Living Cost In Dubai (Expat Advice)

When comparing the most expensive cities on the planet, it’s common for people to mention Dubai right near the top.

There is no doubt, the cost of living is high in Dubai.

It’s a place that has been designed to attract tourists from across the world including digital nomads. You will often see people coming to work in Dubai and make money because it has no income tax and you end up making quite a bit that goes into your pocket.

However, for those who want to start living in Dubai, you are going to need to know what the real cost of living is in this beautiful city.

Here is a look at the cost of living in Dubai.

Living Costs In Dubai

For most people, it’s the expenses that are going to matter.

There are specific living costs that won’t matter and others that will. For this purpose, we are going to look at the basics whether it has to do with your accommodation, food, healthcare, or clothing to name a few.

Getting the basics down is essential before looking at the fun elements of staying in Dubai.

In general, the average person is going to require at least $2000 per month to live in Dubai. For families, this tends to rise to $4000.

Accommodations

We need to look at where you are going to be staying in Dubai.

Until you have a place to live, you are not going to be happy. This is going to be the biggest expense for most people in the region.

Based on our research, the cheaper apartments are going to cost around $1200 per month and they will not be in the downtown core.

For those who want an apartment in the downtown core (one bedroom), you are going to end up paying around $2000.

Anything bigger than this is going to start to ramp up in costs.

We also have to note that there are going to be additional expenses associated with living in Dubai even when you are paying rent. Most people are not going to be handling the general cleaning around the house in Dubai and are going to hire a maid to do this.

As a result, you are going to end up having to pay them as well.

The average cleaning service is going to want at least $500 a month. Otherwise, you can also get those who are going to come a few times a month and will only charge around $150.

Healthcare

The average person is going to have their mind on the healthcare system in Dubai.

It’s a great system, but it is one you are going to have to pay for. The standards are world-class and you are not going to be disappointed by the service at all.

Some of the finest medical professionals work in Dubai.

For the most part, it’s best to get private medical insurance to save on costs. This is key for tourists as only the locals are going to be covered by the government. However, expats can get a local health card and it is a nominal fee that will help them save quite a bit.

The health card is going to be around $87 (one-time).

Transportation

The one thing about owning a car in Dubai is that you are going to get a good deal on the vehicles and you are going to end up saving money on fuel as it is cheaper in Dubai.

This is ideal for those who love the idea of buying a car in Dubai and want to get one as soon as possible.

For the most part, the car’s price is going to be a separate cost but it can be worth it as most people do end up getting a good deal on their vehicles here.

The fuel itself is going to be around $0.77 for regular fuel and it goes up from there.

For those who want to take a taxi in Dubai, you are going to be looking at around $0.90 per kilometer. If you take the bus, you are going to pay $1.09 for a ticket. Most people get the pass, which costs around $40 per month.

It’s also important to note that some people in Dubai tend to use the transit system. This is designed to offer a simple solution that takes people between the Metro stations without too much of a hassle and it keeps things organized.

Education

If you have kids, you are going to need to pay for their schooling too.

So, how much is education in Dubai for kids?

It’s going to depend on the type of school the kids are going to do. If you are going to be sending the kids to a traditional public school in Dubai then it is going to end up being around $1,500 for the year.

It might vary a bit depending on where the public school is but it tends to be around this amount.

For those who want to send their kids to private school, you are going to be looking at anywhere between $3,000-$18,000 per year.

When it comes to those who want to move forward with a university education in Dubai, you are going to be looking at additional costs associated with going to one of these institutions.

It is common for students to end up paying around $11000-$30000 per year at one of these institutions.

Final Thoughts

As you can tell, living in Dubai is not going to be cheap but you are also going to get access to a long list of luxuries that are not seen in other parts of the world.

It is also one of the safest and most reputable cities in this part of the world.

We also recommend you go through the laws in Dubai to learn more about what it means to stay here.