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Cost Of Living In Dubai 2023 : How Much Exactly It Will Cost Living Here?

Cost Of Living In Dubai 2023 - Considering the average cost of living in a country is important because it gives an idea of your expenditure and saving. If you are planning to shift to Dubai then this blog will help you.

Cost Of Living In Dubai 2023 : How Much Exactly It Will Cost Living Here?

Do You Feel Your Salary Is Less Than Your Expense? or You Have More Expense Than Your Salary? 
 
I am with mixed emotions every time I see my salary and then the expense to be made. I think this is the most basic reason why most of the people are migrating from one country to other. Because getting an improved living with the increasing expense is tough and this leaves the only option of changing places. 
 
And looking at the trend people are focusing more at Dubai now with around 8 million people migrated to Dubai. This is huge! The main reason behind it is the phenomenal living Dubai offers that I have explained in my other blog about Dubai Real Estate Market because ultimately one has to see the cost of living. 
 
If in case you have migration idea in your mind and confused whether Dubai will be good for you or not, then let me give the entire details of the cost of living in Dubai with some facts and figures of previous year comparison. 

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Cost Of Living In Dubai 2023 - Know All That Exists

Dubai is the most vibrant city of the world that gives endless sunshine and swanky skyscrapers. This land is known for the man-made islands and the head-turning job opportunities basically for which a person travels. It is a very popular place for singles, couples or for families who want to own affordable yet lavish lifestyle. This is the reason why over 80% of the expat population is coming to Dubai. Who does not want to earn maximum with no tax deductions? 
 
Keep scrolling… No not just scroll you must read it if you want some enticing details about the basic cost that whether Dubai is expensive or not?   

Rank Country Cost of Living Index
1 Bermuda 146.04
2 Switzerland 123.35
10 Singapore 83.98
14 Australia 77.75
18 New Zealand 74.52
25 Canada 70.22
26 United States 70.13
27 United Kingdom 69.65
34 Germany 65.58
38 United Arab Emirates 58.33

Cost of Living in Dubai Against Other Cities

If you are anywhere and anyhow confused about which country you should shift to, then heed the table mentioning a comparison of Dubai with other countries. This may help you in making one decision. 

Location Single person monthly cost without rent Average rent in city centre (studio apartment) Taxi Fare (1km) Petrol (1 litres)
Dubai  AED 3,426 AED 5,141 AED 1.82 AED 4.02
Hong Kong AED 3,981 AED 7,020 AED 6.24 AED 10.87
London AED 4,260 AED 8,303 AED 22.10 AED 7.69
New York  AED 5,079 AED 13,362 AED 5.73 AED 5.00
Singapore AED 3,581 AED 4,000 AED 5.91 AED 9.48
Canada AED 4,564 AED 4,885 AED 16.53 AED 5.80
Australia AED 3, 562 AED 5,000 AED 7.42 AED 5.62

Read The Details Mentioned Below About The Glamorous City 

But keep one thing in mind, these costs are basic, and the main expenditure depends on your personal preference on how much you want to expand. 
 
Living Expenses In Dubai - Heed The Details 

Of course, you must be having few expenses in your mind but still, I am mentioning the details about the different types of expenses you need to bear in Dubai. Because to know the average cost you need to break down the average cost into some of the essential expenses.
 
Housing

Housing is one of the most important yet basic needs. It is an imperative expense one needs to consider as a priority. You can get varieties of housing options here differing in area, size, and building, and with additional services. The rent and the ownership price vary.

  • Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre: Dirham 5,141.89 
  • Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre: Dirham 3,281.72 
  • Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre: Dirham 9,766.53 
  • Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre: Dirham 6,792.74 

 Groceries

When you are done with the house, then food is the next necessity. You can’t do it without groceries, so it becomes important to consider the cost of groceries as well. There are so many supermarket options one can explore like Carrefour, Spinneys, Waitrose, Etihad Mall, etc. to avail of the best deals and offers. Here is the list of essentials.

