Cost of living in Dubai 2011 – Calculator
One of the most frequently asked questions by future expatriate is “How much money do I need to live in Dubai?”. I have spent some time to make up a Dubai living cost calculator that would help you to decide whether your offer is good or not.
Prices here are based on statistics from Dubai’s property & car listing websites. Other costs such as utilities and food are coming from my own and my friends and colleagues’ experience. The page is printer-friendly, it means once you get the amount of money you must have to live in Dubai, just print the page like you would normally do. The header, menus and other stuff will go away.
If you find this useful, I would appreciate if you help other future Dubai expats by putting a link to this page on your blog or your favorite forum.
So, here you go. Just select the options and get the numbers in your currency.
Last update: 28 November 2011.
Please choose your currency:
1. Housing
How many bedrooms do you need?
What kind of housing/location do you prefer?
Read more about locations in Housing in Dubai article.
Keep in mind that the housing prices on this page are market averages for the typical locations according to one of the most popular classifieds website. The prices may slightly vary throughout Dubai though.
Cheap
No ameneties, potentially in the middle of the desert. Based on an average price in International City
24000 AED / year
Fair
Pool in the building, parking, good location. Based on an average price in Dubai Marina
24000 AED / year
‘Expat’
All amenities, “expat” location. Based on an average price in Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR)
24000 AED / year
Villa
All amenities, good location. Based on an average price in Jumeirah. Min 2 bedrooms.
24000 AED / year
2. Transportation
The reality is that you cannot really live without a car here as there is almost no convenient transport infrastructure except for taxi (costs quite some money btw).
Transportation costs are given on an assumption you only have one car in the family and you buy it taking a loan in a bank for 5 years with no downpayment. So, basically the monthly prices is your future installment + 5% car price/year for insurance.
Car prices are estimates for a 1 year old car with low miliage, dealer’s warranty, driven by an expat.
If you don’t want to buy a car, consider renting one. The rent price for a Toyota Yaris will be around 1700 AED / month.
What class of car do you want to drive?
3. Living cost
Rougly this money should be enough for you to buy groceries, meat, vegetables, fruit, fresh juices and other good quality products. It will also be enough for eating in a cafe once a week.
I bet you want to know how much money you need to have a beer or two in a pub. That’s very straightforward. Average beer price is 30 AED for 0.5l. Now use your brain or a calculator 
Your family size:
Got questions?
The discussion has been moved to the forum on casualexpat.com
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January 27th, 2011
Hi the info isvery usefull, I am coming out to live and work in Dubai next month. I am going to be working as an expat so all my bills will be paid, housing,car,living allowance and a one off furniture allowance of 40,000 AED.
I have also got 100% schooling costs paid.
I take it I could live very well along with my family.
This is tool is cool. However prices are changing. I paid only 60000 AED for large studio in JBR with Sea View. for 80 you can have easily 1Bedroom there. I found this report on costs of living in dubai very useful http://www.costsoflivingindubai.com . They review it on annual basis and I recommend it to all my friends.
Thanks Seb!
first,grats to ur site
im planning to attend IELTS preparation courses in dubai and it will take 3 weeks,so im gonna stay at dubai for 26 days,actually my cousin lives there and im gonna stay at her house,is 7000AED enough for a 26 day confortable life?
Just a thank you Mr. Admin, secured my job, able to save and live well. No longer in Sharjah but in Dubai, this site is great.
I just wanted to thank you for taking the time and trouble to put together this site and, in particular, this living expenses calculator.
My partner and I have been negotiating our package for our move to Dubai for the last few weeks, having loved the city every time that we have visited. We have been excited about the move, but very nervous about finanicals given we will both have continued commitments in the UK.
Having used your calculator, and seen your many responses to the individual posters on this site, I have been completely reassured that we will be able to enjoy a wonderful standard of living when we move – which we were unsure about prior to visiting this website! Your insight and help is invaluable, so thank you so much!!!
Hi All,
I have been offered 14000 AED per month including medical insurance, return flight tickets to my home country once in a year, medical insurance which covers everything. How much would I be able to save. We live a healthy lifestyle in our home country. Going out for movies every week, enjoying food outside once a week.
Please let me know if it is a good deal. I will be staying with my wife and have no kids.
Also I would like to have a one room rented accomodation in dubai near to my office which is in Dubai Airport Free Zone P.O. Box 54704, Dubai United Arab.
Please help me with your advices.
