Cost of Living in Dubai: Rent, Food, Transport, and Real Expenses

When people talk about the cost of living in Dubai, the total amount of money needed to cover basic expenses like housing, food, transport, and utilities in the city. Also known as Dubai living expenses, it’s not just about how much you earn—it’s about what that money actually buys you. Many assume Dubai is all luxury and no limits, but the truth is, even high salaries can vanish fast if you don’t know where the money goes.

Take Dubai rent prices, the monthly cost of renting an apartment or villa in the city, which varies dramatically by neighborhood and type. For example, a one-bedroom in Downtown might set you back AED 6,000, but the same unit in Discovery Gardens could be under AED 3,500. Then there’s Dubai salary guide, the range of typical earnings for expats and locals, which doesn’t always match the cost of daily life. A salary of AED 50,000 sounds great—until you pay for DEWA, internet, car insurance, and groceries. And don’t forget Dubai budget, a personal spending plan that tracks income against fixed and variable costs to avoid financial surprises. Without one, you’ll quickly realize why so many people feel broke even with a six-figure income.

Food isn’t cheap either. A simple meal at a mid-range restaurant? AED 50. A bottle of water? AED 5. A monthly gym membership? Another AED 400. Public transport is affordable, but if you need a car—good luck finding parking under AED 200 a month. And while taxes are zero, hidden fees aren’t. From visa renewals to school fees for kids, the real cost of living in Dubai isn’t what’s on your paycheck—it’s everything that drains it.

What you’ll find below isn’t theory. It’s real numbers from people who’ve lived it: how much they spent on rent, what they paid for groceries, how much they saved—or didn’t. Whether you’re thinking of moving, visiting, or just trying to understand why Dubai feels expensive even when it shouldn’t, these posts give you the unfiltered truth.