Cost of living in the United Arab Emirates in 2024: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and more

Dubai is the country’s most expensive city to live in. As a luxury tourism destination, Dubai offers high living standards: a single person’s estimated monthly expenses are AED 4,000, or $1,100, excluding rent. A family of 4 would spend 3 times more — AED 14,000, or $3,800, monthly.

The cost of living in the capital, Abu Dhabi, is a bit lower than in Dubai, about AED 3,500, or $950, without rent.

To maintain the same standard of living you have with AED 22,000, or $6,000, in Dubai, you would need AED 19,000, or $5,200, in Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi can offer high living standards, business opportunities, and cultural experiences. It is home to the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in the country.

Sharjah, the third-most-populous city in the UAE, is both famous and affordable. Without rent, the estimated monthly cost for a single person is AED 3,100, or $850. A family of four would spend AED 10,600, or $2,900, a month.

Life in Sharjah is not as quick-paced and busy as in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, which makes Sharjah a better place to move to if a moderate lifestyle is your priority.

Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai are the most common options for tourists as well as investors since the latter can invest in real estate there and obtain a 2- or 10-year residence permit.

Foreigners can buy real estate in the UAE in special areas, freehold zones. In any other areas, only a tenancy over an object is possible.

Real estate prices in Dubai. To buy a property in the city centre of Dubai, be ready to pay AED 22,000, or $6,000, per sqm.

Pricing for the property outside the city centre is more affordable: AED 12,500, or $3,400, per square metre. The popularity of the city influences the average cost of living in Dubai.

Dubai has areas where investors buy property more frequently, such as Business Bay. They also often choose areas with the most expensive property, such as Burj Khalifa. If investors are willing to buy property in Burj Khalifa, they must consider paying the average price of AED 2,500,000, or $680,800.

One of the most affordable options in Dubai is in Jumeirah Village Circle, with the average price for rent and purchase of a property being AED 10,450, or $2,846, a month and AED 580,000, or $159,000, respectively.

Utilities cost in Dubai. The cost of utilities in Dubai is about AED 740, or $200, a month. Basic utilities include electricity, heating, cooling, water supply, and garbage collection.

Real estate prices in Abu Dhabi. The average prices for real estate in Abu Dhabi are:

• AED 15,700, or $4,300, per sqm for property outside the city centre;

• AED 18,300, or $5,000, per sqm for property in the city centre.

Rent in Abu Dhabi starts at AED 4,900, or $1,000, per month. For example, a three-bedroom apartment in the city centre costs AED 10,400, or $2,800, which is 30% cheaper than in Dubai, where the same apartment costs AED 15,000, or $4,000, a month.

Utilities cost in Abu Dhabi. The monthly cost of basic utilities plus Internet and mobile services is AED 1,100+, or $300+.

A single person in Abu Dhabi needs a minimum of AED 5,500, or $1,500, to pay for rent and utilities, whereas a family needs AED 11,000, or $3,000+.

Real estate prices in Sharjah. Average prices for real estate in Sharjah are:

• AED 16,700, or $4,500, per sqm for property outside the city centre;

• AED 24,200, or $6,600, per sqm for property in the city centre.

A three-bedroom apartment in the city centre of Sharjah costs AED 5,900, or $1,600, a month, which is almost 3 times cheaper than in Dubai.

Utilities cost in Sharjah. Basic utilities for a three-bedroom apartment in Sharjah cost AED 725, or $197, per month. Internet and cell phone services add another AED 600, or $150, to the bill.

The monthly budget for rent and utilities in Sharjah is a minimum of AED 5,500, or $1,500, for a family of 4 and AED 3,800, or $1,000, for a single person.

The overall cost, including rent, is higher in Dubai: a single person needs a minimum of AED 7,300, or $2,000, and a family of 4 would pay about AED 13,000, or $3,540.

