Is Dubai Expensive? A Guide to the Cost of Living and Travelling in Dubai
Dubai is a city that attracts millions of visitors every year with its stunning skyline, luxurious hotels, shopping malls, and entertainment options.
But how much does it cost to live and travel in Dubai? Is Dubai expensive or affordable for expats and tourists?
Dubai is a city that offers a variety of experiences and options for different budgets and tastes whether tourists or expats.
In this article, we will answer these questions and provide you with some tips and tricks to save money in Dubai.
Is Dubai Expensive to Live?
The cost of living in Dubai depends on various factors, such as your lifestyle, location, accommodation, transportation, and food.
According to Numbeo, the average monthly cost of living for a single person in Dubai is around 3,800 AED ($1,035), excluding rent.
The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre is around 6,000 AED ($1,633), while outside the city centre it is around 4,000 AED ($1,089).
The average monthly salary after tax in Dubai is around 16,000 AED ($4,356).
This means that living in Dubai can be affordable if you manage your expenses wisely.
Is Dubai Expensive to Eat Out?
Eating out in Dubai can be expensive or cheap, depending on where and what you eat.
Dubai has a wide range of restaurants and cuisines to suit every taste and budget.
You can find cheap eats in areas like Deira and Bur Dubai.
Here you can enjoy ethnic food from India, Pakistan, Iran, and other countries for as low as 10 AED ($2.7) per meal.
You can also find fast food chains like McDonald’s, KFC, and Subway for around 20 AED ($5.4) per meal.
However, if you want to dine at more upscale restaurants or hotels, you can expect to pay much more.
The average cost of a three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant in Dubai is around 250 AED ($68).
At a fine-dining restaurant, it can go up to 1,000 AED ($272) or more.
Is Dubai Expensive for Tourists?
Dubai is not a cheap destination for tourists, but it is also not prohibitively expensive.
The cost of travelling in Dubai depends on your travel style, preferences, and activities.
You can find budget-friendly options for accommodation, food, and transportation if you plan ahead and do some research.
You can also save money by taking advantage of free or low-cost attractions and activities in Dubai, such as:
- visiting the beaches, parks, museums, and markets.
However, if you want to experience the luxury and glamour of Dubai, you will have to pay more for hotels, restaurants, shopping, and entertainment.
5 Days in Dubai Cost
The cost of spending 5 days in Dubai varies depending on your itinerary and budget.
However, to give you an idea of how much money you need for 5 days in Dubai, we have calculated an estimated budget based on three different travel styles:
- backpacker, mid-range, and luxury.
- Backpacker: If you are travelling to Dubai on a shoestring budget, you can expect to spend around 1,500 AED ($408) for 5 days in Dubai. This includes staying at a hostel or a cheap hotel (around 100 AED or $27 per night), eating at local restaurants or street food stalls (around 50 AED or $13.6 per day), using public transportation or taxis (around 50 AED or $13.6 per day), and doing some free or low-cost activities (around 100 AED or $27 per day).
- Mid-range: If you are travelling to Dubai on a moderate budget, you can expect to spend around 4,500 AED ($1,225) for 5 days in Dubai. This includes staying at a mid-range hotel or apartment (around 300 AED or $81 per night), eating at decent restaurants or fast food chains (around 100 AED or $27 per day), using public transportation or taxis (around 100 AED or $27 per day), and doing some paid activities (around 300 AED or $81 per day).
- Luxury: If you are travelling to Dubai on a high-end budget, you can expect to spend around 15,000 AED ($4,083) for 5 days in Dubai. This includes staying at a luxury hotel or resort (around 1,000 AED or $272 per night), eating at fine-dining restaurants or hotels (around 500 AED or $136 per day), using private transportation or taxis (around 200 AED or $54 per day), and doing some premium activities (around 800 AED or $217 per day).
7-Day Trip to Dubai Cost
The cost of spending 7 days in Dubai is similar to the cost of spending 5 days in Dubai but with some adjustments.
Here are the estimated budgets for 7 days in Dubai based on three different travel styles: backpacker, mid-range, and luxury.
- Backpacker: If you are travelling to Dubai on a shoestring budget, you can expect to spend around 2,100 AED ($571) for 7 days in Dubai. This includes staying at a hostel or a cheap hotel (around 100 AED or $27 per night), eating at local restaurants or street food stalls (around 50 AED or $13.6 per day), using public transportation or taxis (around 50 AED or $13.6 per day), and doing some free or low-cost activities (around 100 AED or $27 per day).
- Mid-range: If you are travelling to Dubai on a moderate budget, you can expect to spend around 6,300 AED ($1,715) for 7 days in Dubai. This includes staying at a mid-range hotel or apartment (around 300 AED or $81 per night), eating at decent restaurants or fast food chains (around 100 AED or $27 per day), using public transportation or taxis (around 100 AED or $27 per day), and doing some paid activities (around 300 AED or $81 per day).