  • Basic lunchtime menu in the business district - Dirham 44
  • Combo meal in fast food restaurant - Dirham 30
  • 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast - Dirham 15
  • 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole-fat milk Dirham 7
  • 12 eggs, large - Dirham 13
  • 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes - Dirham 5.24
  • 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese - Dirham 20
  • 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples - Dirham 8
  • 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes - Dirham 4.15
  • 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket - Dirham 13
  • 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality - Dirham 54
  • 2 liters of coca-cola - Dirham 8
  • Bread for 2 people for 1 day - Dirham 4.40

Utilities

Well, utilities come next in the count but it is something that can shake the whole month's budget. Utilities basically include water, electricity, mobile bills, and internet which is slightly higher in Dubai. But of course, you must be getting quality in it like flawless services without any interruption. Utility expenses in Dubai include:

  • Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) - 573.20 Dirham
  • 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) - 0.45 Dirham
  • Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) - 364.29 Dirham

Transportation

When it comes to the best transport facilities then Dubai stands on top providing numerous options for traveling. Transportation is not at all an issue here; people can travel with utmost ease via Metro, buses, taxis, etc. Also ordering them is easy with several transport apps that will save your time and money. So you can save on transportation and fuel. Look at the approximate idea of transportation cost to understand the living expense in Dubai. 

  • Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent) - Dirham 90,086
  • 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas - Dirham 2.76
  • Monthly ticket public transport - Dirham 312
  • Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km. (5 miles) - Dirham 34

Healthcare 

It is one of the most significant parts of living because one should never compromise on healthcare. Dubai offers prominent healthcare services mandating some of the policies. Like health insurance is obligatory for companies to cover their employees who are having work visas and to their wives and children as well. If you are going as a resident sponsored by someone then the sponsor will get your insurance cover.  

  • Essential Benefits Plans: Minimum AED 600 per year 
  • Comprehensive Plan: AED 5,500 per year 
  • Medical Insurance (4 members): AED 70,000

Schooling

Education is the most important part and concern for parents when they are migrating to a different country. Education is affordable over here and with the UAE education curriculums, you can easily find affordable tuition. Also if ex-pats are returning to Dubai this surely means the presence of excellent schools over here. Whatever suits best to your family, you can choose the best education.

  • Public school up to Dirham 6,000
  • Private school Dirham 3,567 - 107,928
  • Zayed University- Dirham 2,500 per credit hour
  • British University of Dubai tuition- Dirham 56,250 - 62,500
  • Preschool (or Kindergarten)- 1000 Dirham - 4000 Dirham
  • International Primary School- 25,000 Dirham – 75,000 Dirham

EMAAR Clearpoint

 

Entertainment

Well, how one can move away from entertainment? Living gets tough when you have a mundane and boring life. It is important to have some fun options around the housing and in that case, Dubai gives you many. All the prominent locations of Dubai are filled with many attractions and activities like restaurants, IMAX cinemas, tourist sports, and much more leisure options. Not even a single day will be boring in Dubai. There are so many food delivery applications that will provide you with doorstep delivery.

  • Movie Ticket for One- Dirham 40
  • Gym Membership for One Month- Dirham 297.57
  • Meal for One - Dirham 30
  • Meal for Two- Dirham 250 – Dirham 300

 
House Help

Well, imagining a life without house help is very difficult and if you are a working professional then it is very difficult. This is the reason why the maximum population is dependent on household help. In fact, in Dubai, 50% of the population uses outside-house help because for many of them hiring in-house help is expensive. Then there are lots of other expenses attached like salary, insurance, travel convince and more. Let’s break down the total cost of house help i.e. minimum Dh32, 000. This includes:

  • Sponsorship and visa costs: Dirham 5,500
  • Medical insurance: Dirham 700 to Dirham 800
  • Annual flights Dirham 2,000 to Dirham 4,000

Average Cost of Living In Dubai: Giving An Idea For Your Average Expected Expense

Starting a new life in a new country brings some chills and thrills. It is always nerve-wracking to start with something new but by the time, one gets habitual of it. Still to begin a new life, you need to understand the basic cost of living in Dubai. Well the above mentioned details must have given you an idea about the average cost of living in Dubai, still providing you some more details. 