The average cost of rent and utilities in the UAE is AED 9,600, or $2,600 a month. To buy a property and accommodate a family, an investor should consider a budget of a minimum of AED 1,101,900, or $300,000, excluding taxes and fees.

Examples of properties in the UAE

UAE, Dubai

$2,002,000 — $5,600,000

Apartments and mansions in a new project from the luxury hotel chain The Ritz-Carlton

140 m² — 357 m²

1—3

1—3

UAE, Dubai

$330,000 — $2,255,000

Shared and full ownership of apartments in a premium hotel complex

1—2

1—2

UAE, Dubai

$2,341,000 — $3,785,000

Three-level townhouse with a swimming pool in a luxury residential project

497 m² — 804 m²

4—5

5—6

Prices on groceries in the UAE vary by region: the average cost of living in Dubai is generally higher than in Abu Dhabi or Sharjah.

An average food basket includes white rice, 1 litre of milk, white bread, eggs, apples, and chicken fillets. The cost of an average food basket by city:

• Dubai — AED 74, or $20;

• Abu Dhabi — AED 67, or $18;

• Sharjah — AED 57, or $16.

Dining out is another option. In Sharjah, to have a three-course meal for 2 people in a restaurant costs about AED 98, or $27. The same meal in Abu Dhabi costs 3 times more, AED 280, or $76. As a city with higher living standards, Dubai offers the same meal for AED 300, or $82.

Assuming that a single person’s daily menu consists of a quick breakfast with scrambled eggs and bacon at home, a cup of cappuccino to go, a lunch at a restaurant and a three-course dinner at an expensive restaurant, one spends about AED 161.5, or $44, a day, and AED 4,847, or $1,320, monthly on food.

Average single-person daily menu cost in the UAE:

• Dubai — AED 216, or $59;

• Abu Dhabi — AED 187, or $51;

• Sharjah — AED 84, or $23.

The UAE has a well-developed and affordable public transport system and taxi services. The price depends on the distance — a quick single trip by metro or bus costs about AED 5, or $1.4.

Average transportation prices in the UAE are:

• Dubai — AED 300, or $82, for a monthly pass for public transport, and AED 3, or $0.82, for a taxi per 1 km;

• Abu Dhabi — AED 90, or $25, for a monthly pass for public transportation, and AED 2, or $0.5, for a cab per 1 km;

• Sharjah — AED 210, or $57, for a monthly pass for public transport, and AED 2.75, or $0.75, for a taxi per 1 km.

When using the metro, remember there are “women-only“ train carriages for women and children. Pink signs on the doors of the carriages are easily distinguishable. Men are welcome to use common carriages.

A trip to Dubai from Abu Dhabi takes 1 hour and 20 minutes and costs AED 20, or $5. You will spend AED 7, or $2, on a long-distance bus from Dubai to Sharjah.

You can buy a car for AED 81,700+, or $22,200+, and the fuel will cost about AED 3, or $0,8, for a litre. Car service price depends on the repair needed — the average is from AED 202, or $55, up to AED 1,469, or $400, and more.

The cost of parking in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai is on the same level, about AED 7.3, or $2, for 3 hours.

The average cost of public transport services in the UAE is AED 231, or $63, a month. A car costs AED 37,000, or $10,000, per annum, including fuel, maintenance, and insurance.

The UAE is well-known worldwide for its healthcare quality: more than 200 JCI-certified hospitals are in the country.

Healthcare is provided on a paid basis; the only exception is emergency help. Public healthcare services are available, but only for the Emirate’s nationals.

Private health insurance is mandatory in the UAE. Without it, a monthly fine of AED 500, or $136, is imposed.

The cost of medical coverage for a single person varies depending on the healthcare company and the coverage plan provided, and the average annual price starts at AED 550, or $150, for one person.

It is recommended to have insurance with an extended coverage of about AED 184,000, or $50,000, per year. These types of plans cost AED 1,836+, or $500+, a year per person.

