Dubai is one of the Emirates kingdoms in UAE. The UAE(United Arab Emirates) is a country with other 6 kingdoms aside from Dubai. The cost of living in Dubai could be much more expensive compared with the other six Emirates also depending on your lifestyle. The other Six include Abu Dhabi( Capital), Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Um Alquin, Al- Ain.
If you are an African and wish to reside in UAE, I recommend you to stay out of classy if you don't have the means. The Country could be much cheaper to fit in more than your home country.
Since Dubai is the most tourist-visited city, UAE is entirely known to be Dubai to people who have not yet visited the UAE.
Here is our breakdown of the cost of living in Dubai or UAE in general. I will first give out for Classy lifestyle then we will look at low class but quality lifestyle cost of living in Dubai or UAE.
CLASSY:
Food:
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant: 35 AED
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course: 200 AED
McMeal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Combo Meal): 30 AED
Cappuccino (regular): 17 AED
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle): 4.5 AED
Water (0.33-liter bottle): 1 AED
Grocery:
Milk (regular), (1 liter): 6 AED
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g): 5 AED
Rice (white), (1kg): 7 AED
Eggs (regular) (12): 12 AED
Local Cheese (1kg): 40 AED
Chicken Breasts (Boneless, Skinless), (1kg): 27 AED
Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat): 44 AED
Apples (1kg): 9 AED
Banana (1kg): 6 AED
Oranges (1kg): 5 AED
Tomato (1kg): 5 AED
Potato (1kg): 4 AED
Onion (1kg): 3 AED
Lettuce (1 head): 6 AED
Water (1.5 liter bottle): 3 AED
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range): 60 AED
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle): 16 AED
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle): 15 AED
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro): 21 AED
Transportation:
One-way Ticket (Local Transport): 5 AED
Monthly Pass (Regular Price): 250 AED
Taxi Min.(Normal Tariff): 12 AED
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff): 2 AED
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff): 30 AED
Gasoline (1 liter): 2 AED
Utilities (Monthly):
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment: 637 AED
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans): 0.6 AED
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL): 371 AED
Sports And Leisure:
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult: 250 AED
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat: 40 AED
Clothing And Shoes: Do not go for Facebook Ads Shoes( They are fake in quality)
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar): 228 AED
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...): 190 AED
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range): 345 AED
1 Pair of Men's Leather Business Shoes: 350 AED
Rent Per Month: You can Check Listings on Dubizzle, Bayut, and Facebook groups.
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre: 5072 AED
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre: 3272 AED
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre: 9247 AED
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre: 7200 AED
Car on Loan
Around 20 % initial deposit
loan rates 2.5 - 4 %
basic cars ( Tida or similar) - 1000- 1500 aed
entry luxury ( i.e. Audi 6) - 2000 - 2500 aed
mid range ( i.e. bmw 5series, prado) 2500 - 3500
Now as I Earlier highlighted, you can also have a cheap lifestyle. Here some things can be forgone and still enjoy the beautiful country. Even if you are earning 1000aed as salary, you can still save and enjoy your life here in Dubai.
LOW CLASSY:
1. Food- You can cook your own food in the accommodation for a cost of 100aed a month.
Bagalas( Grocesory shops) are all around where you can buy items for 1aed whenever. This is for bachelors .
2. Accommodation- A bed space costs from 400aed upwards, so if a company is not providing accommodation you can get a cheap bed space and sleep comfortably.
3. Most of the Accommodation or bed spaces provide free wifi and no need for utility payments. But maybe you will pay for Gas in some of this accommodation or bed spaces.
4. Transport - This is public transport going to many parts of the cities and their surroundings. 5aed recharge can get you to and fro most of the locations per day.
5. Health Care is expensive- So if you not working, you could turn on first aid and also eat healthily. But if you are working, most companies also provide free health insurance. Yet some medicines and documentation are not covered. You could spend around 100aed for severe fever even with Insurance. So you must eat healthily.
