If you’re moving to Dubai, you might be curious about the costs associated with living comfortably here. In this article, we will outline all of the most prevalent living expenses in Dubai so that you can build an accurate budget for your new journey in one of the world’s most vibrant urban landscapes.
Whether you’re planning to move to Dubai or just curious, understanding its average cost of living is crucial. Let’s dive in, as this article explores all of the expenses related to moving there in detail.
Visa Cost
Understanding the costs associated with living in Dubai are integral to planning your move. Residents can select one or more of three primary visa categories available to them – Residence Visa, Investor Visa or Tourist Visa (Visit Visa). Residence and Investor visas last two years while Tourist visas can last between 30-60 days.
Dubai Land Department recently announced a new category of investor visa called Golden Visa that grants extended residency validity for 10 years in Dubai. You can obtain one by making an investment of at least AED 2 Million into the real estate market here or even just booking your unit on Installments; all investments qualify and secure you one of these visas.
Visa Type | Cost (AED) | Cost (USD) |
Tourist or Visit Visa | 350 – 1200 AED | 100 – 350 USD |
Resident Visa | 5000 – 7000 AED | 1400 – 2000 USD |
Investor Visa | Around 10,000 AED | Around 2500 USD |
Golden Visa | 5000 AED (2M Investment) | 545K USD investment |
Housing
Whether you buy or rent, a house in Dubai will be the most expensive cost. But, you do have a lot of control over the price of your home as housing costs can differ drastically, based on the area.
Average Rental Prices
Housing prices for studio apartments in Downtown Dubai commands approximately AED 85,000 annually or around AED 7000 monthly, Jumeirah Beach Residence averages around AED 75,000 per year or AED 6000 per month and Jumeirah Lakes Towers offers more affordable options at about AED 60,000 annually or AED 5000 monthly.
One-bedroom apartments located within the city centre typically range between AED 7,000 and AED 10,000 monthly; those outside may cost from AED 5,000 to AED 7,000 on an ongoing basis.
If you are thinking about Renting a villa, then it is more expensive, with prices ranging from AED 15,000 to AED 30,000 per month, depending on the area and size.
Buying Property in Dubai
Dubai real estate purchases have long been an attractive prospect, particularly for long-term residents. Apartment prices start around AED 1 million and villas from AED 3.5 million.
Here’s the average rental and sales price chart
Annual Rent (AED) | Sales Price (AED) | |
Studio | 35,000 – 80,000 | 600,000 – 1.2 Million |
One Bedroom Apartment | 70,000 – 100,000 | 600,000 – 2 Million |
2 Bedrooms Apartment | 10,0000 – 180,000 | 1.7 Million – 2.6 Million |
4-5 Bedrooms Villa | 180,000 – 350,000 | 3 Million – 6 Million |
For detailed Pricing Insights and free Guidance, you can consult our sales team
Utilities
Utility costs vary in Dubai based on factors like accommodation size and personal usage. Electricity and water bills may fluctuate substantially; high-speed internet packages come at different price points; basic cable TV packages can also be easily found; mobile phone plans also feature different tiered plans based on data usage or call allowance. It is crucial that residents budget for utilities, as they represent essential expenses that contribute towards overall living expenses.
Here’s an overview of the average costs for utilities such as electricity bills, home internet, and more in Dubai.
Utility | Cost per month (AED) |
Electricity and Water | 500 – 1200 |
High Speed Internet | 200 – 500 |
Cable TV (Optional) | Starting from 100 |
Mobile Phone Plan | 100 – 500 |
Transportation
Dubai provides numerous public transportation options, including RTA metro and buses. The Dubai Metro provides cost-effective access to most areas in Dubai with fares between AED 3 to AED 7.50; bus rides cost around AED 5. Additionally, taxi services are readily available with starting fares starting from AED 12 with typical trips costing AED 50 to AED 80 (14-20 US Dollars).
Owning a car comes with several costs, including fuel, insurance and maintenance expenses. City centres may charge between AED 300-AED 500 in parking fees each month while expenses will vary according to the model of the car you have.
Transportation Mode | Cost (AED) | Cost (USD) |
Metro | 3 – 7.5 AED per trip | 1 – 2 USD per trip |
RTA Buses | 5 AED per trip | 1 – 2 USD per trip |
Dubai Taxi | 30 – 80 AED per trip | 8 – 20 USD per trip |
Car Fuel | Around 3 AED per Litre | Around 1 USD per Litre |
Car Insurance | 1500-4000 AED annually | 408-1090 USD annually |
Car Maintainance | 1000-2000 AED annually | 272 – 545 USD annually |
Car Parking fee | 300 – 500 AED annually | 82 – 136 USD annually |
Groceries
Fresh food and meat tend to be more cost-effective in Dubai compared to other major cities around the world; monthly grocery costs for a family of four typically range between AED 2,000 to AED 3,000 depending on dietary habits; imported goods can often cost more.
