Lifestyle
UAE — Living: Cost of Living
Dubai remains the most expensive emirate for living costs: a single professional's monthly costs run AED 7,000-12,000 (or roughly AED 4,000/$1,100 excluding rent), and a family of four AED 20,000-35,000/month, with housing consuming 30-40% of most budgets. Abu Dhabi is roughly 10-15% cheaper than Dubai (single person ~AED 3,500/$950 excluding rent; family of four ~$3,370), while Sharjah offers 20-30% savings versus Dubai. Housing/rent is the dominant expense nationwide, followed by school fees and groceries for families; imported goods remain comparatively pricey despite stabilized inflation.
VerifiedGovernment / official sourceUAE Federal Competitiveness and Statistics CentreLast reviewed: 2026-07-18
Key facts
- Dubai: single professional AED 7,000-12,000/month; family of four AED 20,000-35,000/month; housing is 30-40% of budget.
- Abu Dhabi: roughly 10-15% cheaper than Dubai overall.
- Sharjah: roughly 20-30% cheaper than Dubai.
- Housing/rent is the largest expense nationwide, followed by school fees and groceries for families.
Costs
- Dubai, single professional: AED 7,000-12,000/month
- Dubai, family of four: AED 20,000-35,000/month
- Abu Dhabi, single person (excl. rent): ~AED 3,500 ($950)