Cost of living in Dubai 2025 | Complete Guide
Find out what the new cost of living in Dubai will be in 2025. To help you to invest intelligently, review comprehensive breakdowns of lifestyle expenses.
Let’s deconstruct the Real Price of a Dubai Lifestyle in 2025.
For professionals, business owners, and luxury lifestyle seekers alike, Dubai remains among the most sought-after worldwide city. People are looking at Dubai in 2025 not surprisingly given its tax-free income, first-rate infrastructure, and always growing employment market. Though there are lots of chances, the need of knowing your financial commitment is equally great. Living in this future metropolis comes with a cost that differs widely based on your location preferences and way of life.
Dubai is changing faster than ever in 2025 because to a flood of new homes, better transportation, and more international universities and medical centers. Your monthly budget will vary depending on your accommodation, means of transportation, and lifestyle choices whether you are a single expat, married, or relocating with a family. Let’s examine the main expense categories to assess what it actually costs to live reasonably in Dubai this year.Dubai attracts UK and Hong Kong expats. You need to know the cost of living in Dubai before starting a business or taking advantage of job opportunities.
Cost Of Living In Dubai For Expats To Increase By 2025
Due to global economic volatility, Dubai has upped international workers’ living costs. In 2024 cost-of-living data, the cost of living in Dubai increased three places from 18th to 15th. Dubai is the most costly Middle Eastern city for expats. Housing costs are driving this increase.
Dubai likewise has lower ordinary basket inflation than Hong Kong. 12 large eggs cost 13.7% higher in Hong Kong and 7% more in Dubai in 2024. The price of 1L olive oil grew 25.4% in 2024, but just 6% in Dubai. Dubai attracts cost-conscious international workers because some products are cheaper than elsewhere, even if it has caught up.
Permit #
Living Prices In Dubai
Survival requires living expenses. It would include housing, food, clothing, healthcare, and transportation. Leisure charges are not living expenses. Housing is expensive when evaluating living expenditures. 30% of living expenses are housing, 15% transportation, and 15% food. The monthly costs vary substantially by family size. Overall costs by family size are summarized below.
More activities, restaurants, and cultural festivals in Dubai and JLT for 2025 are attracting foreigners. In 2025, the average single person’s cost of living in Dubai increased 0.5%. A four-person family’s estimated cost of living grew 0.3%.
Dubai Rentals Cost
Foreign workers often rent in Dubai. Dubai features various condos, flats, and villas. Dubai residential prices depend on location, especially work accessibility. In 2024, apartment rents jumped 22% and villa rents 13%. In the second quarter of 2024, Dubai tenants renewed 14% more leases despite the rise.
Submit Your Interest
Residential Rental Prices in Dubai 2025
Type of Apartment | Monthly Rental Cost (AED) |
1-Bedroom Apartment – City Centre | AED 8,174.61 |
1-Bedroom Apartment – Outside Centre | AED 5,089.07 |
3-Bedroom Apartment – City Centre | AED 15,266.63 |
3-Bedroom Apartment – Outside Centre | AED 10,013.85 |
One well-known Dubai area for couples and families is JLT. Along with Dubai Marina, JBR, and Old Town—which have similar rents—it is among the most sought-after expat neighbourhoods. Expats look at Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai house prices before moving here. JLT one-bedroom apartments range in size and price.
Dubai Utilities Cost
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority handles domestic utilities. Summer A/C use raises monthly bills. Different one-bedroom apartment utility costs are below.
Utility Type | Monthly Cost (AED) | Notes |
Electricity | AED 200 – 400 | Highly variable based on AC usage, especially in summer months. |
Water | AED 50 – 100 | Included in DEWA bill; depends on household size and usage habits. |
Heating & Cooling | AED 150 – 300 | Typically part of your DEWA or separate chiller bill in high-rise units. |
Combined Utilities | AED 400 – 800 | For a 1–2 bedroom apartment, including electricity, water, and AC. |
Residential Dubai cleaning
Housing fees include cleaning. Domestic help, widespread in Dubai, provides this. Full-time domestic helpers can earn AED 1,500 to AED 4,000 (USD 408–USD 1090) per month, depending on live-in, live-out, and cleaning needs, while part-time helpers who work once a week (3 hours) can earn AED 360 to AED 480.
Dubai Transit Costs
Car Ownership
Dubai Health & Insurance
Expats and inhabitants of Dubai Health Authority must have private medical insurance. Expats must acquire private health insurance through their work, but locals can utilize the government-funded system. Dubai’s healthcare is renowned. You can use public and private healthcare as an expat.
Car condition greatly impacts price. The 2024 Toyota Corolla, at AED 74,900 (USD 20,392), is the most popular UAE automobile. It would cost AED 14,076 (USD 3,832) per year without the down payment with a 20% down, 60-instalment payback plan, and other fees. Secondhand cars lose 20-40% due to depreciation. Average 2020 Toyota Corolla (4 years old) costs AED 40,000 in 2024.
Dubai’s fuel price in December 2024 was AED 2.63 (USD 0.72) for Special 95 and AED 2.74 (USD 0.75) for Super 98, substantially lower than the global average of AED 4.55 (USD 1.24) per litre.
Health Card
Dubai’s public hospitals are free for locals and 50% cheaper for expats with health cards. These are one-time health card fees. Reissuing expired health cards depends on age. Expats can get a health card on the Dubai Health Authority website.
Basic Benefit Plan
Non-working citizens and workers earning less than 4,000 AED (USD 1,090) per month have something. Dubai citizens needed EBP health insurance in 2014. It provides critical benefits cheaply.
Job Loss Insurance
Dubai provides job-loss insurance to expats. Involuntary Loss of Employment (ILOE) covers income for three months after an unexpected job loss starting in 2023. Dubai Insurance alone covers ILOE. Within two weeks of employment loss, subscribers can get 60% of their average basic wage from the six months prior.
Dubai: Can You Survive?
International professionals prefer Dubai despite a 2024 cost of living hike. Dubai attracts expats seeking professional advancement or business startup because it is cheaper and better than Hong Kong, Singapore, and New York. Visit our JLT website for Dubai’s best gyms, restaurants, entertainment, and facilities in Jumeirah Lake Towers before moving. Dubai is famous, while Abu Dhabi and Sharjah provide unique living.
Final Thoughts
Dubai is clearly one of the most vibrant and aspirational places in the world as we talk about 2025; but, living here calls for very careful financial planning. From opulent Downtown luxury homes to reasonably priced communities like JVC and International City, the housing market presents options based on income and way of life.
The cost of living in Dubai now reflects its worldwide centre of luxury, innovation, and opportunity. Whether your lifestyle goals match your financial circumstances, you are a digital nomad, entrepreneur, or moving with family, knowing your monthly expenses will help. Dubai provides not just a location to live but also, with suitable design, a growth platform. This is the moment to create deliberate movements or city investments. To start your road with confidence, investigate properties, review lifestyle budgets, and contact our relocation experts.
Whether you’re starting a business, moving for employment, or thinking about real estate investment—knowledge of Dubai’s living expenses can help you to adjust. All set to investigate homes within your means or speak with moving professionals?
Contact Fajar Realty and get a tailored living plan that fits your goals and way of life by calling our Dubai real estate consultants right now!