Regards
Amit
I have been offered a job in dubai as sales officer in current A/c sales and salary offered is 5500 AED, no acco and other facilities. My concern is that what will i save pls suggest me ………..
thanks
Hi, I have got an offer AED 5250 (Include everything). How much it will cost for room & food (sharing accommodation 2 person in one room). Is it a good offer? Please advise.
I have been offered a consulting job which pays 55,000 AED / month, have a family of 4. Do you think this is good enough to lead a reasonable lifestyle ?
Hi Everyone,
Thank you all for your comments and questions.
Unfortunately, I cannot reply to your questions anymore because I moved to Singapore a few months ago, and I am currently busy with settling in here and out of date about what’s going on in Dubai.
I hope this site will still be helpful for the newcomers because things don’t change that much. Check out dubizzle.com for the apartment and car prices.
I am sorry if your question was left unanswered and wish you good luck in your future relocation!
Kind regards,
Admin
Hi one person offered me a Job at Dubai. Salary is 3000AED and accomodation. Nothing else. How much I can save per month? Can you help me? Thanks in advance…
Hi Sreelal! You will hardly be able to save because housing is very expensive.
I think the website got AED and USD mixed up…
This should be USD not AED
Your salary needs to be at least
8660 AED/month or 103920 AED/year
Hi I just had a lease proposal from a leading car dealer. A 2011 Honda Civic LX AT is priced at AED 2225/mo.(USD 606). This is just to give your readers an idea in case they would want to lease a brand new car in Dubai.
Thanks.
Hello, I’m sure you have heard this question so many times, apologies in advance but my wife and I + 1 child have always wanted to do the travel and work abroad thing with our family here in the UK, I’m in talks for a 293,864.00 AED a year job with medical and dental insurance :
1.Will we live a nice life?
2. Can I drive a nice car?
3. Can our son attend a nice British GCSE school ?
Dear All,
I will be joining in airlines in dubai . I have been told that I will be getting 18000 AED. As i dont know much about dubai, just want to know that how much I can save in this salary figure. I need to do everything at my own. company will give only one month accomodation. And i want to be near airport so that I may save my trevelling cost.
one more thing, I am alone so how can I manage to get room mets on sharing basis.
Regards,
Anand.
India.
Jobs of Accountants in Dubai?
Hi Joe,
Doing some excellent work here!
The blog alone is very helpful!
I want to ask you, I would like to move to dubai deira from Pakistan due to reasons of security here! My son is 1 years old and I don’t want him to grow up in such an insecure place.
I have a budget of 20,000 to 25,000 AED per annum for renting a 2 Bedroom Flat, Please tell me where to find a decent place?
Also will 25,000 AED be enough for FOOD, Grocery and some light entertainment to a family of five/six? two couples, one child, one teen.
I can go over budget but i really want to manage my funds as work here is fine but security is deteriorating rapidly!
For keeping busy I am thinking of opening a business here similar to the one I had back home dealing in Welding electrodes and Gas Cutting Equipment investing about AED 5 Million?
All comments are welcome and advice is even better.
Thanks a Bunch.
Whether I can have a sharing rooms in dubai? If so how much the cost would be?. Because i have been offered AED 3000.
Hi, I don’t think it is allowed to share flats yet many people do that. I don’t know anything about how it works.
I just want to say how confusng it is to decide whether to come work or not so your information is wonderful and honest guidance. My husband has been offered a job earning 58,000 aed a month and we are not sure if it would be worth moving. We would need to pay £3000 for our mortgages back in UK (and certain bills that would remain) and live in Dubai hopefully saving something otherwise there would be no point in having upheaved my family. My wife and I have 2 sons at school age. Please could you guide us? I would also not be running my own business any more so we would rely on my husbands job unless I found something I could work with.
Hi Mojo, 58k/month sounds good I think but of course it depends on the quality of life you are used to.
Hi thanks for putting such a useful forum,
i need certain immediate suggestion from the expert.
I am a Indian( 3.7 Years exp Senior Software Engineer)working in a MNC in India,Right now I am earning INR 5.5 L\Month .
I have a offer from China System,Dubai.They have offered me 9000 Dhrms/M without accommodation, and they will also provide health insurance, 1 month paid leave ,air ticket.
I am middle class person not looking for very lavish life style.
Please suggest me
1.Is this offer is good for me or not,will I be able save 6k dhrms per month?
2.Any idea about china system which is located in Bur,Dubai.how much a 3.7 years exp guy can expect from this company?
3.to stay with wife in near future with a 1 BHK flat how much I need to earn to save at least 6k dhrms/M
If you are earning 5.50 lakhs/ month or even irs55k a month, you are better off in India than in Dubai on a 9k salary. The lifestlye here is better, but you got to be able to afford it.
