Cost of living in the United Arab Emirates

I would also like to have this info

Hi, would like the info, as-well

[justify]Hi,
I’m Anita, currently residing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Until Few months Back I was working at Dubai and Housing at Sharjah.

The cost of living in Dubai is too High! But yes, there are several sources of entertainment for both men and women. The Tourist rate is quiet high during the Dubai Shopping Festival which. Traffic is what’s going to irritate you the most staying in Dubai.

Accommodation: about AED20000/Year- for a small studio flat. (Housing is what’s will cost you high!)
Oil: AED60/- Full tank
Internet: AED150/month
Water electricity: AED250/month
Meal: A combo meal is about AED 30-60
Beer: AED30/can
Cinema: AED35/movie

-    Anita

hi,
i have gone through the details of cost of living in sharjah.In the reply, the cost of accommodation is200000AED.Is it per annum or per month?kindly clarify

Good day to all.

I am being transferred to Dubai. I urn GBO1600 per month. Will it be worth wile to go??

manishb wrote:

I would also like to have this info

hi,

i had been offered a job in dubai Dh 8000 Pm + travell + travel, can u just let me know how good is this package to servive with a family of 2 people.

what are average expencess for a normal veg diet person.
what should more be aske while negosiating with my principle.

regards
sohil jain

You should check the Dubai forum

I think the going rate for a 4-bedroom villa is 350,000 dhs per year. To fill your tank now is 80-100 dhs depending on car size. Groceries 4 chicken breasts 36dhs large bag of chips 20 dhs veggies and fruit are seasonal and can be found for less at fruit and veggie market.

cmasriram wrote:

hi,
i have gone through the details of cost of living in sharjah.In the reply, the cost of accommodation is200000AED.Is it per annum or per month?kindly clarify

Dear this 20,000AED is per annum cost of living in Sharjah not 200,000 amount. and approximately 1700AED for a month cost of living in a rental studio apartments in Sharjah.

how good are the increments for school teachers...can any1 tell me.......

Good morning to all,
looking at getting out of rainy and cold London, I am considering a job in Abu dhabi.

newbee questions (apologies): I assume AD cost of living is less expensive than Dubai, 10%-15%? what would you say?

inflation, 10% a year to plan for salary negotiation, still valid?

many thanks for old timers expert opinion ;-)
JM

go to yahoo answers...this question has been answered there one too many

Hi we live in Abu Dhabi, Depending where you stay in U.A.E also has a effect on cost of living ,for e.g Abu Dhabi is more expensive to live in than Dubai only becuase of the lack of accomadation availability ,hence why companys who pay your accomadation, offer less if your living in Dubai.
The average 3 bedroom Villa can go from AED200,000 to AED400,000 per yr in Abu Dhabi.
We pay around AED200-300 per week for groceries and around AED120 for a meal at a restaurant or AED60 if at food court at one of the many malls ,this is for two.
Our average power bill can go up to AED1000 per month during summer when you use Air con and about AED200-250 during winter.
Gas is pretty cheep less than a dirham a litre,
It really depends on your income and how much extras you can get from your sponsoring comapany as to how well you will succeed here.
My husbands company pays our accomadation,transportation and schooling. If they hadnt ,I can honestly say we probably wouldnt be here..
You really have to way up the pros & cons about making a huge move to come here especially if you are bringing your family.
It can be a huge culture shock.
All the best and hope this little info helps.

Hi Everyone

I am in Dubai from past 9 years now,

Answers to the below questions can be as under : -


How much does it cost to live in the United Arab Emirates?

> accommodation prices -
Bachelor accomodation - Deira Area AED 500-600per month
                      - Bur Dubai AED 800-1200 per month

Family - Studio arranging from AED 35-40K small one.
       - 1bhk from AED 65-85k per annum. for reasonable living.


> public transportation fares (tube, bus etc ...)
- Tube under construction
- Bus fare are AED 2 anywhere in bus of that route.

> food prices(per month, how much does it cost you?)
Monthly mess in Deira - AED 350 approx.
Monthly mess in Bur Dubai - AED 500 approx.


> health prices (for those who need medical insurance)
Medicine is as expensive as rent, NO MRP policies, anybody charges anything. One medicine can be from AED 7 - 12 dirhmas range from location and shop to shop.

> eduction prices (if you need to pay)
All over seas education universities cost is in USD 8-10k for an MBA approx.