  • Single Person: Approx AED 3-4K 
  • Two People: Approx AED 7K 
  • Family of four: Approx AED 14K 

 

Average Cost Of Living In Dubai For Single Person

Countless people are migrating from one country to other in search of good jobs and living but sometimes one person earning is not enough to sustain. But sometimes your migration might work phenomenally well for you with the outstanding pay and lifestyle. Still for an idea of what is the average cost of living in Dubai for Singles, below are the details, but a minimum of AED 3K to AED 5K is must. 
 
Studio apartments are most commonly chosen by the bachelors in Dubai for renting, though renting differs from area to area but still studio apartment is affordable than any other property like it starts from AED 2K where a good apartment can be opted. Then the monthly cost of living in Dubai in terms of utility bill includes all the necessities, groceries, traveling, etc. also come in the list of cost of living in Dubai for single person. 

Type Of Expense Cost (Per Month)
Housing - Studios AED 2,583 – AED 4,166
Groceries AED 480
Utilities AED 750 – AED 1K
Total AED 3K – AED 5K

Average Cost Of Living In Dubai For A Couple

Needless to say that some of the expenses are fixed like rent but rest of the expense depend on your usage and your lifestyle preference. A couple will surely cost double of single person's expense like it will be minimum AED 5K and it can go high as much as you want. I think for couples 1 Bed Apartments are fine and cost-effective solution if one wants to save money, rest you can own as bigger as you want. 

Type Of Expense Cost (Per Month)
Housing- Villa/ Townhouse AED 8,750 – AED 11,666
Groceries AED 1920
Utilities AED 2K – AED 3.5K
Total AED 12K – AED 18K

Average Cost Of Living In Dubai For A Family Of Four

When it comes to big families or like family of four, then Villas or Townhouse are the best preferences. Family of four means individual space is required and for that having a big home is important and if you are paying rent then this expense get added and even increased for bigger properties also varying from one area to area. Basics have been mentioned above but when it comes to the cost of living for the family of 4 in Dubai then possibilities of having kids increase and that add on the school fees cost as well, so that cost minimum of AED 4K and higher a lot.

Type Of Expense Cost (Per Month)
Housing- Villa/ Townhouse AED 8,750 – AED 11,666
Groceries AED 1920
Utilities AED 2K – AED 3.5K
Total AED 12K – AED 18K

 

Has The Dubai Cost Of Living Increased From 2022 To 2023?

Dubai is one of the cities in the world that is considered on priority for migration because of the ample living opportunities one can get here. It provides both the most affordable and the most luxurious life. In past, Dubai witnessed a downtrend in the price because of the decline in education and transportation. The cost of living decreased in 2022 in comparison to 2021 but the pandemic was the biggest reason behind it. It decreased to around 89% for single and 32% for a family of four. But the trend changed in 2023 with the average cost of living increasing from AED 3,435.71 to AED 3,477.89 for a single person and AED 11,863.31 to AED 11,958.62 for a family of four.

WRAPPING IT UP

So what do you think is Dubai expensive to live in? Or you can adjust the cost with a myriad of amenities present? This article is basically targeted at the people who are planning to migrate to Dubai and ex-pats giving an idea of the average cost of living. This will help you in determining the cost of everything because residing here will surely bring manifold opportunities. I hope you will understand the expenses and plan of living here. 

FAQs

Is housing in Dubai cheap? 
With the numerous projects and home supply in the market, the Dubai housing market stays relatively cheaper than other markets of the world. Owning a home in Dubai is not a tough task.
Is there any tax on income in Dubai?
No, there is no tax on income in UAE means that you can save more. Within the country, there is no individual tax applicable. 
How much is the average rent in Dubai?
The UAE average rent lies between 3K - 5K AED for a studio apartment and this increases with the increasing size, changing the property, and location. There are so many factors determining the price and rent. 
How much does a tourist spend in Dubai? 
On average, a tourist spends around AED730- the average price of expenses. It includes accommodation, food, traveling, etc.
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