Mustak…
It was a typo mistake …I am getting 5.5 L/A (here I am into giant MNC and may have onsite opportunity near future )…
and the offer in dubai is 9K DHRMS/M(its a good trade finical company)….
I willl be single max of 1 year after that I have to stay there with wife(they are going to provide me family VISA)….And I am pretty sure after 1 year I will be getting atleast 1 K Dhrms hike …
The main reason behind this move is jst to save some pretty amount.
Now tell what can I do…shall I go ahead or stay back in india
Hi Mollick, relocation is a very serious call. Perhaps, you need to do some more research if you are uncertain. I will leave it to this forum’s community to advise you.
A one shot recommendation is Dont move, you wont save much once your family moves in. But yes if you are single and can accomodate shared bachelor accomodation (aed 450 to aed 2000/month) and endure tiffin food ( aed 150 to 500/month) then yes n can save money. Once you family moves in u have choice of living in a studio, 1/2 br in Dubai or Sharjah. (between 15k n 75k) /annum. Schools , expect to shed out minimum 1k/month. Then you need a car, recreation, annual vacation, house set-up etc…To live decently (moderate spending) in Dubai with 1 child you need to earn 15k/month.
Hi Mollick,
1 & 3) It depends on your housing – I do not know about options below 3-4k AED but probably you may find some in Bur Dubai area
2) YOu will need to google or find some people working for that company. Try using LinkedIn
Dear
if they offer u only 900dhs dont move from india to dubai..because living cost is veru high.i was in dubai almost 3 years..now settled in india..a decent 1 bhk in dubai will cost u 5000 dhas min per month..water electricity telephone internet household food will be etc offcource transportation also..if u are able to save atleast 3000 in india better stay here…5.5 laks per annum meansu are getting morethan 40k per month…9000 Dhs salary if u r staying alone in a shred accommodation ,then its fine..if u are planning to stay in an appartment,then forget abt it..
Regards
Thanks Nizar …
I really want to talk to u …fhm2006@rediffmail.com is my mail id …can you plz share your contact number as soon as you get my msg …it will be really helpful ….
Thanks
Hey I ran across you page looking for tax information. I was offered a position for two years at 61300 AED/month plus housing, medical, paid vacation (to include transport back to the states) and bonuses. I have two houses here in the states so I really would like to see how taxes are going to play out. Thanks for the great information on your page.
Hi Mike, there is no personal income tax. Your offer sounds very good!
HI, I have been offered a job in dubai 6000 AED + food + accomodation + transportation. free air ticket once a yr.
8800 AED if food + accomodation + transportation is not possible.
Is the salary ok…i dont smoke, nor drink..can i save a min of 4500 AED.
Thank u for the reply in advance
Dear Admin;
I should be highly grateful in case you would inform me can we live in Dubai with 700-1000 EUR per month.
Accommodation and transport to work are on my company .
We have 4 months old baby, we are not smokers and we are not drinking.
Regards and thank in advice.
Dariush
Hi Dariush, I think you can. Though it will be rather modest life.
Thank you for your reply;
I appreciate that.
Regards
Hi there, was offered a corporate banking position with one of the Banks there. However, they asked me to state a “compensation salary” before confirming on their package. Anyone in the same field will be able to assist on this? Thanks.
Hi Andrew, this sounds vague. I would double-check what they mean.
Hi All,
I have been offered 12000 AED per month + Accommodation + Transportation. How much would I be able to save. i live a healthy lifestyle in our home country. Going out for movies every week, enjoying food outside once a week.
Please let me know if it is a good deal or i have to negotiate. I will be single.
Office is near Al Quoz in Dubai.
Please help me with your advices.
Regards
SKS
Hi SKS, sounds feasible. I would go for it.
What about when you buy car with cash? how would you work out the cost of maintenance/ petrol/ depreciation or drop of price due to use?
Hi Kaioo, you can buy a car with cash – you will have much more options buying from an individual rather than from a dealer. Depreciation is hard to work out. I would count as about 20% a year for 1 year old car.
Hi
I’ve been offered a job with AED 5500. Free furnished accommodation and transport provided. Medical insurance is also provided. i’m traveling alone first and planning to take my family later +2. Is it enough to save some money at the end of the month.
Is a software job with 8000Dirahms/month, with accomodation, transportation and Medical insurance provided by company a decent offer?
What could be my savings,
what could be an average cost of living
WOW…Great info. where do you get the time to handle all of this!!!!
