Dubai is one of the most popular locations to expatriate in the world. Luxury shopping, jubilant nightlife, beaches, and other attractions make it an appealing location for people around the world. If you are considering a permanent move to Dubai, living costs are important to keep in mind. Housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and entertainment expenses all affect your cost of living in Dubai. Learn how much it costs to live in Dubai versus the United States.
If your family or loved ones live in Dubai, send them money with Western Union. Transfers are fast, convenient, and can be sent directly to their account.
Send money to United Arab Emirates
How do housing costs in Dubai compare to the United States?
You can potentially get free or subsidized housing through your employer – by law, a company that offers you a job is required to provide housing. Housing is either provided entirely by your employer, or a stated portion of your monthly salary will cover it.1 However, housing costs may be expensive as an unemployed expatriate, the average one-bedroom apartment in Dubai will cost about $1,500 per month for rent. Although, the price of rent in metropolitan areas in the United States continues to soar, as of June 2022, the average median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in a U.S. metropolitan city is $1,876.2 To buy a three-bedroom villa in Dubai, it will cost more than $540,000 (2,000,00 DHS),1 while the average three-bedroom home in the United States ranges from $250,000-$350,000.
How do food costs in Dubai compare to the United States?
The cost of food in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tends to be lower than the United States. Meats, produce, and bread are cheaper, on average, than in the United States. However, milk tends to be more expensive in Dubai than in the United States.1
How do transportation costs in Dubai compare to the United States?
Transportation in the United States is more expensive than in Dubai. The price of fuel is 22% higher per gallon in the United States. The cost of taking a taxi is 190% higher in the U.S. than in Dubai. One-way public transportation tickets are 65% higher in the United States than in Dubai. However, the Dubai metro system is still in development, and it doesn’t connect to all of the country.3 So, if you move, a car purchase should be factored into your expenses, but cars in Dubai tend to be cheaper than in the United States.
How do healthcare costs in Dubai compare to the United States?
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has public and private healthcare regulated by the government. All residents, expatriates, and local residents are legally required to have health insurance. Although the public healthcare is free, it doesn’t offer full coverage for its citizens. For example, dental and vision are not included. When comparing the price of holistic healthcare insurance in the United States and UAE, it’s more expensive in the UAE. Private healthcare insurance costs around $2700 in the UAE and is approximately $1100 in the United States for families. International health insurance plans may be cheaper and have the coverage you need.
If you’re planning on sending money overseas to the United Arab Emirates, it’s important you understand the exchange rate. When you’re ready to send or receive money, you can go to our website or download the Western Union app. If you prefer to send money in person, you can also visit an agent location.
