Cost of Living in Dubai 2026 — Rent, Food, Transport and Monthly Budget Guide

Cost of Living in Dubai 2026

Dubai's cost of living profile is unusual: no income tax on salaries (making take-home pay higher than equivalent gross salaries in Europe or Australia), but high rents, imported food costs, and a lifestyle culture that can inflate spending quickly. Alcohol is expensive and only available in licensed hotels and clubs. The AED is pegged to the USD, providing currency stability. Dubai's appeal to high-earning expats is driven by the tax-free income advantage — a AUD 150,000 salary in Dubai produces a dramatically different take-home than the same in Sydney. This guide covers the realistic cost of living in Dubai in 2026.

Rent and Housing

• 1-bedroom apartment, Dubai Marina/JBR: AED 85,000-130,000/year (AUD 35,033-53,568) or AED 7,083-10,833/month (AUD 2,919-4,464); 1-bedroom apartment, Downtown Dubai (Burj Khalifa area): AED 90,000-150,000/year (AUD 37,093-61,806); 1-bedroom apartment, JLT/Business Bay: AED 65,000-100,000/year (AUD 26,782-41,204); 1-bedroom apartment, outer areas (Deira, International City): AED 35,000-60,000/year (AUD 14,422-24,722); note: Dubai rents are typically paid by post-dated cheques annually or in 2-4 instalments — the full annual amount is committed upfront; shared room in apartments: AED 2,000-5,000/month (AUD 824-2,060)

Food and Eating Out

• Shawarma wrap at a local joint: AED 15-25 (AUD 6.18-10.30); mall food court meal: AED 35-60 (AUD 14.42-24.72); mid-range restaurant for two (Dubai Mall area): AED 200-400 (AUD 82.41-164.82); fine dining for two: AED 600-1,500 (AUD 247.23-618.07); coffee at a café: AED 18-28 (AUD 7.42-11.54); alcohol at a hotel bar: AED 45-80 per drink (AUD 18.54-32.96); weekly supermarket shop (Carrefour, Spinneys): AED 250-450 (AUD 103.01-185.42)

Transport

• Monthly NOL unlimited metro pass: AED 350 (AUD 144.22); Dubai Metro zone fare: AED 3.00-7.50 (AUD 1.24-3.09); Uber/Careem per km: approximately AED 2.50-4.00 (AUD 1.03-1.65); fuel (petrol): approximately AED 2.58/litre (AUD 1.06); car ownership is the norm in Dubai — monthly car repayment from AED 1,500-4,000 (AUD 618-1,648) plus insurance

Utilities

• Monthly DEWA (electricity and water): AED 400-900 (AUD 164.82-370.84) depending on usage and unit size; internet (du or Etisalat, 100Mbps+): AED 250-399/month (AUD 103.01-164.35); mobile plan: AED 120-250/month (AUD 49.45-103.01)

Monthly Budget Summary

• Single expat, affordable areas, moderate lifestyle: AED 8,000-12,000/month (AUD 3,296-4,944); single expat, Marina/Downtown, active lifestyle: AED 15,000-25,000/month (AUD 6,181-10,301); couple in Dubai Marina: AED 20,000-35,000/month (AUD 8,240-14,421) combined; Dubai's zero-income-tax policy means the same gross salary produces 25-35% more take-home versus comparable tax regimes — this is the core calculation for many expat relocation decisions

This article was compiled by AI and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.