Hi Guys,
I'm looking for some help.

I have a job offer to go and work in Dubai and am very keen. However, I'm getting conflicting information regarding the cost of living over there. My potential employer says that the cost of living is about a quarter of the cost in London. Several others have told me this also. However, I went to the UAE embassy in London last week and they gave me information that suggested it was the same, if not more. I realize that it depends on what your buying and if its imported or not, but could anyone give me an idea of the relative cost of living? How much is food and clothes and so on? What about the accommodation? How costly is the rent of a house over there? The more information the better.

Thanks in advance.

Hey Hunter,
One question, is your future employer going to pay for your accommodation? because if you have to pay yourself it will take a slice of your income. You can get a one bed fully furnished in a good area for about 5,000 Dirhams per month (approx 830 quid) or you can get a two bed unfurnished for about 45,000 per year (7,500 sterling)

Prices are comparable to the U.K. in respect of food and clothes, you can even buy fake shirts and jeans Polo, Boss, etc for about 6 quid!!

Beer prices can range from 1.80 per pint to 10.00 pound it just depends where you want to go.

Cigarettes are only 80p a packet, and even cheaper at the duty free where you can buy a carton for 36 Dirhams (6 Quid)

The big chain supermarkets are extremely cheaper when it comes to beef products and a good sized prime cut steak will only cost you about 1.50 pounds!!

There are always eat and drink nights at various hotels and it will only cost you about 15 sterling which entitles you to an array of food and all the house wine and bottled beer you can drink.

If you need any more info give me a shout.
Many Thanks

The cost of Living in Dubai

hi
cost of living
1- cheapest one bedroom flat in dubai 50,000 AED,two bedroom 75,000AED
2- you can furnish the apartment for 10,000AED basic
3- it will cost you 1200 AED per month for food thats if you doing your own cooking at home..add more if you are family
4-owning a car will cost you 2000 AED per month including petrol ,insurance and registration,repairs,etc
5-night life 25 DHS per pint entrance charges 75AED most places
6- eating out restarnt can cost you about 60DHS for steak more expensive resturants charge more
7- utility bills will come approx 500 AED per month
8-internet connection 180AED per month
9- clothes cheap you can buy chinease products or orginal stuff almost same everywhere in the world
10-electronics same everywhere
if your job pays you less than 30,000AED per month you wasting your time
good luck

Hi eyeC,

In you reply to Hunter regarding living costs in Dubai, I am about to join a company over there as a Regional Technical Manager. My concerns are in relation to living costs and accomodation costs.

You mention that a salary of 30k is the min to survive on, my package is as follows:

Salary per month 19.2k AED,
Accomodation allowance 10.8k AED

Total 30k AED,

plus car allowance of 2k AED per month.

They are providing BUPA medical care for wife and I but not our son who is 18 in March 2008.

Total package is 32

On this package do you think I could survive and afford to rent or buy a property over there.

Many thanks for any advice given.

Best regards,

Andy

hi Andyb123

check your private mail and good luck

Good article written in July/2007 to give you an idea:

Can you afford it? - Banking & Finance - ArabianBusiness.com

thank you for this link Dune,

interesting

__________________

Hi,

Yes I would agree that you need a salary of 30k dhs/ month to live in Dubai, and with this you would have a decent standard of living and still be putting some aside. I have been living here for over 2 years and seen the costs escalate in that time. It doesn't matter how the salary is broken down (living allowances/ basic salary and all that) it all amounts to the same thing. The reason Companies state this in your Contract is that they only have to pay your end of service entitlements on basic salary (all Companies in UAE do this).

Saying that you can get a 1 bed for 50K and 2 bed for 75K is a little misleading. An apartment of a decent standard will cost around 90-110K for 1 bed, 115-140k for a 2 bed. I personally have never seen apartments as cheap as mentioned and if they do exist I can imagine the location and state of them.

The idea of moving to Dubai is surely to earn some good money in addition to having a good lifestyle, so trust me on the apartment front you want the pool, the gym etc etc.

In my opinion other costs are resonable, food is cheap both at the supermarket and dining out (less that UK). Bills and petrol are cheap (much cheaper than UK).

My advice go for it, in this employee driven market you will soon get decent payrises.

Hi Wesrae,

Thanks for that it really has helped to put my mind at rest, the figures you quote 115k etc for a 2 bed appartment, I take it that is the yearly rent?.

Cheers,

Andy

Hi eyeC

We are moving to Dubai in January.
Package on offer is salary of circa 34,500AED per month, accommodation allowance of 130,000AED per annum, utility bills etc paid, fully expensed company car.
From what you were saying above, would you consider this is a good package, and we will survive comfortably, after all we only have to consider purchasing food, clothing, leisure etc etc.
Also, we do not have children, only a dog!
Any advice gratefully received.