How much does it cost to live in Dubai, UAE, in 2025: prices, expenses, tips

Excluding rent, the average monthly expenses for a family of four in the UAE range from $2,900 to $3,200, depending on lifestyle, the emirate chosen, and consumer habits.

Rent is the largest item in the budget.

• Dubai: 1-bedroom apartment — $1,300–$2,000, family — $2,300–$3,050
• Abu Dhabi: similar — $1,000, family — $2,300–$2,800.
• In other emirates (Sharjah, etc.), prices can be 40-50% lower — approximately $600-1,600.

Food and groceries — USD 800–1,200 per month for a family if you cook at home. If you eat out often, the amount can be 1.5–2 times higher. The average bill in a café is USD 10–20 per person.

Education — Annual tuition fees at private schools start at $5,000 and can reach $25,000–30,000 at prestigious international schools. Public schools are cheaper, costing $1,000–3,000 per year.
Transportation — It all depends on how you get around:

• Metro and buses — from $80 per month with frequent use;
• Car rental — from $500 to $900 per month;
• Taxis — on average $200–400 per month, if you don't travel daily.

Utilities — electricity, water, air conditioning — average $150–300 per month. Costs are higher in villas and spacious apartments.

Mobile communications and internet — about $80–120 per month for home Wi-Fi and two mobile SIM cards with internet.

Medical care and insurance — Basic insurance costs from $600 per year for an adult. Paid appointments cost from $50 per visit. Private clinics are expensive but offer high-quality care.

Entertainment and leisure — depends on your habits. Gym membership — $50–100 per month, movie ticket — about $10–12, children's clubs and activities — $100–300 per month.

For more information on prices in the UAE, please follow the link.

There are only two major telecom operators in the UAE: Etisalat (e&) and du. They operate on a standard GSM network, as in Russia, so SIM cards will work with any smartphone.

Etisalat is more popular among local residents, who tend to choose postpaid contracts. Du is more focused on tourists and those who come to the country for a short period of time. There are also subsidiary brands: Swyp (Etisalat) and Virgin Mobile (du), which offer convenient package deals that can be purchased directly through the app.

Mobile internet is fast here, with average 4G and 5G speeds in 2025 ranging from 400 to 500 Mbps. This is one of the best speeds in the world, especially in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. For a stable signal, it is better to choose wired home internet — speeds range from 50 to 100+ Mbps, depending on the package.

Prices are approximately as follows:

• SIM card with internet: from 100 AED (27 USD) per month;
• 1 GB of prepaid mobile internet — about 37 AED (~10 USD);
• Home internet with Wi-Fi: from 400 AED (about 110 USD) per month.

Wi-Fi is available almost everywhere — in hotels, cafes, shopping centers. It works reliably.
However, there is a caveat when it comes to voice calls via messengers: WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, Skype, and FaceTime do not officially support voice and video calls in the UAE. This restriction is regulated by the state. To make calls, people use officially approved apps such as Botim or Zoom. VPNs technically work, but this is a gray area.

It is convenient to get around the Emirates by private car or public transport. The most popular options are the metro, buses, and taxis.

Taxis are available in every emirate, and fares vary slightly. The average taxi ride in Dubai costs around AED 25–35 (approximately $7–9), in Abu Dhabi from AED 20, and in Sharjah from AED 30. There are separate cars for women and families. All taxis are official and equipped with meters, and you can pay by cash or card.

The Dubai Metro is fully automated, with driverless trains. The carriages are divided into three zones: "gold class" (slightly more expensive, with soft seats), a zone for women and children, and a general saloon. The fare ranges from 3 to 10 AED depending on the distance (approximately $0.8 to $2.7). Payment is made with the Nol transport card, which can be topped up and used on buses, trams, and even in shops.

City buses run regularly and are inexpensive: 2 to 3 AED per trip. There are intercity routes, for example, from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, which costs 25–30 AED (about 7–8 dollars) and takes about two hours. The buses are comfortable, air-conditioned, and sometimes even have Wi-Fi.

To drive independently, you need an international driver's license, which can be obtained through Gosuslugi before arrival. After receiving a resident visa and Emirates ID, you must exchange your national license for a UAE driver's license: this is a mandatory requirement, especially if you plan to rent or buy a car.

In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, you can rent anything from a simple Kia to a Lamborghini sports car. The minimum age for renting a car is 21, and for luxury cars, you often need to be 25+, and your license must have been issued at least 12 months prior.
Please note: when renting a car, a deposit is almost always required, which is held on your credit card: from AED 1,000–2,000 for a regular car and AED 2,500 and above for a luxury car. The deposit is returned 20–30 days after the car is returned, once any fines and the condition of the car have been checked.

Therefore, it is better to rent a car from trusted people. If you need contacts, write to me on Telegram @Anton_Moskalev, I will be happy to help.
If you need a luxury car, hourly rental options are available.

The education system in the UAE is structured so that parents have a choice depending on their citizenship, budget, and approach to education. Children of UAE citizens can attend public schools free of charge. Such schools are also available to expats, but on a fee-paying basis, and, to be honest, they are not always suitable in terms of format.

Most families who move here prefer international schools. Here you can choose between American, British, French, IB, and even Finnish programs. Instruction is in English, and Arabic is a required subject — this is a local requirement that even elite schools comply with. The level varies: there are simpler schools, and there are schools with an approach and infrastructure that are on par with the best educational institutions in Europe.

There are specialized schools and support centers for children with developmental disabilities in the UAE. There are not many of them, but the state supports the development of inclusive education, and there are good institutions in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and other large emirates.

One of the main advantages of living in the UAE is the almost complete absence of taxes for individuals. There is no income tax, no tax on dividends, inheritance or capital gains. From 2023, corporate tax will only be paid by large companies with profits above AED 375,000 per year, as well as foreign banks and oil and gas companies. All the money you earn stays with you, which is a real financial bonus for most expats.

Pensions in the UAE are organized differently than, say, in Europe or Russia. State pension payments are only available to UAE citizens. There is no official pension for expats, so if you want to retire in the Emirates, you need to plan ahead. According to local laws, to be eligible for the resident pension program, you must work for 25 years, after which you can expect to receive up to 80% of your last salary. But this is more for those who plan to spend decades in the country.

The healthcare system in the UAE is considered one of the most developed — people come here not only for vacation but also for quality medical treatment. All services are free for citizens, but migrants and expats are only provided with medical care on a paid basis. By law, everyone living in the country must have medical insurance. If you are working on a contract, the insurance is usually paid by your employer. If you are self-employed or work for yourself, you must arrange it yourself. There are various options: from basic insurance for $100 per year to comprehensive packages with full coverage in private clinics. The system works efficiently, there are almost no queues, and the service is of a very high standard.

There are two main languages in the UAE: Arabic and English. Arabic is the official language, but for everyday life and business, a good command of English is sufficient, as it is spoken in all government agencies, banks, shops, and medical centers. At the same time, there are many Russian-speaking migrants living in the Emirates, especially in Dubai, so you will often hear Russian spoken. If you don't know any English at all, it's not a disaster, but at least some basic phrases will come in handy.

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