Cost of Living

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Live cost-of-living data for Dubai — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
47/ 10053% cheaper than New York
+63% rent since Jul 2026
$3,750/mo
Median Income
88/100
Safety
0%
Income Tax
hot desert
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
75/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$2,369/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$1,642/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$4,453/month
Food & Groceries
65/100
Milk (1 liter)$3.2/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$2.8/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$2.5/kg
Transportation
55/100
Monthly Transit Pass$68/month
One-Way Ticket$1.8/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.58/km
Utilities
60/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$250/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$95/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$45/month
Healthcare
65/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$110/visit
Dentist Visit$135/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$18/course
Education
70/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$800/month
International Primary School (yearly)$18,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$600/course
Entertainment
65/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$15/ticket
Theater Ticket$50/ticket
Museum Entry$18/ticket
Clothing
70/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$72/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$48/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$105/pair
Personal Care
60/100
Haircut (Men)$25/cut
Haircut (Women)$50/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$6.5/bottle
Dining Out
70/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$20/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$80/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$10/meal
Childcare
65/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$1,200/month
Babysitter (per hour)$20/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$25/pack
Fitness & Sports
65/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$60/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$25/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$12/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

167 Mbps
Internet Speed
$400
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
high
English Level
large
Nomad Community
72/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Downtown Dubai, Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT), Dubai Marina

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dubai cheap to live in?

Dubai has a cost of living index of 47/100, where New York = 100. It is 53% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,700–$2,380 per month.

How much does rent cost in Dubai?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Dubai costs approximately $2,369/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $1,642/month.

Is Dubai good for digital nomads?

Dubai has a large digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 167 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $400/month. English proficiency is high.

What is the average salary in Dubai?

The median net monthly salary in Dubai is approximately $3,750 USD. The income tax rate is around 0%.

How does Dubai compare to New York for cost of living?

Dubai (cost index 47) is 53% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,325/month by moving from New York to Dubai.

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