Cost of Living in United Arab Emirates

Updated: December 01, 2024

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 %

Dining Out

The cost of dining varies with the type of establishment. A meal at an affordable restaurant averages around 8.17 USD, while a three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant generally costs 49.94 USD.

Groceries

Basic grocery prices are accessible for most essentials. For instance, a gallon of milk costs about 1.85 USD, a loaf of bread 1.34 USD, and a dozen eggs approximately 2.97 USD.

Transportation

Public transport is relatively affordable, with a single trip priced at about 1.91 USD and a monthly pass around 89.84 USD. If you plan to use public transit regularly, these passes offer great value.

Utilities

For an 85 m² apartment, monthly utility bills—including electricity, heating, water, and waste services—average around 153.39 USD.

Sports and Recreation

For those interested in fitness and leisure, a monthly gym membership averages around 70.31 USD, while an hour on a tennis court on weekends costs about 31.05 USD.

Childcare and Education

Families looking for private childcare services will find that a month at a local preschool or kindergarten costs around 662.83 USD. For international schooling options, annual tuition can reach approximately 7203.58 USD.

Clothing and Footwear

Clothing and shoe prices vary widely. A pair of Levi's 501 jeans, for example, costs about 55.56 USD, and mid-range Nike sneakers are priced around 89.68 USD.

Apartment Rentals

Rental prices depend on location, with a one-bedroom apartment in the city center averaging 1419.41 USD per month, while one outside the center costs around 857.82 USD.

Real Estate for Purchase

If you're considering buying property, prices per square foot vary as well. In central areas, the price per square foot is roughly 2178.05 USD, while in the suburbs, it's closer to 1647.73 USD.

Average Salary and Mortgage Rates

The average monthly net salary here is about 3741.63 USD after taxes, and mortgage interest rates for a 20-year fixed-rate loan average around 3.22% annually.

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.

Cost of Living in United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates

Restaurants

Markets

Transportation

Utilities (Monthly)

Sports And Leisure

Childcare

Clothing And Shoes

Rent Per Month

Buy Apartment Price

Salaries And Financing