> energy prices (oil, electricity)
Petrol is Cheaper then water, but we need water to drink.

> common bills (Internet, television, telephone, mobile phone)
512MB 24hours internet line is AED 189dirhams p.m.
256MB is AED 149per m.

> prices of a good menu in a traditional restaurant
One time meal will cost AED 60-75, and can go upto AED 100-120.

> prices of a beer and or a coffee in a regular pub
Beer i cheaper then cold drinks and coffee in pub.

> price of the cinema
AED 30/- per seat.

> Milk - AED 17.50 per gallon.


Taxi Fare - Starts from AED 3.50 but minimum fare to be paid for the smallest trip is AED 10/-.
Bus fare is AED 2/- but minimum pass to be taken compulsory for AED 18/-.

Hence , we can conclude that AED 8000/- pay to start with for an bachelor is OK, but for family life it is Impossible.

All the best forguys coming in to UAE. Try to clarify the times and benefits before entering in.

regards





Do not hesitate to add items to this list!

Hi everyone,

My name is Wajdi, I'am 27 and I live in France.
I would like to expatriate in Dubai to work and get new experiences.
I'am looking for some contacts in order to speak about this country, get many advices and find a job. (I can send you my CV if you have an job oppotunity).
My email adress is : wajdon2000@yahoo.fr
I worked for L'Oreal Group and Unilever Group in sales departements.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Wajdi

Hi iam looking to relocate to abi dabi and are coming with the  family. we are both teacher and are wondering if we would make it on our salary with the family , about 11000 AED a month each?? What is the prices of the private schools in abi dabi??

help with this questions,
How would you make a differnce in your assigned school??
How can you make  adiffernce in the students in Abu Dhabi

for a 1 bedroom flat in Sharjah 35000 to 40000 per year
for beer 1 case of Red horse is 120 dirhams, heineken 30

Hii Guys

I need suggestions. Where should i live if my office is in Al Ras (Dubai) so that my expenses of reaching office is minimal. and what would be the rent for a 1bhk & 2 bhk in that area/locality.

Thanks

Hello everybody! Im writting here I really need an advice.I get one job like waitress in Arabian Courtyard Hotel(near Bar Dubai is the hotel) with 1000 Dhm/per month + tips(almost 1500 Dhm)+accomodation+meal+medical insurance+ticket for airplane.whant I want to know if this is a survival sallary or not.More than that I found one site where i,ve seen smt that didnt make me feel very good.www.escapeartist.com/.../art_20_Reasons_Not_Move_to_Dubai.html.Is it true??? Please give me advices..I need it.Thank you a lot!

Hello, I'm a moroccan citizen, stil single and I will move to dubai soon after getting invitation and visa for 1 month. I will be very enjoyed if there is any one local or foreigner who live there for a long time and know the city very well and which can give me more informations about the cheap and ideal place to live for one person because as I see the rate are so high. Thanks a lot

wait a little bit and those prices will go down some more.  dubai is far from stabilizing, and the housing sector will suffer until that becomes the case.  as for cost of living, expect a period of deflation in the short term and possibly stagflation in the longer 3 year horizon. inflation is out of the question for a good 6 years or so. let's wait and watch

to make a long story short....

earning 10,000 Dirhams and below as a bachelor is living wonderfully by the day only without making savings.

now you do the math, if you are a couple or with children

I've been in Dubai since March 2009

> accommodation prices
I pay 120,000 AED for 1bed in JBR

> public transportation fares (tube, bus etc ...)
no idea

> food prices(per month, how much does it cost you?)
around 1200-1500 AED for me and my wife including washing liquids, couple of coffee's per week with a cake and one lunch in a standard cafe on Fridays

+ ~ another 300 / month for drinks

> health prices (for those who need medical insurance)
paid by the company. if not, around 450 AED for a consultation in the city hospital or welcare. up to 750-900 if the doctor is a rare specialist.

> eduction prices (if you need to pay)
berlitz english 4000 aed for 2 months

> energy prices (oil, electricity)
6.75 per gallon. I spend around 450 AED / month driving 100 km a day in a car with 4.6 engine

> common bills (Internet, television, telephone, mobile phone)
400 for electricity & water, 200-300 for air-co and 250 for internet/phone/tv

> prices of a good menu in a traditional restaurant
what do you mean traditional? a typical western restaurant is about 50 AED for main dish + 30 AED for a beer

> prices of a beer and or a coffee in a regular pub
25-35 AED for a beer, 15-20 for a coffee

> price of the cinema
30 AED

I've made up an interactive living cost calculator on my website about living in Dubai

Love your calculator. General idea on how much u need to earn in order to live here.

