Cost of living in Dubai in 2026
In our cost model, a month in Dubai costs about 12,245 AED for a single person, 13,245 AED for a couple and 27,095 AED for a family of four with two children at school, living mid-range in JLT. On a budget in Deira it is 5,560, 8,340 and 22,470 AED. These are costs only, with no income counted, and they leave out health insurance, flights home and one-off moving costs.
Last checked October 2026. Every figure links to its source.
- 12,245AED a month, single person
- 13,245AED a month, couple
- 27,095AED a month, family of four
Monthly costs at a glance
| AED a month | Single person | Couple on one salary | Family of four |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-range | 12,245 | 13,245 | 27,095 |
| Budget | 5,560 | 8,340 | 22,470 |
Mid-range means rent at the middle of the JLT range, balanced lifestyle, half home cooking, eating out once or twice a week, metro. Budget means rent at the bottom of the Deira range, saving mode lifestyle, mostly home cooking, rarely eating out, metro. The couple lives on one salary, and the family of four has two children at school.
Source: Dubai salary calculator cost model and rent table, Dubai Reality Check. Costs and rents verified November 2025.
Cost lines for each household
Single person
| AED a month | Mid-range1-bed flat in JLT | Budgetstudio in Deira |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | 7,500 | 2,200 |
| Food and groceries | 1,650 | 850 |
| Transport | 320 | 320 |
| Utilities and housing fee | 1,175 | 910 |
| of which housing fee | 375 | 110 |
| Phone and internet | 400 | 400 |
| Going out and leisure | 800 | 480 |
| Emergency buffer | 400 | 400 |
| Total costs | 12,245 | 5,560 |
| Salary to keep 25% | 16,400 | 7,500 |
Couple on one salary
| AED a month | Mid-range1-bed flat in JLT | Budget1-bed flat in Deira |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | 7,500 | 4,200 |
| Food and groceries | 2,650 | 1,530 |
| Transport | 320 | 320 |
| Utilities and housing fee | 1,175 | 1,010 |
| of which housing fee | 375 | 210 |
| Phone and internet | 400 | 400 |
| Going out and leisure | 800 | 480 |
| Emergency buffer | 400 | 400 |
| Total costs | 13,245 | 8,340 |
| Salary to keep 25% | 17,700 | 11,200 |
Family of four
| AED a month | Mid-range2-bed flat in JLT | Budget2-bed flat in Deira |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | 9,500 | 7,000 |
| Food and groceries | 4,400 | 2,720 |
| Transport | 320 | 320 |
| School fees | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Utilities and housing fee | 1,275 | 1,150 |
| of which housing fee | 475 | 350 |
| Phone and internet | 400 | 400 |
| Going out and leisure | 800 | 480 |
| Emergency buffer | 400 | 400 |
| Total costs | 27,095 | 22,470 |
| Salary to keep 25% | 36,200 | 30,000 |
What each line covers
- Rent: the middle of the area range our calculator charges for the mid-range setup, and the bottom of the range for the budget setup. Rents are monthly.
- Food and groceries: the household food budget, with half home cooking and eating out once or twice a week mid-range, or mostly home cooking on a budget.
- Transport: one metro budget of 320 AED a month per household. A car costs more: the hidden costs guide covers Salik tolls and registration.
- School fees: 5,000 AED a month per child, the mid-tier fee our calculator uses. Fees vary a lot by school, so compare real fees on Dubai schools and fees.
- Utilities and housing fee: 800 AED a month for electricity and water, plus the Dubai Municipality housing fee of 5% of the yearly rent, which tenants pay monthly on the DEWA bill.
- Phone and internet: 400 AED a month for home internet and mobile.
- Going out and leisure: 800 AED a month mid-range and 480 AED on a budget.
- Emergency buffer: 400 AED a month set aside for the unexpected.
Sources: Dubai salary calculator cost model and rent table, Dubai Reality Check; Leasing a property in the UAE (page updated 20 January 2026), u.ae, the UAE Government portal, Registering lease agreements. Checked October 2026.
Rent by area
Rent is the biggest line for every household. These are the monthly ranges our calculator charges in 12 areas, in thousands of AED (6.5k means 6,500 AED). Each area links to its own page with metro access and distances.
| Area | Studio | 1-bed | 2-bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown DubaiPremium | 6.5k to 7.5k | 10k to 13k | 18k to 22k |
| Dubai MarinaPremium | 5.5k to 6.2k | 8.5k to 10.5k | 12.5k to 15.5k |
| Palm JumeirahPremium | 4k to 6.5k | 8k to 14k | 14k to 24k |
| Business BayPremium | 5.5k to 6.8k | 8k to 9.5k | 11.5k to 14k |
| JLTMid-range | 5k to 6.25k | 6.5k to 8.5k | 8.5k to 10.5k |
| JVCMid-range | 4k to 4.8k | 5.5k to 7k | 8k to 10.5k |
| Al BarshaMid-range | 2k to 3.2k | 5k to 6.5k | 5.5k to 8.5k |
| Silicon OasisMid-range | 1.8k to 3k | 4k to 5.2k | 5k to 8k |
| Bur DubaiBudget | 3.5k to 4.5k | 5.2k to 6.5k | 7.2k to 9k |
| DeiraBudget | 2.2k to 3k | 4.2k to 5.5k | 7k to 8.5k |
| Discovery GardensBudget | 1.4k to 2.5k | 4k to 5.2k | 4k to 6.5k |
| International CityBudget | 2.6k to 3.4k | 3.3k to 4.2k | 3.5k to 5.8k |
A 1-bed flat runs from 3,300 AED a month in International City to 14,000 AED in Palm Jumeirah. Compare areas, metro access and commute distances in the Dubai area finder.
