Cost of Living in Dubai 2025: Complete Budget Guide

Understanding the cost of living in Dubai helps plan your budget effectively. This comprehensive guide provides real prices for housing, food, transportation, and lifestyle expenses in 2025. **Housing and Accommodation Costs** Studio apartments in Dubai Marina or Downtown range AED 45,000-70,000 annually. One-bedroom apartments cost AED 60,000-100,000 per year in prime locations. Two-bedroom apartments range AED 90,000-150,000 annually. Three-bedroom villas in suburbs cost AED 120,000-200,000 yearly. Sharing accommodation significantly reduces costs with shared rooms from AED 1,500-3,000 monthly. **Utility Bills and Services** Electricity and water bills average AED 500-800 monthly for apartments. DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) charges include housing fees and municipality taxes. Internet and TV packages cost AED 300-500 monthly. Mobile phone plans range AED 100-300 monthly depending on data allowance. Chiller fees for air conditioning add AED 5-15 per square foot annually in some buildings. **Food and Grocery Expenses** Monthly grocery shopping for one person costs AED 800-1,200. Supermarket prices: milk AED 8-12, bread AED 5-8, rice (1kg) AED 8-15, chicken (1kg) AED 20-30, vegetables AED 5-15 per kg. Eating out: budget meal AED 25-40, mid-range restaurant AED 80-150 per person, fine dining AED 200-400 per person. Fast food combo meals cost AED 25-35. **Transportation Costs** Dubai Metro monthly pass costs AED 350 for unlimited travel. Taxi fares start at AED 12 with AED 1.96 per km. Car rental ranges AED 1,500-3,000 monthly for economy cars. Fuel costs approximately AED 2.50 per liter. Car insurance averages AED 2,000-4,000 annually. Parking fees vary: free in malls, AED 4-10 per hour in paid zones. **Education Expenses** International school fees range AED 20,000-100,000 annually depending on curriculum and school reputation. British curriculum schools cost AED 30,000-80,000 per year. American curriculum schools range AED 40,000-90,000 annually. IB schools charge AED 50,000-100,000 per year. Nursery and kindergarten fees cost AED 15,000-40,000 annually. **Healthcare and Insurance** Basic health insurance costs AED 600-1,200 annually per person. Comprehensive coverage ranges AED 3,000-8,000 yearly. Doctor consultation fees: AED 200-500 per visit. Dental cleaning costs AED 200-400. Prescription medications reasonably priced with insurance coverage. Emergency services covered by most insurance plans. **Entertainment and Leisure** Cinema tickets cost AED 35-50 per person. Gym memberships range AED 200-500 monthly. Beach club day passes cost AED 100-300. Theme park tickets: AED 250-400 per person. Monthly entertainment budget averages AED 1,000-2,000 for moderate lifestyle. **Clothing and Personal Care** Clothing prices vary widely: budget brands affordable, designer brands expensive. Haircut costs AED 50-200 depending on salon. Beauty treatments range AED 100-500. Dry cleaning: AED 10-30 per item. Shopping during Dubai Shopping Festival offers significant discounts. **Domestic Help** Full-time live-in maid costs AED 2,000-3,000 monthly plus accommodation. Part-time cleaning services charge AED 25-40 per hour. Nanny services cost AED 25-50 per hour. Driver services range AED 3,000-5,000 monthly. **Sample Monthly Budgets** Single person budget lifestyle: AED 8,000-12,000 (shared accommodation, public transport, moderate spending). Single person comfortable lifestyle: AED 15,000-20,000 (own apartment, car, regular dining out). Family of four budget: AED 20,000-30,000 (apartment, car, school fees, moderate lifestyle). Family of four comfortable: AED 35,000-50,000 (villa, two cars, international schools, active lifestyle). **Money-Saving Tips** Shop during sales and festivals for major discounts. Use public transportation instead of taxis. Cook at home more often than eating out. Compare prices across supermarkets. Take advantage of happy hours and special offers. Share accommodation to reduce housing costs. Buy annual passes for frequent activities. **Salary Expectations** Entry-level positions: AED 4,000-8,000 monthly. Mid-level professionals: AED 10,000-20,000 monthly. Senior positions: AED 25,000-50,000 monthly. Executive roles: AED 50,000+ monthly. Salaries often include housing allowance, transportation, and annual flights.