Health insurance options in the UAE:

• GIG Gulf Medical Insurance, AED 675+, or $184+, per person a year;

• Sukoon Health Insurance, AED 558+, or $152+, per person a year;

• Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company, AED 660+, or $180+, per person a year;

• Emirates Insurance Company, AED 734+, or $200+, per person a year;

• Ras Al Khaimah National Insurance, AED 734+ per person a year.

To get a personal quote, visit a chosen company’s website, fill in the claim, and await feedback. A family of 4 can expect to spend AED 3,672, or $1,000, a year on extended medical cover, and a single person — about AED 1,836, or $500, a year.

Abu Dhabi employers must provide medical coverage for their employees and four dependents, while Dubai only provides medical cover for the employees. In Sharjah, people must buy insurance themselves.

Education of any level is free for UAE citizens only. In other cases, there is a fee, which is calculated individually. It depends on the level of study and the chosen school or university.

Preschool education in the UAE. A full-day private kindergarten in Sharjah costs AED 1,000, or $280, monthly for one child. It is two times cheaper than in Abu Dhabi, where a month for one child costs AED 2,400, or $660.

Dubai offers the most expensive preschool education. Parents pay AED 2,900, or $790, a month for one child.

Preschool education in the UAE is available in English. It makes it easier and more convenient for expats to educate their children.

Kindergartens in the UAE accept children from 45 days old up to 5 years.

The school system in the UAE is dominated by private schools, and tuition rates vary. The average is AED 82,600, or $22,500, per year.

Public schools are free for UAE citizens, and non-UAE nationals can enrol for a fee.

Private schools in Dubai often provide school bus services. To have a child travel to and from school by bus costs AED 8,900, or $2,423, a year.

Every school offers a unique curriculum, which mainly includes all primary school subjects, such as Maths and English, and additional ones, such as other languages.

Parents of an international primary school in Sharjah pay AED 18,600, or $5,000, a year for one child. Some schools offer preschool and school education programs — for example, Beaconhouse Al Khaleej International School, for AED 20,000, or $5,450, a year.

In Abu Dhabi, school education is more expensive — AED 45,900, or $12,500, a year for one child.

These are some top-ranked schools in Abu Dhabi. Most of them follow the British curriculum model:

• Al Muna Primary School;

• Al Yasmina School;

• Bloom Academy Al Ain;

• Brighton College Abu Dhabi;

• Cranleigh School Abu Dhabi.

The cost of a year in these schools for one child starts from AED 30,000, or $8,170.

There are more than 200 private schools in Dubai. Fees vary from AED 13,000, or $3,540, to AED 65,000, or $17,449, per annum. These usually do not include admission fees, uniform expenses, or student book expenses.

The top-ranked schools in Dubai are:

• Kings’ School;

• Dubai International Academy;

• Gems Wellington International School;

• Repton School;

• Dubai College.

Higher education in the UAE. According to QS World University Rankings 2025, three UAE universities are among the top 400 best world universities: Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain, and American University of Sharjah.

Non-UAE nationals pay fees to enrol. Fees depend on the university, level of study, and chosen program and range between AED 38,000, or $103,483, and AED 70,000, or $19,062, annually.

Many universities in the UAE provide internationally recognised degrees, and there are international branches of foreign institutions — for example, eight UK universities have campuses in the UAE.

Among them is the University of Birmingham in Dubai, which has the same curriculum and standards as the University of Birmingham in the UK. A diploma from the UAE university is valid in the UK.

Studying at the University of Birmingham in Dubai costs between AED 77,030, or $21,000, and AED 104,520, or $28,463.

UAE universities often offer scholarships for international students — for example, the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi.

Spending quality time in any famous UAE city is easy — as international hubs Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai offer many leisure and shopping options.

A ticket to a movie in Sharjah costs AED 45, or $12; in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the price is AED 50, or $14.

