Cost of living 2019 in the United Arab Emirates

Thank you for your message! UAE is become more expensive compared to previous years, here is a breakdown for future expats.

How much does it cost to rent an apartment or a house in the United Arab Emirates? How about buying an apartment or a house in the United Arab Emirates?  = Studio in Abu Dhabi =avg 38-40K per year

How much do you pay on average for public transportation (bus, subway, train, tram, taxi)?
The bus pass is around AED 80 if traveling within the city
Average transport expensive is around 300-500 depending upon traveling frequency.

How much do you pay for basic food items such as rice, bread, and pasta?
On Average, 5 Kg of rice bag price in btw 45-60, which is sufficient for two people.
Bread - Avg AED 5-8/ large 

What is your monthly budget for groceries?
AED 1000-1500/ month- for the family of 3

How much does it cost to see a doctor or health specialist in the United Arab Emirates?
Medical is bit expensive - without insurance consultation charges are AED 250 per visit.

How much do you pay for health insurance per month?
AED 1200/ month for family insurance

How much does childcare cost on average per month?
AED 1000/ month for insurance

What is your child's schooling budget per month?
No Idea so far

How much does it cost to fill up your car’s fuel tank?
Fuel per liter is around Aed 2.2

How much do you pay for electricity/gas/water etc., per month?
Aed 200-300/month

How much do you pay for your internet and phone subscription?
Internet and phone are one of the expensive luxuries in UAE.
Phone - 250 per month
Internet - 400 per month

How much do you pay for your lunch pack on weekdays?
Nothing.

How much do you pay for an espresso coffee?
20-30/ cup

How much do you pay for a cinema ticket?
30/ ticket though there are several cards which offer buy 1 and get 1 free.

How much does a gym membership cost in the United Arab Emirates?
Annual membership around 3000-4000 in the better gym.

Good day Ms. Precilla

How much does it cost to rent an apartment or a house in the United Arab Emirates? How about buying an apartment or a house in the United Arab Emirates?

- the rent of apartment or a house doesn't even close my salary to reach that kind of living. Since I'm a normal person who's living and surviving in Dubai for 11yrs It never happen that I rent apartment for myself neither house since its big time expansive.  I used to live in sharing room / partition room I would prefer. Since that is the only way i could afford to live.-


How much do you pay on average for public transportation (bus, subway, train, tram, taxi)?

- i put load of my nol card once a month for a 1month use going and coming back from work. It cost 300AED more or less-

How much do you pay for basic food items such as rice, bread, and pasta?

- I'm foodie kind of person, I would say 800AED for a month is okay okay. Eating at restaurant doesn't included. -

What is your monthly budget for groceries?

- all necessities not more than 1500AED-

How much does it cost to see a doctor or health specialist in the United Arab Emirates?

- Since we have this kind of health insurance provided by our company,  it's getting much cheaper for us and affordable, but as of my own experience I never get treated well for this kind of low  medical clinic. I was a sick person, maybe Bec of untidy environment I have, since move to tecom and live in flat it's feels better and haven't got side many times at all. In our insurance we pay 20AED for admission, the rest was for free. But most of the important thing u need when it comes to to health, I rather say our company given us low kind of medical insurance where we have no right to complain since its for free but for your own sake , and as for my own I used to go at medical clinic as outpatient to the hospital/clinic that I'm comfortable with and feel safe and treated well. I need to pay it in my own expenses without the help of my insurance.

How much do you pay for health insurance per month?

-company given us for free.-

How much does childcare cost on average per month?

- I don't have children-

What is your child's schooling budget per month?

-none-

How much does it cost to fill up your car’s fuel tank?

- don't have car-

How much do you pay for electricity/gas/water etc., per month?

- where I lived I pay package for a month 1800AED for my partition. Everything mentioned is included in packaged-

How much do you pay for your internet and phone subscription?

-same answer from the previous question-. My phone got 25AED for a month since its not that much necessary Bec everywhere have free WiFi so it's a big help to save load for phone.

How much do you pay for your lunch pack on weekdays?

- well, this matter I really have no idea how much, since I'm picky of food, even though I'm foodie, I eat whatever my mood wish me to have.

How much do you pay for an espresso coffee?

- not a big fan of espresso, I prefer karak tea, just normal.

How much do you pay for a cinema ticket?

-last time was 45AED

How much does a gym membership cost in the United Arab Emirates?
- I don't go to gym where I can pay for membership, the building I'm living in a flat has it's own gym for free .

about renting an apartment or a house in the United Arab Emirates? a studio flat in JLT AED 50000 per year

How much do you pay on average for public transportation (bus, subway, train, tram, taxi)?  daily AED 7.50 Metro

How much do you pay for basic food items such as rice, bread, and pasta?  rice: AED 14

How much do you pay for electricity/gas/water etc., per month? AED 180 per month

How much do you pay for your internet and phone subscription? AED 50 month

How much do you pay for your lunch pack on weekdays? AED 10

How much do you pay for an espresso coffee? office

How much do you pay for a cinema ticket? AED 100 for one time

How much does a gym membership cost in the United Arab Emirates? AED 150 best

Thank you for sharing your experience.