- Luxury: If you are travelling to Dubai on a high-end budget, you can expect to spend around 21,000 AED ($5,717) for 7 days in Dubai. This includes staying at a luxury hotel or resort (around 1,000 AED or $272 per night), eating at fine-dining restaurants or hotels (around 500 AED or $136 per day), using private transportation or taxis (around 200 AED or $54 per day), and doing some premium activities (around 800 AED or $217 per day).
How Much Spending Money for Dubai 5 Nights
The amount of money you need for Dubai for 5 nights depends on your travel style and preferences.
However, to give you a general idea, we have calculated the average daily expenses for three different travel styles:
- backpacker, mid-range, and luxury.
- Backpacker: If you are travelling to Dubai on a shoestring budget, you can expect to spend around 300 AED ($81) per day on average. This includes accommodation, food, transportation, and activities.
- Mid-range: If you are travelling to Dubai on a moderate budget, you can expect to spend around 900 AED ($245) per day on average. This includes accommodation, food, transportation, and activities.
- Luxury: If you are travelling to Dubai on a high-end budget, you can expect to spend around 3,000 AED ($816) per day on average. This includes accommodation, food, transportation, and activities.
Is Dubai Expensive for Food and Drink
Food and drink prices in Dubai vary depending on where and what you eat and drink.
You can find cheap food and drink options in areas like Deira and Bur Dubai.
Here you can enjoy ethnic food from India, Pakistan, Iran, and other countries for as low as 10 AED ($2.7) per meal.
You can also find fast food chains like McDonald’s, KFC, and Subway for around 20 AED ($5.4) per meal.
However, if you want to eat and drink at more upscale restaurants or hotels, you can expect to pay much more.
The average cost of a three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant in Dubai is around 250 AED ($68).
At a fine-dining restaurant, it can go up to 1,000 AED ($272) or more.
Alcohol is also expensive in Dubai compared to other countries.
Alcohol is only available in licensed bars and restaurants, which are generally attached to hotels.
The average price of a beer in Dubai is around 45 AED ($12).
A glass of wine is around 60 AED ($16).
You can save money by taking advantage of happy hours and ladies’ nights, which offer discounts and free drinks.
Is Dubai Expensive Reddit
Reddit is a popular online platform where users can share their opinions and experiences on various topics.
You can find many threads on Reddit about the cost of living and travelling in Dubai.
Here are some examples of what Reddit users have said about how expensive Dubai is:
- “Dubai is expensive if you want it to be expensive. There are plenty of ways to live cheaply here if you’re willing to make some sacrifices.” – u/throwawaydxb123
- “Dubai is expensive if you compare it with other cities in the region like Cairo or Beirut but it’s not that expensive if you compare it with cities like London or New York.” – u/ahmed_1994
- “Dubai is expensive for tourists because everything is geared towards luxury and convenience. You can find cheaper options if you look for them, but they are not very accessible or convenient.” – u/dubai_throwaway_1
- “Dubai is expensive for some things and cheap for others. For example, rent, food, and entertainment are expensive, but transportation, utilities, and healthcare are cheap.” – u/dxbexpat
How Much Does a Meal Cost in Dubai?
The cost of a meal in Dubai depends on where and what you eat.
You can find a wide range of prices and cuisines in Dubai, from street food to fine dining.
Some examples of the average cost of a meal in Dubai for one person are:
- Breakfast: A typical breakfast in Dubai consists of eggs, bread, cheese, and tea or coffee. You can find this at local cafes or bakeries for around 15 AED ($4). You can also opt for more international options like pancakes, waffles, or cereal for around 30 AED ($8).
- Lunch: A typical lunch in Dubai consists of rice, meat, vegetables, and salad. You can find this at local restaurants or food courts for around 25 AED ($6.8). You can also opt for more diverse options like pizza, burgers, sushi, or falafel for around 50 AED ($13.6).
- Dinner: A typical dinner in Dubai consists of grilled meat, bread, hummus, and salad. You can find this at local restaurants or shawarma stands for around 35 AED ($9.5). You can also opt for more fancy options like steak, seafood, or pasta for around 100 AED ($27).
Is a Meal Expensive in Dubai?
The answer to this question depends on your budget and expectations.
Some other countries in the region, such as Egypt or Lebanon can be cheaper than Dubai.
However, in some other countries in the world, such as Switzerland or Japan can be expensive than in Dubai.
The best way to determine if a meal is expensive in Dubai is to compare it with the average income and living standards in Dubai.
According to Numbeo, the average monthly net salary after tax in Dubai is around 16,000 AED ($4,356).
This means that a meal costing 50 AED ($13.6) would represent around 0.3% of the average income.
Conclusion
Dubai is a city that offers a variety of experiences and options for different budgets and tastes.
Whether you are looking for cheap eats or fine dining, budget hotels or luxury resorts, free attractions or premium activities, you can find them all in Dubai.
However, Dubai is not a cheap destination for tourists or expats.
Other cities in the region or the world. can be cheaper than Dubai.
Therefore, it is important to plan ahead and do some research before visiting or moving to Dubai.
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