Source: Dubai salary calculator cost model and rent table, Dubai Reality Check. Costs and rents verified November 2025.
Salary needed to keep 25%
Our salary guides call a salary comfortable when 25% or more is left after costs. This is the salary each household needs for that, with no allowances and no employer-paid housing or school fees.
| Household | Costs | Salary needed | Nearest guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single personMid-range, 1-bed flat in JLT | 12,245 | 16,400 | 15,000 AED guide |
| Single personBudget, studio in Deira | 5,560 | 7,500 | 7,000 AED guide |
| Couple on one salaryMid-range, 1-bed flat in JLT | 13,245 | 17,700 | 18,000 AED guide |
| Couple on one salaryBudget, 1-bed flat in Deira | 8,340 | 11,200 | 12,000 AED guide |
| Family of fourMid-range, 2-bed flat in JLT | 27,095 | 36,200 | 40,000 AED guide |
| Family of fourBudget, 2-bed flat in Deira | 22,470 | 30,000 | 30,000 AED guide |
What the model leaves out
- Health insurance, if your employer does not cover it. In Dubai, employers must insure their employees, but sponsors must insure their resident dependents. Unless your employer covers your family, their premiums are yours.
- Flights home. Check whether your contract includes a yearly ticket, and for whom.
- One-off moving costs. A DEWA deposit of 2,000 AED for a flat plus 155 AED in connection fees, Ejari registration of 177.75 AED online, a rent security deposit, and an agency commission of up to 5% of the total rent if you use a broker. The hidden costs guide lists them all.
- A maid or nanny, and a car. The model assumes neither. Add them in the calculator.
Sources: Getting health insurance (page updated 8 September 2026), u.ae, the UAE Government portal, Health insurance for resident expatriates; Activation of Electricity/Water (Move-in), Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Service Fees; Register or Renew Tenancy Contract, Dubai Land Department; Leasing a property in the UAE (page updated 20 January 2026), u.ae, the UAE Government portal, Rent rates. Checked October 2026.
Questions about the cost of living
How much do I need to live in Dubai as a single person?
About 12,245 AED a month in a 1-bed flat in JLT with a mid-range lifestyle, or 5,560 AED in a studio in Deira on a budget, in our cost model. To keep 25% of your pay after those costs you need a salary of about 16,400 AED mid-range or 7,500 AED on a budget.
How much does a family of four need to live in Dubai?
About 27,095 AED a month in a 2-bed flat in JLT, or 22,470 AED in a 2-bed flat in Deira on a budget, with two children at school. School fees are 10,000 AED of that. To keep 25% of one salary after costs, the family needs about 36,200 AED a month mid-range or 30,000 AED on a budget, unless the employer pays school fees or housing.
Is 15,000 AED a month enough to live in Dubai?
It depends on who it supports. A single person: it covers the mid-range setup in a 1-bed flat in JLT with 2,755 AED left a month (18% of the salary), and leaves 9,440 AED (63%) on a budget. A couple on one salary: it covers the mid-range setup in a 1-bed flat in JLT with 1,755 AED left a month (12% of the salary), and leaves 6,660 AED (44%) on a budget. A family of four with two children at school: it does not cover either setup. It is short by 12,095 AED a month mid-range and by 7,470 AED on a budget. See the 15,000 AED salary guide for the full breakdown.
How much is rent in Dubai?
In the rent table our calculator uses, a studio costs from 1,400 AED a month in Discovery Gardens to 7,500 AED in Downtown Dubai. A 1-bed flat runs from 3,300 AED in International City to 14,000 AED in Palm Jumeirah, and a 2-bed from 3,500 AED in International City to 24,000 AED in Palm Jumeirah.
What does the 5% housing fee add to the cost of living?
Tenants in Dubai pay Dubai Municipality a housing fee of 5% of the yearly rent, added to the monthly electricity and water bill. On a rent of 7,500 AED a month that is 375 AED a month, which our cost model counts in the utilities line.
Sources: Dubai salary calculator cost model and rent table, Dubai Reality Check; Leasing a property in the UAE (page updated 20 January 2026), u.ae, the UAE Government portal, Registering lease agreements. Checked October 2026.
More for your move
Guide
Renting in DubaiContract, Ejari, deposits, rent increase rules, notice periods and disputes.Guide
Setting up utilities in DubaiDEWA deposit and fees, district cooling, internet and mobile.Guide
Hidden costs of moving to DubaiDeposits, fees and bills that do not show up in the rent or the salary.- Dubai salary guidesWhat each monthly salary leaves a single person, a couple and a family after costs.
- Dubai areas and rentsRent ranges, metro access and distances for 12 areas, and a free area finder.
- Dubai schools and feesSchool fees by school and grade, to weigh against a school fees allowance.
Guide
Dubai job offer checklistEleven things to check before you accept a job in Dubai.
General information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so check the linked source before you rely on a figure.
Sources
- Dubai salary calculator cost model and rent table. Dubai Reality Check. Costs and rents verified November 2025, page built October 2026. https://www.isdubaiworthit.com/calculator
- Leasing a property in the UAE (page updated 20 January 2026). u.ae, the UAE Government portal. Checked October 2026. https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/moving-to-the-uae/leasing-a-property-in-the-uae
- Getting health insurance (page updated 8 September 2026). u.ae, the UAE Government portal. Checked October 2026. https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/health-and-fitness/Healthcare-access-and-insurance/getting-a-health-insurance
- Activation of Electricity/Water (Move-in). Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA). Checked October 2026. https://www.dewa.gov.ae/en/about-us/service-guide/consumer-services/move-in
- Register or Renew Tenancy Contract. Dubai Land Department. Checked October 2026. https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/register-renew-ejari-contract/
Last checked October 2026.