Cost of living in Dubai (UAE)

Today, Dubai is recognized as one of the world's commercial and tourist cities due to its desirable features. These qualities have led many individuals to intend to travel, migrate, and live in this city. Whether your purpose for traveling to this beautiful city is recreational or migratory, knowledge of the cost of living in Dubai helps you have a better stay there.

In this article by Niouvi, we aim to comprehensively examine Cost of Living in Dubai, including expenses such as food, housing, education, transportation, and more. So, if you have the intention to travel or live in Dubai, make sure to stay with us until the end of this article. In the following, the cost of living in Dubai in dollars has been calculated to provide you, our esteemed companions, with a clear understanding of estimating living expenses in the Emirates.

List of Living Expenses in Dubai 2023

The beautiful city of Dubai has been a host to many Iranians in recent decades. Features such as the absence of income tax, high security, low crime rate, and more are just a few factors that have made the life in this city so beloved among Iranians. Additionally, according to statistics, the majority of immigrants and tourists in Dubai are Iranians. Therefore, when living in this city, you feel less of the estrangement and distance from your homeland.

Individuals intending to migrate to the Emirates and settle in Dubai are eager to have an accurate and clear estimation of the minimum cost of living in Dubai to manage and control their budget with planning. The most significant costs of living in the UAE include housing expenses, food and dining costs, healthcare, transportation, education, and more.

1- Cost of Housing for Living in Dubai

It can be almost said that Dubai, also known as the bride of the United Arab Emirates, is recognized as one of the most expensive cities in the Middle East. Nowadays, Dubai has become well-known for its real estate industry, especially in the field of investment through apartment purchases. This city is famous for having the best and tallest structures in the world, such as the renowned Burj Khalifa.

Considering the mentioned factors and the scarcity of land in the Emirates, housing costs in this city are somewhat high. However, conditions like installment home purchases in Dubai have helped improve this situation. Therefore, it's essential to thoroughly examine housing costs before living and migrating to this city. Generally, the cost of buying and renting housing in the center and outskirts of Dubai varies. Based on the economic budget you have, you can make a suitable and cost-effective choice.

Indeed, the highest cost of living in Dubai is consumed by housing, and after that, education, food, and transportation are placed in subsequent priorities. For your convenience, a table has been designed below to examine the cost of renting housing in the city center and outskirts.

2- Food and Dining Expenses for Living in Dubai

After housing, food and dining expenses are among the most significant costs of living in Dubai and should be given attention. The United Arab Emirates is situated on the shores of the Persian Gulf, allowing good access to seafood. The country has the best technology for agricultural production and boasts extensive global trade in foodstuffs. As a result, the cost of food and dining in this country is relatively reasonable.

The city of Dubai is renowned for its luxurious restaurants and skilled chefs. However, dining at these places might incur substantial costs. If you don't have the necessary budget for fine dining, it's better to reconsider visiting upscale restaurants. Nonetheless, there are also reasonably priced restaurants with good quality in the city, where you can enjoy your meals.

3- Transportation Expenses in the Emirates

One of the influential factors on the cost of living in the Emirates is transportation. As you know, the Emirates is a global business hub with easy customs regulations. The presence of these two factors together has made transportation costs in the city of Dubai reasonable. The cost of purchasing foreign goods, such as luxury cars, in this city is very cost-effective.

It can be said that the simplest and most convenient method for getting around in Dubai is driving. However, considering that traffic in this city is heavy throughout the day, public transportation is a better option for commuting. Of course, many immigrants use personal vehicles more for their transportation needs.

Vehicles can be purchased either in cash or through installments, and both options are available at reasonable prices. For purchasing a vehicle through installments, it's necessary to provide a down payment of 20% of the vehicle's cost. The vehicle installments are paid over a period of 5 years. Moreover, immigrants can also purchase second-hand vehicles, which are 20% to 40% cheaper than new ones. Below, we have designed a table for your information about public transportation costs.

4- Healthcare and Medical Expenses for Living in Dubai

Healthcare and medical expenses are one of the important aspects of the cost of living in Dubai. Due to the presence of insurance institutions and coverage of medical expenses, these costs are quite reasonable. Moreover, there are numerous healthcare facilities, both small and large, in this city that are equipped with the best medical technologies. Additionally, some hospitals in the Emirates enjoy global recognition.

There are laws for living in Dubai that require all residents, including immigrants, to have insurance coverage. Government insurance is provided for local residents, and immigrants must have private insurance. Private insurance is highly suitable for immigrants as most private sector doctors are immigrants themselves and communicate in English. With a health card, you can benefit from a 50% discount; however, healthcare costs are free for local residents.

The cost of obtaining a health card for immigrants varies. In fact, the cost of purchasing this card for immigrants who have been residents in Dubai for 10 years is 120 AED (equivalent to $33). Additionally, the cost of obtaining a health card for immigrants who are 18 years or older and have been residing in the city for an extended period is 320 AED (equivalent to $78).

5- Education Expenses

Education in Dubai is not costly for UAE citizens; however, immigrants pay relatively high expenses for studying in private institutions. Nevertheless, the city offers state-of-the-art educational facilities, and accessing reputable universities from the UAE is easily achievable.

In fact, the cost of education varies across different levels. For instance, in schools within the city, students can be enrolled in a school with an economical budget. Additionally, the expenses for students depend on the university they choose to study in.

5- Clothing Expenses in Dubai

The cost of purchasing clothing in the city of Dubai varies due to the diverse range of clothing options available in the market, featuring the best global brands. To provide you with information about clothing expenses, the following table has been designed.

Average Cost of Living in Dubai 2023

The cost of living in Dubai varies for a single person and a family. In fact, the average cost of living in Dubai in 2023 for one month is estimated to be around $3,000 to $4,000. Additionally, the monthly cost of living in Dubai for two people is approximately 7,000 AED, and for an average four-person family, it is about 14,000 AED. To estimate the cost of living in Dubai in Iranian Rials, you just need to convert the amounts into Iranian Rials.

Summary of Cost of Living in Dubai

Undoubtedly, migrating and living in Dubai offers excellent opportunities in terms of work, education, and more. In this article from NewWay, we have made an effort to provide you with an accurate estimate of the cost of living in the UAE. We hope that by presenting this information, we have taken a small step towards increasing your awareness of the cost of living in Dubai. If you have any questions or comments on this topic, we would be happy to receive them in the comments section of the website.