine from all over the world. Living in the UAE means enjoying authentic Arabic, European, Middle Eastern and Asian cuisines.
On average, a dinner outside the home, consisting of 2-3 courses, will cost about 350 dirhams ($95).
Dubai also has a well-developed street food culture. The most popular dishes are flatbreads with a variety of fillings, falafel and pizza. The cost, depending on the portion and dish, varies from 5.5 – 37 dirhams ($1.5 – $10).
Clothing and Essentials
Dubai has the largest number of shopping malls in the country, and the famous Dubai Mall is the second largest in the world.
Prices for clothing, footwear and essentials from the mass market are comparable, while premium and luxury goods can cost more than in other countries.
Leisure, sports and entertainment
A monthly gym membership costs an average of 250 dirhams ($68), and two cinema tickets cost 82 dirhams ($22).
Cultural events
Prices for tickets to museums, exhibitions and concerts in Dubai range from $50 to $300.
