Dubai is one of the cities that experienced exponential demographic growth, with its population reaching 3.8 million in 2024. This situation in Dubai increased the demand for rentals, property purchases, and, consequently, the cost of living. For this reason, those who choose to settle in this emirate do not have a clear picture of how much prices have risen here, due to this surprising volatility.
To address this, there is the Numbeo tool, which allows analysis of rental costs, food, restaurants, and the purchasing power of cities so that anyone considering living there can get a comprehensive overview of the situation. This platform is useful for the many expatriates who choose Dubai as their place of residence, amid the great benefits of living in the city.
What is the cost of living in Dubai
Thanks to Numbeo, one can obtain details about housing costs, rent, purchasing power, transportation, and other factors that influence the choice of a place to live. In this case, this platform uses a global database that allows it to obtain detailed information about the context.
A key detail in this city is that most residents come from other countries, giving it a unique multicultural character. According to the latest data, 75 to 90 percent of the population here are foreigners, making it an attractive option for investors and expatriates. This aspect is further influenced by government benefits for this type of population, such as zero income tax.
Cities competing with Dubai
According to Numbeo’s study, Dubai ranks 40th among cities compared to other destinations such as Orlando in Florida and Vancouver in Canada. This position relates to the cost of living and rental prices. If this variable is excluded, this location would rank 118th in this statistic, placed between Mannheim in Germany and Brisbane in Australia.
As stated by Numbeo, a family of four needs to have an income of 14,066 dirhams per month, not including rent, and slightly over 4,060 dirhams for a single person, excluding rental costs. The rental price is 8,213 dirhams for a single-person home, while a three-bedroom apartment costs 16,055 dirhams.
Dubai and New York, two comparable destinations
New York is another city that attracts a significant number of foreigners despite its strict residency and visa rules. Here, the cost of living is 41.1% higher than in Dubai, although rental costs are excluded. Beyond this difference, rent in this Emirati city remains more affordable, making living here 47% cheaper than in the American city.
According to the index, the cities of New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Zurich, Geneva, London, Sydney, Copenhagen, and Dublin rank above Dubai in terms of living costs. Meanwhile, Dubai is the city with the highest cost of living in the United Arab Emirates, followed by Abu Dhabi at 105 and Sharjah at 163. Additionally, this emirate was ranked as the best in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with Doha in 127th place, Riyadh at 156, and Manama at 164.