The most cost-effective shopping is in Sharjah: for example, a pair of running shoes costs AED 290, or $79, whereas, in Dubai, which is known for its luxurious shopping centres, the same pair of shoes costs AED 360, or $98.

Sharjah and Abu Dhabi are more affordable than Dubai in sports clubs—monthly fees in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi start at $200, while in Dubai, the cost is closer to $300.

If you plan a busy week with visits to museums and cinemas in the UAE, expect to pay AED 1,100+, or $300+, for a family of 4.

Dubai is the most expensive city in the UAE. Without rent, a single person’s living cost in Dubai is AED 4,000, or $1,100. A family of four spends three times more: AED 14,000, or $3,800. Dubai also offers the most expensive property.

Sharjah is both affordable and developed. Without rent, the estimated monthly costs for a family of four are AED 10,700, or $2,900.

The sum required to live in Sharjah alone is AED 3,100, or $850, without rent. However, proof of monthly income of AED 3,000—5,000 is sometimes required — for example, to open a bank account.

The cheapest cities to live in are Ajman, Ras al-Khaimah, and Umm Al Quwain — the cost of living there is about 30% lower than in Abu Dhabi or Dubai.

Living in Dubai is almost 50% cheaper than in New York. $12,000 is required to live in New York, with rent for a month included. At the same time, you can have the same comfort level for $6,000 a month in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

The smallest US cities are more affordable than Sharjah, but generally, the USA is more expensive than the UAE. The exception is the Internet — the cost for a plan with 60 Mbps and unlimited data in the UAE is 40% higher than in the USA.

The average salary in New York is $5,700 a month. In the UAE, it is lower, $3,300 a month — this difference might influence the price gap.

Dubai is 30% cheaper than London. Unless the criterion is the price of domestic beer — in this case, London is more affordable than Abu Dhabi or Dubai.

Rent and utilities expenses are significantly higher in London — on average, paying bills is 1.5 times more expensive than in Dubai. You would need to pay AED 750, or £157, a month for a three-bedroom apartment in Dubai; the same apartment’s utilities in London cost AED 1,230, or £260, a month.

Notably, there is a difference in monthly salary: AED 11,800, or £2,500, a month in Dubai and AED 16,700, or £3,500, in London, implying that living in the UAE is more cost-effective.

One of the easiest ways to move to the UAE is to obtain a UAE Golden Visa by purchasing real estate there.

A minimum investment of AED 750,000, or $204,000, is needed to get a 2-year residency visa, and AED 2,000,000, or $545,000, is required to get a 10-year residency visa.

The UAE Golden Visa has multiple benefits. These are top‑5:

• an opportunity to travel to and reside in the UAE, one of the most well-developed countries in the world — at any time;

• lower taxes — for example, corporate profit in the UAE is taxed at 9%, which is significantly lower than in many other countries.

• no need to reside in the country to keep the Golden Visa;

• possibilities of self-realisation: the UAE has been inviting skilled specialists from all over the world to boost the country’s economy;

• an opportunity to purchase a property and then profit from renting it out.

1. Sharjah, Ajman, and Ras al-Khaimah have the lowest cost of living in the UAE, but Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the most popular cities to live in.

2. A three-bedroom apartment in the city centre of Sharjah costs AED 5,900, or $1,600, a month, and the same apartment in Dubai and Abu Dhabi costs AED 10,000+, or $2,700+, a month.

3. One spends about AED 160, or $44, a day, or AED 4,900, or $1,330, monthly on food in the UAE.

4. A family of 4 can expect to spend AED 3,700, or $1,000, a year on extended medical cover, and a single person — about AED 1,900, or $520, a year.

5. Higher education fees depend on the university, level of study, and a chosen program and range between AED 20,000, or $5,446, to AED 70,000, or $19,062, annually.

6. A family of 4 spends around AED 1,100, or $300, on entertainment.

7. The UAE living cost is generally lower than in the UK or the USA.

8. Purchasing real estate in the UAE is a way to secure your future and benefit from a profitable investment.