Cost of living in Dubai

[Elphaba]

Whilst this has been covered in numerous other threads, that attached spreadsheet may be of interest. The figures are from 2006, so there have been some increases, notably in the cost of rice.

It should however, give a reasonable idea, if you factor in inflation, say at around 10% or so.

Cost of living in Dubai

- go to the excel spreadsheet for info




Note that this is a guide only and prices vary from shop to shop etc.

-

[hopeful]

Thanks for posting this.....so useful and very much appreciated

[hopeful]

Hi Elphaba,

Could you help me out please, the cost of gas on this spread sheet is coming in at 110aed per year once the 10% is added, is this correct or does it mean per month?

Sorry to be a pain but I'm also a tad confused about all utilities costs, they seem to be really low compared to what I've read in other posts. What could we expect to pay living in a 2 bed villa for water, electric and gas per month and is the housing fee per month or just a yearly payment.

Thanks again

[Elphaba]

Originally Posted by hopeful

Hi Elphaba,

Could you help me out please, the cost of gas on this spread sheet is coming in at 110aed per year once the 10% is added, is this correct or does it mean per month?

Sorry to be a pain but I'm also a tad confused about all utilities costs, they seem to be really low compared to what I've read in other posts. What could we expect to pay living in a 2 bed villa for water, electric and gas per month and is the housing fee per month or just a yearly payment.

Thanks again

I didn't write that site or spreedsheet and it is from 2006. Homes here don't have mains gas so I presume the figure quoted is for a bottle and I believe a medium cylinder is now priced at around Dhs 100.

The DEWA bill for a 2 bed apartment with central AC should be between 250 & 400 per month. Probably another 200/300 a month for a villa, not factoring in the cost of watering a garden.

-

[hopeful]

I realise you didn't write it, as you posted it I was asking for your advice on it, which I appreciate. However I spoken to a distant family member who has also been very helpful.

I would advise people to be careful of using the prices on the spreadsheet as some are quite mis leading, especially if you have no experience of living in the country, like me

Some prices much higher than necessary some much lower, even after you account for inflation. It has helped me to budget tho, as I now realise everything I have to take into acoount.

[Elphaba]

As I said it is just a guide.


-

[Mac]

I've been here nearly a week now... so maybe I should wait a couple more months before commenting on cost of living....
.... but personally I don't find it tpp bad at all. There doesnt seem to be a need to spend lots... although if you wanted to you could blow your life savings in a matter of hours, if not minutes! However, I wouldn't recommend you do this! Lol!

[hopeful]

Originally Posted by Mac

I've been here nearly a week now... so maybe I should wait a couple more months before commenting on cost of living....
.... but personally I don't find it tpp bad at all. There doesnt seem to be a need to spend lots... although if you wanted to you could blow your life savings in a matter of hours, if not minutes! However, I wouldn't recommend you do this! Lol!

I'll have to try and kurb my, see it, want it, buy it nature before I arrive then lol

[Shamus30]

Hi, I have been in the ME for 6 weeks. I expected the cost of living to be much higher. It is relative to where you have come from. I think people moving from Asia will generally find it expensive, and people from Europe will generally find it reasonable - in comparison. However property is very expensive, try and get it provided as a benefit. Useful resource to compare cost of living is a website calculator called xpatulator. You can find it via google. Hope this helps.

[bonk]

For most residents working in typical middle class jobs, the biggest factor that makes the difference between survival and enjoying life is whether or not you have to pay for accommodation. Rental costs are crippling, for example a single person living in a decent 1 bdrm apartment has to allow about 10,000 dhs per month (and often pay the full year upfront). On a salary of 10,000, that doesn't leave much. Compare to 3 or 4 years ago when a similar apartment cost 40-50,000 and you had a similar salary. It is possible to live cheaply otherwise.

Here's another Dubai cost of living guide. It's not easy to give an accurate guide due to the wide range of nationalities and living arrangements.