Travel budget and cost of living in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) how much does a trip cost?

Dubai travel budget

Dubai: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Dubai

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Dubai for 2 people.

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).

Cost of living in Dubai compared to United States in 2023

On average, the cost of living in Dubai in 2023 is essentially identical to the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Dubai in 2023 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Dubai by expense type

Restaurant budget in Dubai

Lunch

$ 13/person
($ 6 to $ 26)

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35% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 19

3 course dinner

$ 46/person
($ 28 to $ 84)

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15% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 40

McDonald's meal

$ 9/person
($ 8.7 to $ 12)

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8% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 9.9

Local beer

$ 15 for 500ml
($ 9 to $ 20)

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160% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.5

Imported beer

$ 6.7 for 330ml
($ 2.4 to $ 15)

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84% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Cappuccino

$ 5.9/cup
($ 3 to $ 8.4)

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16% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Fizzy drink

$ 1.3/can
($ 0.7 to $ 3.6)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Water bottle

$ 0.7/bottle
($ 0.4 to $ 1.7)

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66% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

Hotel and accommodation budget in Dubai

1-star hotel

$ 91/night
($ 51 to $ 169)

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27% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 126

2-star hotel

$ 87/night
($ 60 to $ 127)

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40% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 146

3-star hotel

$ 102/night
($ 64 to $ 192)

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51% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 208

4-star hotel

$ 139/night
($ 79 to $ 285)

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54% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 305

5-star hotel

$ 324/night
($ 141 to $ 678)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 653

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 59/month
($ 45 to $ 76)

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55% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 131

Room with kitchen

$ 181/month
($ 88 to $ 392)

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8% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 198

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 163/month
($ 66 to $ 386)

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12% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 187

Cottage or guest house

$ 340/month
($ 155 to $ 622)

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36% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 250

Family room

$ 231/month
($ 104 to $ 451)

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21% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 192

Supermarket food budget in Dubai

Milk

$ 2/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 3.6)

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79% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 1.7/500g
($ 1.1 to $ 3.3)

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53% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Rice

$ 2.2/kg
($ 1.6 to $ 4.4)

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52% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.5

Eggs

$ 3.5/12 eggs
($ 2 to $ 5.7)

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17% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.3

Chicken

$ 9/kg
($ 4.5 to $ 16)

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31% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Apples

$ 2.5/kg
($ 1.6 to $ 3.6)

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52% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Tomatoes

$ 1.8/kg
($ 1 to $ 3.3)

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64% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Potatoes

$ 1.2/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 2.2)

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60% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3

Water bottle

$ 0.7
($ 0.5 to $ 1)

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68% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

Public and private transport budget in Dubai

Bus ticket

$ 1.8/ticket
($ 1.1 to $ 3)

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34% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Taxi (per km)

$ 1/km
($ 0.6 to $ 1.8)

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51% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8

Petrol

$ 1.2/litre
($ 1 to $ 1.4)

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7% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 3.6
($ 2.2 to $ 5.1)

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6% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Car hire

$ 18/24hrs
($ 6 to $ 93)

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53% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 39

Leisure activity budget in Dubai

Cinema

$ 14/ticket
($ 11 to $ 21)

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3% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Tennis

$ 42/hr
($ 22 to $ 61)

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101% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Dubai

Cigarettes

$ 6.7/pack
($ 6 to $ 8.4)

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32% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 9.9

Levi's jeans

$ 76
($ 26 to $ 136)

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45% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 52

Summer dress

$ 63
($ 32 to $ 91)

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51% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 41

Plane ticket budget

London → Dubai

$ 433
(fair price: $ 391)

Manchester → Dubai

$ 543
(fair price: $ 468)

Dublin → Dubai

$ 533
(fair price: $ 434)

New York City → Dubai

$ 869
(fair price: $ 740)

Sydney → Dubai

$ 1333
(fair price: $ 1164)

Los Angeles → Dubai

$ 1103
(fair price: $ 943)