by Kingdom By MAG 
The cost of living in Dubai in 2025: a breakdown by person and family
People and families from all over the world come to Dubai because of its tall buildings, high standard of living, and expanding economy. But before you relocate to Dubai, you need to know how much it costs to live there, just like in any other big metropolis. If you’re an expat who wants to stay in a place for a long time or only for a short time, knowing what to expect in terms of rent, utilities, school fees, and transportation will help you handle your money better.
In this blog post, we’ll look at the cost of living in Dubai for both people and families, focussing on the most important costs including accommodation, school fees, transport, and food. This can help you figure out what you might need to save up for in 2025.
The Cost of Living in Dubai
- Rent: Where to live in Dubai
Rent is one of the most expensive things people in Dubai have to pay for. The price will depend on where you live, how big the flat is, and what kind of community it is. Rent prices can be very different depending on whether you want a fancy flat in the city or a cheaper one in the suburbs.
- Studio apartment: AED 45,000–70,000/year • 1-Bedroom apartment: AED 70,000–110,000/year • 2-Bedroom apartment: AED 115,000–170,000/year
If you want to save money, regions like Dubai Silicon Oasis, Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), and Al Nahda have lower rents. On the other hand, areas like Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, and DIFC can be very expensive.
The average monthly rent is between AED 3,750 and AED 14,167, depending on where you live and how big your flat is.
- Utilities: Internet and DEWA
After you buy a house, you’ll have to pay for utilities. The fees from DEWA (Dubai power and Water Authority) cover water, power, trash collection, and sewage. The monthly price is based on how big the property is and how much it uses.
- DEWA cost every month: AED 400–800
- Plans for the internet and cell phone: AED 300–500
Use your Emirates ID and Ejari tenancy contract to set up your DEWA account. Your cost may be greater if you use a lot of things, like more than one air conditioner or a pool.
- Costs of Getting Around
Dubai has a lot of ways to travel around, and you may pick the one that works best for you and your budget.
- Public transportation (Metro and Bus): AED 300–500/month • Private car (gas, insurance and registration): AED 800–2,000/month • Taxis and ride-sharing (Uber/Careem): AED 25–50/trip
- Salik road tolls are AED 4–6 for each journey.
A monthly metro pass costs between AED 300 and 500, depending on the zones you need to go to.
- Food and groceries
In Dubai, groceries are cheap, but the price can go up if you want organic food or food that comes from other countries. Carrefour, Lulu, and Union Coop are all well-known food stores that have good prices.
- Groceries for a month: AED 800–1,500
Going out to eat is very different depending on where you go: - Eating out casually: AED 50 to 100 per dinner
- Restaurants in the middle price range: AED 150–300 per meal
Extra AED 500 to 1,500 a month can be spent on leisure activities like going to the gym, seeing films and hanging out with friends.
- Insurance
Dubai mandates everyone who lives there to have health insurance, which most of the time is provided by their jobs. But you might want to upgrade for more complete coverage.
- Basic health insurance costs AED 300–800 per month. • Comprehensive health insurance costs AED 800–2,000 per month (more for better coverage).
Personal Estimate of Monthly Budget
Category: Estimated Monthly Cost (AED)
Rent: 3,750 to 14,167
DEWA and Utilities: 400 to 800
Internet and Mobile: 300–500
Transportation: 300 to 2,000
Food: 800 to 1,500
Eating and having fun: 500–1,500
Insurance costs between $300 and $2,000.
Total: 6,050 to 22,000
How Much It Costs to Live in Dubai with a Family
Families have to pay a lot more for things like housing, school, and health care because they need more space.
- Family Rent Families usually need bigger houses, including villas or flats with two or three bedrooms.
- AED 115,000–170,000 per year for a 2-bedroom flat • AED 140,000–250,000 per year for a 3-bedroom villa
Average Rent per Month: AED 9,500–20,833
- Costs of school and learning
Families spend a lot of money on education. There are public schools, however most expats would rather send their kids to private international schools. The price of school depends on the school’s reputation and the curriculum.
- For each child in primary school, AED 20,000–40,000 every year
- For secondary school, each child costs between AED 30,000 and AED 60,000 each year.
You should also think about how your child will go to school. - School bus fees: AED 2,000–4,000 per year for each child
- Private transportation costs between AED 1,000 and 2,000 per month (if you don’t use school buses)
Every month, it costs AED 1,667 to AED 5,000 for each child to go to school.
- Groceries for the family
Families, especially those with young kids, have to spend more on groceries. If you eat a lot of organic or high-quality foods, you could have to pay more.
- Groceries for the family: AED 2,500–4,000 a month
- Eating and having fun with family
Eating out and doing fun things become a normal part of life for families.
- Eating out casually costs AED 200–400 for a family of four.
- Fun things to do (theme parks, movies, etc.): AED 500–2,000 a month
- Insurance for health care and families
Families, especially those with kids, need private health insurance. You might also want to choose a full policy.
- Family insurance costs between AED 1,000 and 5,000 a month.
Family Estimated Monthly Cost (AED) by Category
Rent: 9,500 to 20,833
Fees for school range from $1,667 to $5,000 per child.
167–333 per child for school transport
Food 2,500 to 4,000
Eating and having fun 1,000–3,000
Insurance 1,000 to 5,000
Total for a family of four 15,834–38,166
So, is Dubai affordable for you?
Dubai has a good standard of living, but it costs a lot. Knowing how much it costs to live is important for making smart money decisions, whether you’re moving with your family or going to work as a single person.
Many expats think that the cost of living in Dubai is worth it because they can make money without paying taxes and there are a lot of jobs available. But you need to carefully plan your housing, schooling, and transportation costs so that you don’t get any shocks.
Knowing the main costs of living, like rent and school fees, can help you get the most out of your time in this fascinating, expanding city.
Need help finding your way around Dubai’s real estate market?
Kingdom By MAG is a trusted real estate agent in Dubai. If you’re intending to move and need professional help, get in touch with them. We help both locals and expats find the right home for their needs and budget.