Do you have any information on health care and health care cost? I need to obtain helath insurance for myself for a new consulting firm. Not sure what to budget for a family (2people) plan
Hi Brian, health care is rather expensive (e.g. seeing a specialist in a private hospital would cost about 500-750 AED). Not sure about cost though – my insurance was fully covered by the employer. Try requesting quotation at http://www.globalsurance.com/resources/uae/
Hello,
I’ve been offered a job in Dubai, with a salary of 14,000 AED/mth. The employer said this is all inclusive i.e accommodation transportation, etc.. Not quite sure what the ‘etc’ includes – have not talked details with him yet.
It will be just me and my wife – no children. Right now we live in Canada/Ontario and we have a relatively higher standard of living. I was wondering if the salary mentioned above would be enough to keep the standard and, of course, to save some money too. We don’t go out to restaurants that often and do not drink excessively either (well, a beer is always welcome, of course).
From your experience, how much could we save, based on the information provided? – well, I understand that this is not a precise science and depends on a lot of factors. Also, is that salary a good salary for somebody with +20 yrs of experience in automotive? I have an university degree, in case that matters.
Many thanks for all your work – this is by far the best site for those searching for information regarding relocation to Dubai.
Yours,
Lawrence
In your opinion,
Hi Lawrence, I think for a person with 20+ years experience the salary must be higher. Of course it depends on what your life in CA is.
Dear Admin;
Can we use the skype or oovoo (pc programs) in Dubai?
I heard that the skype not working there? that’s right or not?
Regards;
Dariush
Hi Dariush, skype works for skype to skype calls only. To call landlines or mobiles, you will need to buy a subscription for VPN services.
hi friends,
pls can u tell me cost of living in dubai i got an offer in dubai 16000aed per month so i can live with my family i hav a small kid to join the how muuh it will take ,transport,electricity,water and house needs totally it comes how much pls help me ican save or not.
Hi Saleem, these questions should be answered by the calculator.
Great that I found this site. Thanks alot for helpful job.
My husband is working in Dubai with salary about 4000usd/month. We (me and 1 baby of 2 yrs) are going to join him soon. Should that income be enough for a comfortable life for all?
And I am working in conservation area, own Msc in Rural Development Planning, can you pls advise if I can easily find suitable job there?
Many thanks!
Hi Tracy, normally working for government requires knowledge of Arabic. You can check private sector jobs at sites like monster.com. Whether 4k usd is enough depends on your lifestyle. Please use the calculator. Hope this helps.
Thank you very much!
Great site!
I currently work in Saudi, and earn in total 17000 SAR ~ DHS + fully insured and services car with fuel + annual bonus + medical + phone allowance and other benefits
Rent over there for a 3Bd apartment with a huge reception and a study room is under 2500 SAR~DHS per month
I get to save as much as 9,000 SAR / month
Now i’m being offered a job with an MNC in Dubai for 25,000 DHS for everything (basic + accomodation + transport)
I would like to live in the Greens in a 2 BD appartment, put my 3 year old in an international school, get a decent second hand vehicle (Toyota Camry), eat out (no drinking or clubbing though) …. how much do you reckon i could save out of this package?
Hi, please check exact prices at dubizzle.com. Not sure about schooling though because i dont have kids. The offer sounds pretty decent.
Hi,
I am moving to dubai in a month, I have an offer of 5500 aed, accomodation and transportation is by the company. How much will be expenditure and my savings. How much will it cost for food, house utensils, phone and other expenditures.
Hi,
I am moving to dubai in a month, I have an offer of 5500 aed, accomodation and transportation is by the company. How much will be expenditure and my savings. How much will it cost for food, house utensils, phone and other expenditures
Hi Chetan, please check the calculator.
How much will be expenditure in dubai,i mean for a bacholer person because i dnt drink or smoke so…..
Hi Chetan, you can check the food prices page to see how much you need for food. Besides that there are utilities, transport, rental – check the calculator.
Hello,
thank you for the useful info, I have been offered as a sales manager.Basic is 5000 AED includes of room,car (excludes petrol) and meal allowance. Also the company will pay a commissions base on sales target.do you think its enough for me alone? Need your advise.Thanks!
Hi Ben, it will be tight to live on 5k but it depends on what you are used to.
Hi,
YOur site’s the best so far. very useful. we are living and working in kuwait. my husband is being offered an exec chef post in dubai for a salary of KD 1000 about 13, 200 AED. We have a 3 yr old kid and expecting a new one before the year ends. I will be applying for a job there as well and my target salary is about more or less the same rate. My worries are getting a decent place to live especially for the kids and getting a baby sitter. Would we be able to live decently with about 25,000 AED?