Dubai offers many major grocery stores that provide an wide range of affordable goods, from fresh produce to packaging items, such as Carrefour, Spinneys, Waitrose, Lulu Hypermarket, Choithrams, Day to Day Stores and Viva Supermarket.
Expense Type | Cost (AED) | Cost (USD) |
Monthly Grocery Bill | 2000 -3000 AED | 545 – 820 USD |
HealthCare and Insurance
Health insurance is mandatory in Dubai for every resident and their sponsoring employer must offer health coverage that extends to your family as well.
Residents earning less than AED 4,000 each month qualify for the Essential Benefits Plan (EBP), providing coverage that mirrors public healthcare services available within the UAE.
Those holding investor visas or not covered through employers must purchase health insurance through one of Dubai’s many insurance provider companies.
Average Annual Health Insurance Cost in Dubai (AED)
Insurance Type | Individual | Family of 4 Person |
Basic Health Insurance | 600 – 800 AED | 17000 AED |
Comprehensive Health Plan | 5500 AED | 33500 AED |
Premium Health Plan | 10000 – 15000 AED | 70000 AED |
Essential Benefits Plans | 550 – 600 AED |
Entertainment and Leisure
Leisure costs in Dubai can be high due to its luxurious reputation as a tourist destination. Dining out at high-end restaurants, visiting luxurious shopping malls and enjoying world-class entertainment such as desert safaris, indoor skiing at Ski Dubai or visits to iconic landmarks such as Burj Khalifa can quickly add up over time.
Dubai also provides more economical leisure activities, including visiting public beaches, exploring traditional markets (souks), and taking advantage of various parks and public spaces. Overall costs associated with leisure in Dubai may differ based on lifestyle choices; however, costs tend to fall on the higher end of the spectrum.
The Average leisure activity cost in Dubai is given below:
Activity | Cost (AED) | Cost (USD) |
Gym | 200 – 600 AED | 55 – 165 USD |
Cinema | 40 – 100 AED | 11 – 25 USD |
Average Meal at Restaurant | 50 – 500 AED | 13 – 130 USD |
School
Are you moving to Dubai with your family, school fees also cost you. School costs in Dubai can be extremely costly, particularly at international schools offering curricula such as British, American, Indian or International Baccalaureate (IB). There are various budget-friendly schooling solutions in Dubai to accommodate any educational budget.
Public Schools
Public schools in Dubai are government-funded institutions designed to primarily serve Emirati citizens. Following the UAE Ministry of Education curriculum and employing Arabic as their primary language of instruction with an emphasis on national culture and heritage, public schools offer free or minimal fees education for Emirati children but may be less accessible for expatriate families.
These schools usually feature larger class sizes and limited resources compared to private schools, making admission easy for Emirati children while expatriate children usually do not attend except under specific circumstances.
Private Schools
Private schools in Dubai are independently funded and cater to an international student body, including many expatriates. Their curricula are varied, including British, American, International Baccalaureate (IB) and Indian; with instruction varying depending on which curriculum one chooses.
Private schools typically boast superior facilities and extracurricular activities to those found in public schools, supported by higher tuition fees. Admission may involve competitive entrance exams and interviews; admission can also be competitive depending on individual circumstances. Private schools provide an international learning environment suitable to various educational plans and needs.
Annual Fees (AED) | Annual Fees (USD) | |
Public School( For Expats) | 3500 – 12500 AED | 1000 – 3400 USD |
American School | Approx 16000 – 85000 AED | 4400 – 23000 USD |
British School | Approx 17000 – 82000 AED | 4600 – 22000 USD |
Indian School | Approx 10000 – 30000 AED | 2700 – 8100 USD |
What is the Average Cost of Living in Dubai for Individuals, Families and Couples?
The estimated average cost of living in Dubai for Individuals, Couples and families can be determined from the Table given Below:
Average Per Month Cost of Living in Dubai (AED)
Single | Couple | Family of 4 | |
Visa | 7000 (For 2 years) About 700 (For 2 months Visit Visa) | 13000 (For 2 years) | Around 25000 (For 2 years) and 3000 (For 2 months Visit Visa) |
Rent | 2500 – 4000 | 5000 – 9000 | 6000 – 12000 |
Utilities | 700 – 1000 | 1300 – 1500 | 2700 |
Transportation | 400 – 1200 | 800 – 1800 | 1500 – 3500 |
Groceries | 1000 | 1500 | 3000 |
Leisure | 500 – 1000 | 1000 – 2000 | 2000 – 3000 |
Education | — | — | 6000 – 12000 |
Total | 5000 – 9000 AED | 9500 – 15000 AED | 18000 – 36000 AED |
Dubai’s cost of living can be considerable, depending on factors like housing, transportation, groceries, utilities, education and leisure activities. A single person who converts 1500 USD to AED should easily be able to manage his monthly expenses there.
While dining and entertainment can be costly, various options suit different budgets. Planning and budgeting are really important to manage expenses effectively in a city like Dubai
