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The cost of living in Dubai, and any other city in the world, depends on your lifestyle and income. It is completely reasonable to ask “how much money is needed for a couple to live in Dubai?” And the answer lies in the building blocks of your monthly expenditure as a couple. These comprise accommodation, bills, food, clothing, transportation, and entertainment, in general.
Let’s take a look at each of these categories and calculate how much is the cost of living in Dubai?
The Cost of Accommodation in Dubai
Different housing options vary in pricing in Dubai, and as a couple, the least you can consider is a studio. The rent of an average studio in Dubai ranges between 2,000 to 3,000 AED. This price range is for a partially furnished studio with gym and swimming pool amenities. A partially furnished studio or apartment in Dubai usually includes a refrigerator, washing machine, and kitchen cabinets. So, you may need to buy the bedding, sofa, TV, vacuum cleaner, dishwasher, and other electronic utensils for the kitchen.
Many apartments in Dubai include air conditioning costs in the rent and have a separate bill for other electrical amenities. If you are looking for more than just a studio, add a minimum of 1,000 AED. For a 2-bedroom apartment, expect your monthly rent to start from 4,000 AED. A 3-bedroom apartment in downtown Dubai can cost around 15,000 AED in monthly rent.
The studios and one or two-bedroom apartments in older buildings in Dubai can be a little cheaper. However, if you want a lower rent by opting for an older building, add the potential costs for maintenance fees. Also, the cost of housing outside of the city center is generally lower than those closer to downtown Dubai.
The Cost of Utilities in Dubai
Utility bills usually include the cost of electricity, water, gas, internet, and sometimes the cooling system. Although the utility bills vary based on the season and your usage, they cost around 800 to 1,000 AED.
Another monthly fee in this category is the mobile plan charge, which is around 200 to 300 AED per month.
Transportation Costs in Dubai
Your transportation costs in Dubai may vary depending on how you want to go around the city. If one or both of you have a car, you should consider the cost of the car, maintenance, and fuel. The gas price in Dubai is about 3 AED per litre.
If you are a transit user there are several options for you including taxi, bus, and metro. Taxi tariffs start at 12 AED and about 5 AED per mile. A one-way ticket for bus or metro costs about 7 AED. If you opt-in for a monthly pass you may save a little bit on the public transportation costs. They usually cost about 300 AED.
Depending on your home location with regard to your workplace, the cost of transportation can vary for you.
The Cost of Food in Dubai
On average, the cost of restaurant food for a couple is about 100 to 150 AED. There are so many restaurants and a variety of cuisines available in Dubai to try with different pricing. If you are a frequent restaurant goer and you usually spend on luxury restaurants your cost of food can increase. Depending on how many times a month you go to restaurants, the cost of food is different in Dubai.
Also, if you have a habit of having coffee every day, you should consider it in your budget. The cost of a cup of coffee is on the higher end in Dubai.
The more budget-friendly option for food is definitely buying groceries and cooking at home. The cost of groceries is about 1,000 to 1,500 AED monthly for a couple.
Clothing Costs in Dubai
The cost of clothing is something that is usually neglected when calculating the cost of living in Dubai. A pair of jeans costs around 200 to 300 AED and a pair of running shoes is about 400 AED. The cost of dresses in retail stores usually starts from 200 AED. If you would like to shop for cheaper clothes, wait for the sales offers, as clothing is expensive in Dubai.
Entertainment Costs in Dubai
Life can get tough as immigrants, and you should consider entertainment as a part of your plans in Dubai. There are many things to do in Dubai as a couple to enjoy your time. Budget about 1,000 to 1,500 AED monthly for visiting attractions, sports, and leisure.
Conclusion
The cost of living in Dubai as a couple can include different cost categories. Depending on your lifestyle and preferences how much money you need as a couple to live in Dubai can vary. However, the minimum cost of living for a couple in Dubai can start at about 6,000 AED.
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