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Expat Budget: 🇦🇪 Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Monthly cost-of-living breakdown for expatriates in Dubai. All amounts in AED (AED), editable to match your lifestyle.
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Rent is typically 20-40% cheaper in suburbs
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Dubai has a distinctive cost profile. Central rents now exceed Paris levels, and international schooling plus health insurance weigh heavily on a family budget, while fuel, taxis and many services remain inexpensive. The absence of income tax changes how the cost of living should be read, in net terms. Prices are in UAE dirhams (AED), pegged to the US dollar.
Last updated: July 2026. Sources: Numbeo, UAE dirham USD peg.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Dubai?
Around 8,400 AED per month for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre and 5,400 AED outside the centre (Numbeo, UAE dirham USD peg).
What monthly budget excluding rent in Dubai?
Monthly single-person markers, in AED: groceries 1,500, utilities 870, internet 345, public transport pass 275. The calculator above adjusts each line by profile.
Is Dubai more expensive than Paris?
On our consolidated index (Paris = 100), Dubai stands at 100. Overall cost of living is comparable to Paris.