How Much Does It Cost to Live in Dubai: Housing, Food, Children, Healthcare

We studied official statistics, rates and reviews from real residents to estimate the main expenses. In this article, we share the figures and evaluate three lifestyle scenarios: economical, average and comfortable.

Housing costs in Dubai are one of the largest items in the budget. According to city residents, they account for 30–40% of their income.

Specific rental rates vary depending on the area, number of bedrooms and level of the project. According to PropertyMonitor, in 2025, the average cost of renting a studio will be AED 55,000 per year (about $1,250 per month). A budget option will cost AED 35,000 per year ($800 per month), and a comfortable option will cost AED 90,000 per year ($2,000 per month).

The rate for one-bedroom flats is AED 89,000 per year (about $2,000 per month). In popular areas such as Palm Jumeirah, City Walk, Zabeel, average rates are AED 130,000–170,000 per year ($3,000–4,000 per month). In Deira, Al Karama or Al Quoz, you can rent an apartment for AED 65,000–70,000 per year (about $1,500 per month).

The average cost of renting a two-bedroom villa is AED 170,000 per year ($4,000 per month). A three-bedroom house will cost AED 190,000 per year ($4,300 per month).

When calculating the cost of housing, don't forget about utility bills: electricity, water, cooling, rubbish collection and internet access. Here, everything largely depends on the amount of resources consumed. Reddit users shared the following figures:

Thus, utility bills will cost an average of $300–500 per month. But the amount for spacious housing and a large family can be much higher.

The next item in the budget is groceries and ready meals. In this article, we will give approximate figures per person.

The most economical option is to buy groceries in shops. Approximate prices in a supermarket such as    Carrefour:

With these prices and a modest diet, a person needs about 1,500 AED ($400) per month.

You can eat mainly at home, but sometimes treat yourself to fast food or a meal in a café. A snack on the street or at a fast food outlet will cost 30–50 AED ($8–14), while a visit to an inexpensive local restaurant will cost 35–60 AED ($9–16). Add 10 such lunches to the basic food budget and you get 2,000 AED per month ($550). This will be the average food budget in Dubai for one person for a month.

For greater comfort, let's add 10 dinners at good restaurants with an average bill of 350 AED ($95). The total food budget for this scenario will be 5,500 AED ($1,500) per month.

There are many retail chains in Dubai with an impeccable selection, but the most popular is Carrefour

The most economical way to get around Dubai is by public transport: metro, bus, tram. The cost of a single trip with a Nol Silver card is between 3 and 7.5 AED. If you travel to only one place every day (e.g. to work, for a walk or to the mall), you will need AED 450 ($125) per month.

For greater convenience, let's add 10 taxi rides to this, each costing an average of AED 150, for a total of AED 1,500 ($400). This means that the average transport budget will be $550.

For the most comfortable option, let's calculate the cost of renting a car. A JAC J7 Sportback or Toyota Camry car in a car-sharing scheme will cost approximately 2,500 AED ($700) per month. With a daily mileage of 50 km (approximately 1,500 km per month), fuel costs will be an additional 400 AED ($110). The total budget for comfortable travel around the city is 2,900 AED ($810).

A typical Toyota Camry from the government RTA taxi fleet

There is a lot of entertainment in Dubai, and it is difficult to do without it even on a tight budget. Let's assume that a person with a minimal budget goes to the cinema 2-3 times a month and chooses free entertainment the rest of the time, such as sunbathing on the beach or walking around the city. With such a modest lifestyle, the entertainment budget would be AED 100 ($30).

For the average option, let's add 3 city attractions to the 2-3 trips to the cinema. A visit to the Museum of the Future or a trip up the Burj Khalifa will cost AED 159 ($45), and a day at Aquaventure Waterpark will cost AED 330 ($90). The total is AED 850 ($230) per person per month.

For a more comfortable option, we will double these expenses. With a budget of 1,700 AED ($460), you can enjoy entertainment every weekend.

Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark in Dubai will impress everyone, regardless of age

The cost of basic medical insurance in Dubai is AED 2,000–5,000 ($550–1,400) per person per year. It only covers outpatient consultations, emergency care and hospitalisation. If necessary, visits to the doctor can be paid for separately.

Approximate prices according to HealthFinder.ae:

Additional medical services can be included in the insurance. An extended package, which includes consultations with specialists, pregnancy care and prevention of certain diseases, will cost between 5,000 and 10,000 AED ($1,100–2,800).

Comprehensive medical insurance costs between AED 10,000 and AED 20,000 ($2,800–5,500) per year. With it, you will have access to a large network of hospitals, be able to have elective surgery and receive high-tech treatment.

One of the most popular clinics among Dubai residents is Mediclinic City Hospital

If you have a child, part of your budget will have to be allocated to educational services.

Kindergarten will cost between AED 3,000 and 8,000 ($800–2,200) per month. School tuition is paid annually, ranging from AED 35,000 to 120,000 ($9,500–33,000). You should also budget AED 300–400 ($80–110) per month for creative or sports clubs. If your child has several hobbies, multiply the costs.

The following may also be added to the cost of education:

These additional expenses can amount to several thousand dirhams per year, and in older grades, the amount can be even higher.

Dubai College is among the top educational institutions in the UAE that follow the British curriculum

Personal expenses largely depend on lifestyle. Here are some approximate prices for sports and personal care:

The photo shows one of the gyms of the popular Dubai chain GymNation

Now let's calculate the total budget for living in Dubai for one person per month.

It turns out that the minimum cost of living in Dubai is AED 6,000 ($1,640) per person per month. For greater comfort, you will need about AED 12,300 ($3,345). A comfortable option, where you will hardly have to deny yourself anything, AED 24,200 ($6,720). Well, the upper limit is practically unlimited: this city always has something to offer.

When making our calculations, we took into account the expenses for one person. If there is a child in the family, the expenses increase significantly, because education and additional services for children in the city are expensive.

According to Numbeo, the approximate cost of living in Dubai for one person, excluding housing, is AED 4,198 ($1,150) per month. The service estimates the rent for a one-bedroom flat outside the city centre at AED 8,675 ($2,400). Thus, the monthly budget would be $3,550.

A family of four renting a three-bedroom flat in one of the central areas would need AED 32,000 ($8,700).