Living in the United Arab Emirates: cost of living, rents and the salary you need
Updated 2 October 2026
How much do you need to earn to live in the United Arab Emirates? Here are rents in the main cities, the minimum wage, healthcare, residence permits and moving costs, with the official source of every figure. For your own case, the calculator starts from your real budget, in your city, and moves it to the United Arab Emirates.
Work out my budget in the United Arab Emirates
Example: the same life, elsewhere
A single person living in London in a one-bedroom home, with the average spending of a similar household, spends about £3,350 a month. To keep the same life in Dubai, they would need about AED 13,000 (≈ €3,110) net a month locally (−21%).
For a couple with two children in a two-bedroom home (private or international school), it would take about AED 29,000 (≈ €6,950) net a month in Dubai.
Calculated on 2 October 2026 with the official averages of London and the destination’s prices. Yours depends on your city, home and habits: the calculator works it out in a few minutes, no sign-up.
Rents in the United Arab Emirates
| City | Studio | 1 bedroom | 2 bedrooms | 3-bedroom house | 1 bedroom in euros |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai | AED 3,330 | AED 4,830 | AED 6,420 | AED 11,000 | €1,160 |
Monthly rent in AED, outside the most sought-after areas. Studio 28 m², 1 bedroom 45 m², 2 bedrooms 65 m², house 95 m² where rent is known per m². Dubai Land Department — Ejari rent contracts over the last 12 months, aggregated by Dubai Data (CC BY 4.0 licence) (17 September 2026).
Wages
No legal minimum wage for expatriates here.
Healthcare
Health insurance is compulsory. In Dubai, the employer must insure the employee; cover for a spouse and children is often at your own cost.
In the example above: your employer must insure you: nothing to pay yourself.
Visa and residence permit
You settle in the UAE with a residence visa, usually for 2 years and sponsored by your employer, including the Emirates ID card and a medical check. There are also visas for remote workers, investors and retirees.
Cost: AED 3,850 (≈ €920) per person.
Living on income from abroad (remote work, retirement) is possible with a residence permit.
Moving in and everyday life
- Deposit
- 5% of the yearly rent
- Agency fees
- 5.25% of the yearly rent
- School
- Private or international school: about AED 38,400 (≈ €9,210) a year
- Electricity
- AED 0.30 per kWh
- Getting around without a car
- Nol: AED 350 a month per adult
- Home cleaning
- AED 40 an hour
Frequently asked questions
What salary do you need to live in Dubai?
For a single person keeping the same life as in London: about AED 13,000 (≈ €3,110) net a month.
How much is rent in Dubai?
About AED 4,830 (≈ €1,160) a month for a one-bedroom home and AED 6,420 for a two-bedroom home, according to Dubai Land Department — Ejari rent contracts over the last 12 months, aggregated by Dubai Data (CC BY 4.0 licence).
Do you need a residence permit to live in the United Arab Emirates?
You settle in the UAE with a residence visa, usually for 2 years and sponsored by your employer, including the Emirates ID card and a medical check. There are also visas for remote workers, investors and retirees. Cost: AED 3,850 (≈ €920) per person.
Work out my budget in the United Arab Emirates
Sources
- Dubai Land Department — Ejari rent contracts over the last 12 months, aggregated by Dubai Data (CC BY 4.0 licence)
- HAYAH — health insurance prices in the UAE in 2026
- Shuraa — cost of a UAE residence visa in 2026
- Dubai practice: 5% of the annual rent for an unfurnished home
- Dubai practice: 5% commission on the annual rent, plus 5% VAT
- Edarabia — school fees in Dubai, 2026
- DEWA — residential slab tariff
- RTA — 30-day nol pass, all zones (Silver card)
- Maid Corner — price of cleaning in Dubai in 2026
- Central Bank of the UAE peg: $1 = 3.6725 AED, and ECB for the dollar