Cost of living in Dubai for a single person
About AED 9,500 a month in JVC with a 1-bed size flat, or AED 7,700 with a studio. The cheapest areas bring it to about AED 6,550. Rent from real DLD contracts, bills from DEWA's tariff. Change anything below.
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One person: monthly cost by area
| Area | Studio-size rent | Total with a studio | 1-bed size rent | Total with a 1-bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International City | AED 2,650 | AED 6,550 | AED 3,350 | AED 7,400 |
| Dubai Land Residence Complex (DLRC) | AED 3,100 | AED 7,000 | AED 4,150 | AED 8,250 |
| Dubai South | AED 3,150 | AED 7,100 | AED 4,350 | AED 8,450 |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis | AED 3,350 | AED 7,250 | AED 4,400 | AED 8,500 |
| Arjan | AED 3,650 | AED 7,600 | AED 4,850 | AED 8,950 |
| Jumeirah Village Triangle (JVT) | AED 3,500 | AED 7,450 | AED 5,100 | AED 9,200 |
| Dubai Production City | AED 3,500 | AED 7,450 | AED 5,350 | AED 9,500 |
| Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) | AED 3,750 | AED 7,700 | AED 5,350 | AED 9,500 |
| Dubai Maritime City | — | — | AED 5,850 | AED 10,000 |
| Nad Al Sheba | — | — | AED 5,850 | AED 10,000 |
| Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) | AED 4,350 | AED 8,300 | AED 6,000 | AED 10,200 |
| Sobha Hartland, MBR City | AED 3,750 | AED 7,700 | AED 6,250 | AED 10,450 |
| Business Bay | AED 5,000 | AED 9,000 | AED 6,650 | AED 10,900 |
| Dubai Marina | AED 4,600 | AED 8,550 | AED 7,000 | AED 11,250 |
| Dubai Creek Harbour | — | — | AED 7,100 | AED 11,300 |
| Dubai Hills Estate | AED 4,650 | AED 8,650 | AED 7,100 | AED 11,300 |
| Downtown Dubai | AED 5,000 | AED 9,000 | AED 9,150 | AED 13,500 |
| City Walk | — | — | AED 9,600 | AED 13,950 |
| Al Rowaiyah First | AED 1,750 | AED 5,600 | — | — |
| Al Buteen | AED 2,400 | AED 6,250 | — | — |
| Hor Al Anz | AED 2,500 | AED 6,400 | AED 2,900 | AED 6,950 |
| Al Rashidiya | AED 3,100 | AED 7,000 | — | — |
| Al Ttay | — | — | AED 3,350 | AED 7,400 |
| Al Baraha | AED 2,150 | AED 6,050 | AED 3,500 | AED 7,550 |
| Al Murqabat | AED 3,750 | AED 7,700 | AED 3,600 | AED 7,650 |
| Naif | AED 2,350 | AED 6,200 | AED 3,600 | AED 7,650 |
| Jabal Ali Industrial First | AED 3,850 | AED 7,800 | — | — |
| Al Mararr | AED 2,350 | AED 6,200 | AED 3,750 | AED 7,800 |
| Al Qusais Industrial First | AED 3,000 | AED 6,900 | AED 3,750 | AED 7,800 |
| Al Twar Fifth | AED 2,650 | AED 6,550 | AED 3,850 | AED 7,900 |
Rent: median of new DLD contracts for each size and area. Totals use the calculator's starting values for one person: metro and taxi, and estimates for food and other spending that you can change above.
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 single person per month?
About AED 9,500 a month in JVC including rent: AED 5,350 for a 1-bedroom-size flat (median of new DLD contracts), electricity and water about AED 350, the housing fee AED 250, and estimates for food, transport and other spending.
How much is a studio in Dubai for one person?
With a studio-size flat in JVC the monthly total is about AED 7,700. The cheapest studios by median rent are in International City, Dubai Land Residence Complex (DLRC), Dubai South, Dubai Silicon Oasis; see the table on this page.
What is the cost of living in Dubai for a couple?
About AED 11,350 a month in JVC sharing a 1-bedroom-size flat.
How much salary does a single person need in Dubai?
To cover about AED 9,500 a month in JVC and save 20%, about AED 11,850 a month; about AED 8,150 in the cheapest areas with a studio.
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.