Compare the cost of your home country to the actual living costs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), simply select your home currency and see the difference!
All data is kept up to date by local members and actual students. Our latest update was on: 1st of January 2019
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Food | Price in AED | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
12 eggs dozen, large | 12.50 DH | |||
1 beer pint in local shops, markets | 7 DH | |||
1 kg of tomatoes | 8.50 DH | |||
Full chicken 2kg | 38.75 DH | |||
1litre 100% fruit juice | 8.50 DH | |||
1 package of cigarettes imported brands | 25 DH | |||
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 7.50 DH | |||
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 48.95 DH | |||
2.5 liters of Coca-Cola | 0.95 DH | |||
1 Bread loaf standard | 9.50 DH | |||
Whole fat Yogurt. 500ml | 12 DH | |||
1x6 pack Dardanelle tuna | 18.50 DH | |||
Heinz baked beans 1 tin | 8 DH | |||
1.5 kg Sugar | 10 DH | |||
2 liter cooking oil | 20 DH | |||
Yum-yum noodles per pack | 2.00 DH | |||
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 5.50 DH | |||
1 liter milk | 8.50 DH | |||
Fast food restaurant large serving/ take away | 25 DH | |||
Housing | ||||
Utilities per month (water, electricity, gas) for 2 people in flat | 165 DH | |||
Wi-Fi monthly fee 8 Mbps (1 month) | 145 DH | |||
Laundry detergent (bleach, sunlight liquid, washing surf… altogether) | 58.50 DH | |||
House Cleaning fee per day | 105 DH | |||
Large Gas heater price range upwards. | 200 DH | |||
Original branded Electric Fans | 200 DH | |||
Original branded Electric kettle. | 120 DH | |||
40 inches Beko flat screen HD TV set | 2000 DH | |||
Single bed Blankets | 120 DH | |||
Personal Care | ||||
Avon for women and men cologne | 100 DH | |||
Ladies hair plaiting. | 60 DH | |||
Ladies Sanitaryware (Pads and Tampoons) | 18 DH | |||
Men's haircut | 40 DH | |||
Ibuprofen, Panadol, Grandpa Pain killers box of 12 dosses | 24.50 DH | |||
Mobile package local network providers’ talk-time, data and messages | 65 DH | |||
1 month of gym subscription. | 105 DH | |||
Earphones original (Samsung. iPhone) | 90 DH | |||
Unisex Loris perfume | 30 DH | |||
Gadgets maintenance and repairs (cellphone, laptops, tablets...) starting price. | 100 DH | |||
Smart phones (Samsung, Xiaomi, HTC, IPhone) price range upwards | 1000 DH | |||
Laptops (Samsung, Lenovo, Hp, Monster, Dell etc.) price range upwards | 3000 DH | |||
Entertainment | ||||
Boat cruise with refreshments and finger snacks | 120 DH | |||
Go carting 30mins | 120 DH | |||
Movie House 3d cinema | 30 DH | |||
Summer Festivals (jet, bumper cars, lucky deep ...(per ticket) | 15 DH | |||
Photo shoot | 120 DH | |||
Cappuccino / expresso/ coffee | 12.50 DH | |||
3 course dinner local restaurant two people | 96.50 DH | |||
3 course dinner classy, exotic restaurant two people | 150 DH | |||
Play station 4 console without games. | 2000 DH | |||
Spalding Basketball | 200 DH | |||
Original branded Racket and Wilson’s tennis balls | 500 DH | |||
Transportation | ||||
Taxi fare on average 5-10km | 45 DH | |||
Public transport per trip one way maximum fare | 30 DH | |||
1 liter petrol/diesel | 6.50 DH | |||
1 day rent a car cost | 140 DH | |||
Driver’s license | 2300 DH | |||
Clothes | ||||
1 pair of jeans (Denim or similar) | 150 DH | |||
1 pair of men’s formal shoes | 215 DH | |||
1 pair original sport/casual shoes (Nike, Adidas, or equivalent brands) | 280 DH | |||
1 classy summer dress (Zara, H&M or similar retailers) | 135.79 DH | |||
Ladies formal shoes original and durable | 120 DH | |||
Back-pack, gym bag (Nike, Adidas, New balance) | 150 DH |
Cost of living in the UAE is relatively expensive in bigger cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where there is a larger population of people. Noteworthy is the fact that there is a 0% income tax in Dubai, salaries are paid without any tax imposition.
Healthcare is covered mandatorily by the university or by an employer. Some of the crucial living expenses include accommodation, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare.
Accommodation is the most expensive living cost in the UAE, the minimum amount that can be spent on housing is 2,700 AED to 5,000 AED. Some of the options in UAE as a student include dormitory housing, shared apartments or studio flats, the latter being the most expensive.
Studio flats or one or two-bedroom apartments require 3-4 months advanced payments instead of paying rent on a monthly basis.
The rent in the UAE might be a bit pricey but in general, there are very good views, facilities and utilities in each housing option. Most buildings (towers) come with a gym, a pool, and a rooftop or somewhere in between.
In terms of food, be sure to spend a few extra to get good quality food items. But do not fret, when compared to many other western countries, the food and food items are relatively cheap in the UAE.
A lot of common food items are imported into the country, so they might cost a bit more, fruit prices are between 14 AED to 20 AED per kg. Water is also imported into the country, but however, there is local water which cost less than the foreign ones.
*RocApply Tip: Always ask for ‘local water’ as they only cost about 3 AED whereas what is considered normal water is imported and cost about 33 AED.
Restaurant prices are actually cheaper in the UAE, so eating out actually cost less than cooking at home. The average meal at a typical restaurant cost 25 to 35 AED depending on the order.
To live comfortably in the UAE as a student, you will need an average of 1,100 AED to 1,800 AED per month, which is outside of housing costs.
Transportation is surprisingly cheap in the UAE than what is expected. Owning a car is actually cheap compared to many other countries, gas prices are somewhere between 55 AED to 90 AED.
In the UAE, there is such a high turnover with the vehicles that what ends up happening is that the general car prices go down and are basically affordable.
A short to medium taxi ride will set you back around 35 AED and a simple one-way metro ticket across the city will cost around 5 AED - 7 AED. In general, a budget of 350 AED is very sufficient for public transportation in a month.