What comes to mind when you think about the United Arab Emirates? For most people, several questions, imaginations, and fears often arise. Is Living in UAE expensive? That also bothers many people and brings us to our focus today. Here is a piece that tackles this million-dollar question through several facets. It discusses various UAE cities and their estimated cost of living.
Consequently, one can quickly assess this country’s average cost of living. Is living in UAE expensive? That becomes a simple question to handle with such information at your fingertips. Check it out!
Table of Contents
The Cost of Living in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is the capital city of Abu Dhabi, and one can’t help but wonder if a place with such significance can be expensive to reside in. At a glance, it is an excellent area of residency in the country. After all, such a family-friendly city is complex to come by. It has enough utilities to facilitate a comfortable lifestyle for residents from all walks of life. A summary of its average cost of living is as follows;
- Monthly accommodation expenses of AED 2,600 to AED 9000
- Monthly groceries of AED 250 to AED 300
- Annual studio apartment rent of AED 28000
- The transportation cost of Single route bus fares is AED 2, while taxi fares start at AED 12 and an average of AED 2/Km.
- School Tuition is between AED 4000 and AED 81,000
The Cost of Living in Dubai
The cost of living in Dubai doesn’t come second to any other emirate, including the capital city of the UAE, Abu Dhabi. It is famous for expats and tourists alike due to its luxuries. Some of its expenses are as follows;
- Monthly Studio Rent of over AED 3000
- Monthly groceries cost between AED 200 and AED 250
- Transportation for Single route bus fares is between AED 3 and AED 8.5, while taxi fares range from AED 6 to AED 25
- School tuition costs between AED 9,000 and AED 74,000
The Cost of Living in Sharjah
Here are various expenses and their estimated budgets for living in Sharjah.
Education
- The average cost of educating a child in a kindergarten or preschool in Sharjah is approximately AED 1078 monthly.
- On the other hand, the annual tuition fee for educating 1 child in an international primary school in the same area is about AED 18350.
- Considering all levels of education, the average school tuition cost is AED 5200 to AED 42,000.
Entertainment
- If you eat at restaurants in Sharjah, your average bill will be between AED 20 and AED 90
- A monthly fitness club membership is around AED 216.67
- If you rent a tennis court rent, your hourly expenditure will be around AED 88.33
- Equally important, the average cost of a cinema seat in Sharjah is AED 45
Other expenses include;
- Monthly accommodation between AED 1300 and AED 2500
- Monthly groceries at an average cost of AED 90 to AED 120
- Transportation cost for a single route bus fares is AED 8, while taxi fares start at AED 13
The Cost of Living in Ajman
Rent and food expenses are pretty cheap in Ajman. For example, the cost of living in Ajman is around 50% lower than in Dubai. The summary is as follows;
- Average transportation for a single route bus fare is AED 5, whereas taxi fare starts at AED 12.5
- Monthly accommodation is between AED 1,200 and AED 50,000
- Monthly groceries can cost between AED 100 and AED 116
The Cost of Living in Ras Al Khaimah
If you want to enjoy the luxurious lifestyle of the United Arab Emirates without breaking the bank, consider living in Ras Al Khaimah. The average cost of typical expenses includes;
- Monthly studio rent at AED 1000
- Monthly groceries for AED 90 to AED 120
- Transportation for One-way bus fare is AED 10, whereas taxi fares start at AED 6
- Utility Bills when living in an 85 sq. m. apartment is around AED 490
How Does the Cost of Living in UAE Compare to Other Countries?
What about comparing the cost of living in the UAE with other countries to see whether it is relatively cheap or expensive? Here are common comparisons;
The Cost of Living in UAE vs. USA
Sustaining yourself in New York requires at least $9000 to cover your monthly living expenses, including rent. On the other hand, $5000 is enough for an Abu Dhabi or Dubai resident. That’s about 50% less than New York’s monthly cost of living.
The Cost of Living in UAE vs. Canada
On the other hand, the cost of living in UAE is 10% lower than that of Canada.
The Cost of Living in UAE vs. India
It is way cheaper to live in India than in the UAE. If you compare transportation, consumer expenses, utilities, housing, and other life expenses for Dubai and Delhi, the former will be around 238% more expensive.
The Cost of Living in UAE vs. UK
If you choose to live in London, UK, you will pay 30% more on monthly bills than in Dubai, UAE. Interestingly, the difference between the average salaries of the two cities isn’t much. Therefore, living and working in Dubai would be better than living in London.
So, Is Living in UAE Expensive?
From the above discussion, it is evident that living in the UAE isn’t extremely expensive. Some Emirates have a higher cost of living than others. Some countries also have a higher cost of living than the UAE, including Canada, the USA, and the UK. Note that the cost of living in the UAE depends on the emirate and the lifestyle you choose.
