Cost of Living in Dubai in 2024

Dubai is one of the most popular expat destinations in the world, with immigrants making up over 80% of the population. The Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2024 reported that no income tax, golden visas and the lifestyle in Dubai is what most attracts expats.

We’ve put together this guide to cover everything you need to know about the cost of living in Dubai in 2024.

Is it Expensive to Live in Dubai?

Many people assume Dubai is an expensive place to live because of its millionaires and luxury shopping. Dubai has a cost of living index score of 60, making it a reasonable place to live. For reference, New York has a score of 100 and Dubai is 78th out of 218 cities, with 1st being the most expensive.

Cost of Living in Dubai vs the UK

The cost of living in Dubai is 37.7% lower than in the UK (London). Rent, restaurant and grocery prices are all significantly more affordable in Dubai compared to the UK’s capital. Below we compare the cost of living in Dubai with London so you know what to expect.

Item	Dubai	London
Monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in city centre	7,928.78 AED (£1,678.91)	£2,152.50
Price per m2 to buy apartment in city centre	17,859.33 AED (£3,781.70)	£13,403.96
Monthly salary after tax	12,841.11 AED (£2,719.09)	£3,737.85
3 course meal for 2 people, mid-range restaurant	300.00 AED (£63.52)	£80
1 litre of milk	7.26 AED (£1.54)	£1.31
1kg chicken fillets	31.07 AED (£6.58)	£7.34
Monthly travel pass	300.00 AED (£63.52)	£200
Utilities (electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage) for 85m2 apartment	722.09 AED (£152.90)	£289.67
Monthly gym membership	320.90 AED (£67.95)	£45.49
Monthly private preschool	2,885.29 AED (£610.96)	£1,815.85

Rent in Dubai

Rent in Dubai varies depending on where exactly you want to live. The average rent price in Dubai is 8,031.81 AED (£1,709.63) for a city centre apartment, making it 26.5% cheaper than in London. You’ll pay almost half this price if you rent outside of the city centre. If you want a well-appointed modern apartment in a skyscraper in the centre, that will be more expensive than an apartment on the outskirts.

There are some key areas that have become popular for the large expat community. According to livingindubai.org, if you want to be close to a thriving expat community then look at Dubai Marina or Jumeirah Beach Residence, where you should expect to pay around 100,000 to 140,000 AED (£20,000 to £29,000) annually.

If you head out further to the Al Qusais or Mirdif areas, you can cut that rental price in half for a two-bed flat, making the cost of living in Dubai much better. With such a buzzing expat community, there are also plenty of opportunities to share if you would rather share costs.

One thing to be aware of is that landlords and rental agencies will often ask for the entire year’s rent in one payment, as well as a security deposit. If your business covers the cost of your housing, then this won’t be too much of an issue, but for private renters the large upfront payment has to be taken into account.

Transport Costs in Dubai

Travel is much more affordable in Dubai compared to London. A monthly travel pass in Dubai costs 300 AED (£63.52) whereas the same would cost £200 in London. The Dubai Metro consists of two lines, the red and green lines, with another one under construction. It is one of the most advanced rail systems in the world but doesn’t yet cover all areas. And there is also a tram system which connects with the metro.

The distances across the city are large and many people choose to navigate them by car as public transport doesn’t cater to every area. 1 litre of Gasoline costs 3.06 AED (£0.65) in Dubai and £1.51 in London.

Dubai Lifestyle and Expenses

In terms of costs like food, entertainment and activities, Dubai is reasonably expensive (but proportionally lower than rental costs). Alcohol, however, is much more on the expensive side as it is not something that locals indulge in on the whole.

Imported grocery products are more expensive so it is worth buying local fruits and vegetables which are much cheaper. If you want to take advantage of Dubai’s huge malls, keep in mind that clothes and accessories can be more expensive here than at home, and sometimes even more expensive than neighbouring Abu Dhabi. The same applies with cosmetics, sun cream and other toiletries.

If you want to enjoy the perks of expat life such as golf, tennis and gym memberships, you can expect varying prices, but on the whole they are slightly lower than in the UK.

Healthcare and Insurance Costs in Dubai

You can expect to pay around 10,000 AED (£2,200) a year for reasonably comprehensive medical insurance in Dubai.

Expats living in Dubai can apply for a health card that permits you to a certain amount of free healthcare, but most also take out private insurance to cover all eventualities. If you are offered a job, it will typically come with some sort of healthcare insurance included and you won’t have much choice about providers.

Removals to Dubai From the UK

Once you’ve worked out the cost of living in Dubai, the next step in moving overseas and becoming an expat is to think about your removals to Dubai. At 1st Move International, we can take care of everything for you. Simply ask for a quote to find out exactly how much it will cost you to move to Dubai and take advantage of our safer packing and faster shipping.

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