London - Dubai Comparison

[crazymazy1980]

I know like-for-like comparisons are not going to be an exact science but I was talking to an architect about the cost of living here and we compared different districts of London to see whether it was really that expensive here. Dubai Marina/JBR for example was compared to Canary Wharf and Sharjah and Ajman compared to one of the satellite towns around London (say Billericay).

I just had a look on Rightmove - UK's number one property website for properties for sale and to rent and to rent a 'cheap' studio apartment in Canary Wharf it roughly costs (AED annually):

Rent 108K
Council Tax 11K
Community Charge 14K
Buildings/Contents Insurance 3.7K
Utilitties (TV, Gas, Water, Electricity) 6.4K
Internet 1.2K

Total = 144.3K

Now that's for a cheap one, there were some that were considerably more expensive. I have looked at Dubizzle and you can rent a studio apartment in Dubai Marina for less than this. So, my question is; is it really that expensive here overall? Everything else seems fairly cheap (fuel, utilities, no tax) or is it people have an unrealistic view of where they are willing to live?

Personally, and now that I have thought about it, if I worked in London I wouldn't live as close to the city as I do here, I'd live further out and commute in by train/tube (would never bring a car into London!). I know you can't get a train here (yet) but I don't think the traffic here is any worse than the massive tailbacks I've been stuck in on the M25 If I didn't have such a nice place to live (albeit at a premium) and I wanted to save more money I'd probably live in Ajman or Sharjah and drive in.

Interested to hear what other people think about this?

[Andy Capp]

having lived in London (well Amersham) just before I came here, I was paying about 1500/UKP permonth for a 3 bed townhouse, commuting each day into the City (where I worked), about a tenner a day for a travelcard, yes I did have a car but only used it to go to the station and at weekends, say 500 incl fuel etc./month.

What I do find expensive here is alcohol costs, eating out is not expensive unless you want booze with your kebab. Try the restaurants in Al Diyafah street for example.

So is London cheeper, I'd have to say no, if you do a like for like (ie Canary Wharf/marina, licensed premises etc.) Dubai definately costs more, but if you lived a bit out (like Ajman, ate in "normal" restaurants and drove a normal car, then it's far cheaper here.

Swings and roundabouts bonny lad!

[alli]

crazymazy, you have way too much time on your hands.

[Maz25]

I worked in Kings Cross and decided to live in SE London (probably cause that was one of the few places I could afford!!). I paid 700 for a one-bed and bills and stuff (not including food) costs about 120 a month. Plus, I had to part with 140 pounds each month, to stand under someone's armpits, stuck against the door on the lovely London transport network!!!

I even parted company with my car cause if the price of petrol did not bankrupt me, then the congestion charge and parking would have finished me off!

In my view, Dubai ain't that bad. I am a lot better off here and can actually dig in my purse for money, without first taking out my handy spreadsheet and trying to figure out if I can afford it. It wouldn't have been so bad if mr taxman wasn't so greedy!!! At the end of the day, if you do your research before you move here, then there should not be any nasty surprises.

Crazymazy - You need to learn all the shortcuts when driving in London. I always picked up the M25 at the last possible junction. Saved me being on it for longer than I needed to and it means that I could cut in in front of people like yourself who had been waiting there forever!!! I say avoid the M25 if you can!

[Maz25]

Originally Posted by alli

crazymazy, you have way too much time on your hands.

I was thinking the same thing!

[crazymazy1980]

Originally Posted by alli

crazymazy, you have way too much time on your hands.

Only for the time being , soon won't have time to post as often, going to be a busy bee.

[crazymazy1980]

Originally Posted by Maz25

Crazymazy - You need to learn all the shortcuts when driving in London. I always picked up the M25 at the last possible junction. Saved me being on it for longer than I needed to and it means that I could cut in in front of people like yourself who had been waiting there forever!!! I say avoid the M25 if you can!

I did, it was that bad I left the country. I'm definitely with Chris Rea on the M25!

[cphoenix]

London is one of the most expensive cities in the world, I hear. Saying that Dubai isn't so bad compared to London, isn't saying that Dubai is affordable!

I been in Dubai for two years. Before that I was in Arizona where I lived in a 2-bedroom, luxury, gated-community, low-rise apartment complex (better than Uptown Mirdiff) for $1,300/month. It was full of college girls (and guys) and when you go to the pool, it's like instant spring break. But there were families there, too.

Just outside the complex was a 24/7 CVS (drugstore / supermarket). Two blocks away was another 24/7 Safeway. But you didn't have to go there because they let you shop online and have your groceries delivered to your home on the third floor for an additional $10. Beer was sold in the gas station in the same intersection as the apartment complex. I didn't even have to show ID to the friendly, yet intelligent, clerk. People knew how to use email, craigslist.org, and eBay. Nothing was wasted! The roads were masterfully laid-out and it was so easy and relaxing to drive around the city...

Dubai is the opposite of everything said above, yet it is much more expensive.

[FlyingDodo]

I guess the main saving in Dubai, is that even if Canary Wharf apartments cost similar compared with the Marina etc, you are not paying income tax in dubai so the main benefit lies with that?

From what I have seen, rental costs in Dubai appear to balance out against rental in central parts of London (i.e. within 15mins on the Tube from Central) when you take the tax benefit into account.

[Sam75]

I find the cost of living here is pretty much the same as London.

I'm paying about the same price to rent a two bedroom apartment here (in JBR) as in London (in West Hampstead). 5 min walk to the beach here, which is fantastic, but 10 mins walk to Hampstead Health and a couple of tube stops to Lord's/Regent's Park, which are equally nice. The size of the apartments here is bigger - so more value for money.

Catching taxis here (and the lack of public transport) can be frustrating, but then being stuck in Canary Wharf when the Jubilee line is down is no fun either and cabs in London are exorbitant.

Food here is cheaper but alcohol is more expensive, so a dinner with wine comes to the same as London.

Speaking of food, I think it's hard to find quality, fresh produce either here or London ... at least, not like what we have back in Australia.