Dubai cost of living calculator
Your monthly cost of living in Dubai, with rent from real DLD contracts and DEWA's official tariff. A single person in JVC: about AED 9,500 a month. A family of four: about AED 21,650. Change anything below.
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Home DLD DATA
Electricity & water OFFICIAL TARIFF
School YOUR ESTIMATE
Getting around
Everyday spending YOUR ESTIMATE
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
How much does it cost to live in Dubai per month?
With rent at the median for new contracts in JVC (DLD data), official DEWA tariffs and rough starting estimates for food and other costs: about AED 9,500 a month for a single person in a 1-bedroom-size flat, and about AED 21,650 for a family of four in a 2-bedroom-size flat with two children in mid-priced schools. Rent is the biggest line; change the area and size in the calculator to see yours.
What is the cost of living in Dubai for a single person?
About AED 9,500 a month in JVC: rent AED 5,350 (median 1-bedroom-size contract), DEWA about AED 350, the housing fee AED 250, and your own food, transport and other spending. A studio-size flat or a cheaper area brings it down.
What is the cost of living in Dubai for a family of 4?
About AED 21,650 a month in JVC with a 2-bedroom-size flat (AED 6,450 rent) and two children at schools around AED 40,000 a year each. School fees vary from roughly AED 15,000 to over AED 80,000 a year a child, so set your own level.
What is the average DEWA bill?
At DEWA's official tariff and October 2026 fuel surcharge, with 5% VAT, and assuming average use: about AED 200 a month for a studio-size flat, AED 350 for a 1-bedroom size, AED 500 for a 2-bedroom size and AED 1,550 for a villa. Summer bills run higher. The housing fee, 5% of your annual rent, is billed on top.
How much salary do I need to live in Dubai?
Enough to cover your monthly total plus what you want to save. At the totals above, saving 20% of income takes about AED 11,850 a month for a single person and AED 27,050 for a family of four.
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.