Cost of living in Dubai for a family of 4
About AED 21,650 a month in JVC, with a 2-bed size flat and two children at mid-priced schools. By area it runs from AED 19,950 in International City to AED 29,300 in Downtown Dubai. Rent from real DLD contracts, bills from DEWA's tariff. Change anything below.
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A family of four: monthly cost by area
| Area | 2-bed size rent | 3-bed+ rent | Family of 4, a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| International City | AED 4,850 | AED 8,350 | AED 19,950 |
| Dubai Land Residence Complex (DLRC) | AED 5,450 | AED 6,600 | AED 20,550 |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis | AED 5,850 | AED 8,350 | AED 21,000 |
| Dubai South | AED 6,250 | AED 8,500 | AED 21,400 |
| Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) | AED 6,450 | AED 9,600 | AED 21,650 |
| Arjan | AED 6,750 | AED 8,750 | AED 21,950 |
| Jumeirah Village Triangle (JVT) | AED 7,100 | AED 10,400 | AED 22,300 |
| Dubai Production City | AED 7,500 | AED 10,100 | AED 22,750 |
| Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) | AED 7,900 | AED 13,350 | AED 23,150 |
| Dubai Maritime City | AED 8,000 | AED 10,100 | AED 23,250 |
| Nad Al Sheba | AED 8,000 | AED 11,450 | AED 23,250 |
| Business Bay | AED 8,350 | AED 12,100 | AED 23,600 |
| Dubai Marina | AED 9,150 | AED 13,350 | AED 24,500 |
| Sobha Hartland, MBR City | AED 9,600 | AED 14,150 | AED 24,900 |
| Dubai Creek Harbour | AED 10,400 | AED 15,400 | AED 25,800 |
| Dubai Hills Estate | AED 10,850 | AED 18,950 | AED 26,250 |
| City Walk | AED 12,500 | AED 18,750 | AED 28,000 |
| Downtown Dubai | AED 13,750 | AED 22,500 | AED 29,300 |
| Al Goze Third | AED 3,350 | — | AED 18,350 |
| Al Ttay | AED 3,350 | — | AED 18,350 |
| Hor Al Anz | AED 3,350 | AED 5,050 | AED 18,350 |
| Al Baraha | AED 3,650 | AED 1,650 | AED 18,650 |
| Al Mararr | AED 3,750 | — | AED 18,800 |
| Al Qusais Industrial First | AED 4,600 | — | AED 19,650 |
| Al Qusais Industrial Fifth | AED 4,650 | AED 5,850 | AED 19,750 |
| Muhaisanah Fourth | AED 4,850 | AED 6,400 | AED 19,950 |
| Al Nahda First | AED 5,000 | AED 6,650 | AED 20,100 |
| Al Nahda Second | AED 5,000 | AED 5,400 | AED 20,100 |
| Al Qusais | AED 5,000 | AED 5,900 | AED 20,100 |
| Al Qusais Industrial Fourth | AED 5,000 | — | AED 20,100 |
Rent: median of new DLD contracts for a 2-bed size home in each area. The monthly total uses the same starting values as the calculator: two children at mid-priced schools, metro and taxi, and estimates for food and other spending that you can change above.
What school fees do to the total
| Two children at | Family of 4 in JVC, a month |
|---|---|
| Budget schools (~AED 15,000 a year) | AED 17,500 |
| Mid schools (~AED 40,000) | AED 21,650 |
| Premium schools (~AED 80,000) | AED 28,300 |
Average DEWA bill by home size
| Home | Assumed electricity | Assumed water | Bill a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio-size flat | 500 kWh | 6 m³ | AED 200 |
| 1-bed size flat | 800 kWh | 9 m³ | AED 350 |
| 2-bed size flat | 1,200 kWh | 14 m³ | AED 500 |
| 3-bed+ flat | 1,800 kWh | 20 m³ | AED 750 |
| Villa | 3,500 kWh | 40 m³ | AED 1,550 |
DEWA residential tariff: electricity 23, 28, 32 and 38 fils per kWh in bands of 2,000 kWh a month; water AED 7.70, 8.80 and 10.12 per m³ (bands at 27 and 54 m³); fuel surcharge 6 fils per kWh and AED 1.10 per m³ (October 2026); 5% VAT. Use is an assumed year-round average; summer bills are higher. The housing fee, 5% of annual rent, is billed on top. Excludes district cooling and meter charges. DEWA tariff.
Questions
What is the cost of living in Dubai for a family of 4?
About AED 21,650 a month in JVC: rent AED 6,450 for a 2-bedroom-size flat (median of new DLD contracts), school AED 6,650 for two children at about AED 40,000 a year each, electricity and water about AED 500, the housing fee AED 300, and estimates for food, transport and other spending.
What is the cost of living in Dubai for a family of 3?
About AED 16,950 a month in JVC with a 2-bedroom-size flat and one child at a mid-priced school.
How much do school fees add for a family in Dubai?
For two children in JVC the monthly total moves from about AED 17,500 with budget schools to AED 28,300 with premium ones. Fees vary by school and curriculum; check the school's KHDA-approved fees.
Which are the cheapest areas for a family in Dubai?
By the monthly total for a family of four with a 2-bedroom-size home: International City (AED 19,950), Dubai Land Residence Complex (DLRC) (AED 20,550), Dubai Silicon Oasis (AED 21,000), Dubai South (AED 21,400).
What salary does a family of 4 need in Dubai?
To cover about AED 21,650 a month in JVC and save 20%, about AED 27,050 a month in household income.
Rent: every area and size, from DLD rent contracts. Buying instead: purchase fees · from India · from the UK. This is an estimate for planning, not a quote.