Cost of Living in United Arab Emirates

If you've ever considered moving to United Arab Emirates, one of the first questions that likely crossed your mind is, "What is the cost of living in United Arab Emirates?" After all, it's essential to have a clear picture of your potential expenses before making such a life-changing decision. At this page, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of the cost of living in United Arab Emirates and whether the reported $2894 per month figure aligns with the average monthly salary of $3741.63.

Restaurants
Markets
Transportation
Childcare
Clothing
Rent Per Month
Buy Apartment
Salaries
United Arab Emirates
restaurant

Restaurants

Price

World Range

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant

8.17 $

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

49.94 $

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

8.08 $

Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)

9.8 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

10.89 $

Cappuccino (regular)

5.0 $

Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)

1.1 $

Water (12 oz small bottle)

0.62 $

store

Markets

Price

World Range

Milk (regular), (1 gallon)

1.85 $

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)

1.34 $

Rice (white), (1 lb)

2.46 $

Eggs (regular) (12)

2.97 $

Local Cheese (1 lb)

8.95 $

Chicken Fillets (1 lb)

7.51 $

Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)

10.75 $

Apples (1 lb)

2.12 $

Banana (1 lb)

1.71 $

Oranges (1 lb)

1.89 $

Tomato (1 lb)

1.38 $

Potato (1 lb)

1.15 $

Onion (1 lb)

0.96 $

Lettuce (1 head)

1.73 $

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

0.63 $

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)

13.61 $

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

4.07 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

6.73 $

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)

5.99 $

commute

Transportation

Price

World Range

One-way Ticket (Local Transport)

1.91 $

Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

89.84 $

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

3.27 $

Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)

0.88 $

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

8.17 $

Gasoline (1 gallon)

1.04 $

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)

26136.53 $

Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)

21907.79 $

mark_as_unread

Utilities (Monthly)

Price

World Range

Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment

153.39 $

1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)

0.21 $

Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)

100.63 $

kitesurfing

Sports And Leisure

Price

World Range

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult

70.31 $

Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)

31.05 $

Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat

12.06 $

child_friendly

Childcare

Price

World Range

Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child

662.83 $

International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child

7203.58 $

checkroom

Clothing And Shoes

Price

World Range

1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

55.56 $

1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)

54.34 $

1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)

89.68 $

1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes

105.87 $

night_shelter

Rent Per Month

Price

World Range

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre

1419.41 $

Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre

857.82 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre

1991.59 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre

1481.3 $

home

Buy Apartment Price

Price

World Range

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre

2178.05 $

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre

1647.73 $

account_balance_wallet

Salaries And Financing

Price

World Range

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

3741.63 $

Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate

3.22 %

United Arab Emirates

How Safe Is United Arab Emirates for Travel?
Warnings & Dangers in United Arab Emirates

OVERALL RISK: LOW

The United Arab Emirates is a very safe country to travel to. Many say that it is among the safest countries in the world, and it is also ranked 31st in the ranking of the safest and most dangerous countries. Overall, safety should not be an issue if you plan on traveling to the UAE.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

There is some risk of an accident happening while you are on the road. Driving off-road is definitely not recommended since it can lead to dangerous accidents. Be sure that your vehicle is well-equipped and that you have enough water with you.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

Even though pick-pocketing is expected to be rare since the residents of UAE are mainly foreigners, it still does happen due to the fact that there are as many as 14 million tourist visits a year. It is recommended that you pay attention to your surroundings at all times.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

Among the natural disasters threatening the United Arab Emirates are very high temperatures, reaching higher than 50C. Sand storms are also a common occurrence in this country, as well as thunderstorms. If you wish to acquire some more information on natural disasters, visit the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

As mentioned above, UAE is a country where the biggest part of the population is made of foreigners, so occurrences such as mugging and kidnapping is fairly low. Foreigners avoid crime as such because it would immediately lead to them being deported.

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

Terrorists are still issuing statements threatening to attack the Gulf region. These attacks could be carried out on military, oil, transportation and aviation interests as well as crowded places such as restaurants, hotels, beaches, shopping centers, and mosques. Make sure that you are aware of your surroundings at all times.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

Since this country is known to be rich and prosperous, there are almost no scams in this territory.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM

Female travelers are faced with the same amount of risk as they do when traveling to European cities, Canada, the USA or Australia. Take normal precaution measures and avoid being in dark areas and walking down the streets late at night.

Useful Information & Tips
credit_card

Visas

Visa is not required for any stays shorter than 30 days. Be sure that your passport is valid for at least six months from the day of your return. However, if you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.

currency_exchange

Currency

Dirham is the official currency in the United Arab Emirates. Dirhams have a constant exchange rate, in which 3.67 = 1 USD. This is the only currency that never fluctuates and is constant.

cloudy_snowing

Weather

With extremely high temperatures that go as far up as 50C, the United Arab Emirates is infamous for its very hot spells. The hottest months are from June to September, so if you're planning your trip during those months, be sure to avoid direct long-term sun exposure and drink a lot of fluids.

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Airports

The largest airports in the country are in Dubai (Dubai International Airport) and Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi International Airport). The most famous UAE airlines are Emirates and Etihad Airways. Visit JetRadar for cheap flight deals.

health_and_safety

Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to the United Arab Emirates, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.

Comparison of the Cost Of Living in United Arab Emirates with other countries

Cost of living in countries