Thumbs up.

ilya wrote:

I've been in Dubai since March 2009

> accommodation prices
I pay 120,000 AED for 1bed in JBR

> public transportation fares (tube, bus etc ...)
no idea

> food prices(per month, how much does it cost you?)
around 1200-1500 AED for me and my wife including washing liquids, couple of coffee's per week with a cake and one lunch in a standard cafe on Fridays

+ ~ another 300 / month for drinks

> health prices (for those who need medical insurance)
paid by the company. if not, around 450 AED for a consultation in the city hospital or welcare. up to 750-900 if the doctor is a rare specialist.

> eduction prices (if you need to pay)
berlitz english 4000 aed for 2 months

> energy prices (oil, electricity)
6.75 per gallon. I spend around 450 AED / month driving 100 km a day in a car with 4.6 engine

> common bills (Internet, television, telephone, mobile phone)
400 for electricity & water, 200-300 for air-co and 250 for internet/phone/tv

> prices of a good menu in a traditional restaurant
what do you mean traditional? a typical western restaurant is about 50 AED for main dish + 30 AED for a beer

> prices of a beer and or a coffee in a regular pub
25-35 AED for a beer, 15-20 for a coffee

> price of the cinema
30 AED

I've made up an interactive living cost calculator on my website about living in Dubai

Hi everybody

my nationality is UAE .
I wanna 2 tell us about what people said in this page it's correct , BUt what u don't know is that the UAE have many areas , and who's live in Dubai is different between who live in Abu Duabi or sharja , RAK , Alfujaira , om alkaiwain , ojman .

The cost is different between all these areas .
the live is expensive in Abu Dhabi and Dubai but in the RAK cheap .

If anybody have any question about UAE ask me .

i am not going to list numbers because this is tough.  it is also very personal depending on each of our family sizes and quality of life we desire.  one thing guaranteed to help is determine how much you want to save each year. then add to it your best estimate of living expenses.  then you can come up with a basic salary level that makes your desired lifestyle ideal

There is no fixed or approximate expense in this regards.
It depends on how you live and what you need and whether you are willing to spend some money.

If you are rich enough, you can afford a better accommodation and living standard with much higher price.
If you are poor, you can also survive in Dubai sharing with others.

It all depends.

This information is very helpful

HI EVERYBODY........
I AM AN INDIAN........... CAN ANYBODY SHOW ME THE WAY ...
I AM TO EXPAT TO UAE

PRANAB DASGUPTA

dear frnd,

nothing pre defined abt the cost and survival.

its upto ur earnings and style of living.

if u have to enjoy dubai life u have to make more money.

as per my knowledge even people runing their life with 1000dhs

muthu

hello can i ask, what's the new rule of getting visit visa? is true that in order to get a visit visa you are 23 years old? thanks... reply me asap please..

Hi Sol123! Could you please start a new discussion on the United Arab Emirates forum (you are off topic)and have a look at the Traveling to Dubai guide, it might help.

Thanks!
Christine

hello, I am not yet an expatriat but I think it's so expensive to live in !dubai

Hi¡¡
Parece que la vida en Atabia Saudita es algo elevada...

vivir sola en un apartamento modesto, dependiendo de mi sueldo de enfermeria...y querer viajar por esos paises...

Hi anyone who is reading this. I have just joined this BLOG site. I will shortly be moving to Abu-Dhabi and would like a "heads-up" on the cost of living. Can anyone help?

Regards

Paul.

I am living now in Dubai, it is so expensive

Hi Everyone

Thanks for your replies, although may be a little out of date (2008) Can anyone enlighten me to the cost of living now
(June 2010) in Abu Dhabi, accomodation, food, drink, clothes, utilities etc. etc.

All info will be greatfully received.

Regards

Paul Anderson

We too are considering an offer to move to Abu Dhabi, just a couple of costs I'd like to ask about:

- Monthly rent on a 300-400sqm villa, swimming pool would be good but not necessary

- Pre-school (we have a 2-1/2 yr old daughter) costs and availability, British system preferred

- Is there plenty to do for WAG's?