Appreciate your response. Thank you.
Eloisa
Hi Eloise, if you get a job you will be able to afford a nice place to stay in.
I have moved eighteen times and Dubai was one of the countries i moved to with my husband and 2 kids. i wrote 7 books about the subject 4 that were published and 3 to be soon.
Thus, i developed a website http://www.lesliesdubai.com to help people moving to Dubai from all over the world. It is a guide to help Dubai expats from the beginning up till the end of the process.
Take a look at http://www.lesliesdubai.com. you will find lots od information about Duabi: Education, health , laws, events, blogs, videos and most importantly you can leave all the questions you need and Leslie will reply ASAP either by a simple answer or by a video.
Technically this calculator is awesome. I am wondering if I could possibly embed this into my own site with a link back to you ?
Hi Melvin, not at this stage but thanks for a good idea!
Great information site – thank you
A question – to live in Dubai for Divorced woman no children no job – what would be my living costs for 2 bed room housing light and water bills area Jumeira, food, entertainment, annual ticket home, dinner outside twice a week, taxis,cell phone calls local and international, doctors, maid to help clean, study course.
Would kindly appreciate your urgent reply. Thank you
Hi Teresa, you can find answers to your questions using the calculator, dubizzle.com classifieds and timeout.ae restaurant guide.
What a great site … Good work, keep it on!
I have an offer for 6000 USD and i should handle everything out of that; rent, living cost, transportation/car as well as medical insurance. I am relocating with my wife and 3 yrs kid.
here are my questions:
1. how much is a 2 bedroom in good area?
2. what’s the average living cost for 2+1 kid?
3. Medical insurance: is it possible to handle it within the package or it’s high.
4. How much can we save out of that package.
i will need a school too within a year. How much is that on average?
Really thanks for your care … keep up the good work!
Hi Admin,
I get offer to work in Dubai with salary 21000 AED and I am married and have 2 kinds is it enough to save 10000 AED each month.
Hi MGM, please Che the calculator page. I suspect you might have to go for cheaper housing if you want to keep 10k
Hello All,
Thank you for putting this site together..I have found the information very valuable. i am going to be very open and share with you all a deal that i am considering for a HoD job.
200,000 AED a year basic…
80,000 Housing allowance
30,000 car allowance and nothing else
I am 36 years old and my wife is 33 years old, we have a 15 months old baby and trying for a second one…the question is is this enough for us to live on? can we save any money?
please help…
Hi Danny, please check the calculator.
IF you don’t have any other financial responsibilities back home, you might be okay. Do the math. Conversion.
I am at 55,000aed a month and it is good. But when I was at 36,000aed it was just so-so. Living the North American lifestyle here is not so cheap. You need a car, comfortable, safe place and good food. You will pay for that here. Besides after a few months you will have seen and done it all and soon be looking to fly into Europe for real experiences. Just my 2 cents worth.
Hi I was offered a aed 20k per month w a bank in dubai…however accm n transportation is inclusive of the basic salary…they’re also providing 36days paid leave with 1 time return tix per year..is this 20k aed sufficient to cover the cost of accomadation, car purchase n living expenses? Appreciate your feedbacks
Hi Andrew, the calculator should have answer to your questions.
Where are you finding these job offers? Are they available for Americans?
Hi All,
I have been offered 14000 AED per month including medical insurance, return flight tickets to my home country once in a year, medical insurance which covers everything. How much would I be able to save. We live a healthy lifestyle in our home country. Going out for movies every week, enjoying food outside once a week.
Please let me know if it is a good deal. I will be staying with my wife and have no kids.
Also I would like to have a one room rented accomodation in dubai near to my office which in dubai knowledge village
Please help me with your advices.
Regards
Krishna
Hi Krishna, please check dubizzle.com for the latest prices on rental. Then use the calculator and food cost table to see how much you will spend and calculate how much you can save. Thanks.
Hi,
I have got an offer for 21000 dhiram per month from a company. In my family there are 4 members me, my wife and two kids. Elder is studying in II standard while younger in Nuresry.
What will be my saving.
Hello,
Any good sites for finding entry level jobs in IT support
Hi Sohaib, you can try moster.com and dubizzle.com for job postings.
The figure stays the same – whatever options I click….?
Thanks for your comment D Ray. There must be some issues in your browser’s javascript. It works fine on my computer…