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 Arab Emirates in 2021

On average, the cost of living in Dubai in 2021 is 6% higher than 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 2021 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Dubai by expense type

Restaurant budget in Dubai

Lunch

$ 8.8/person
($ 4.4 to $ 18)

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41% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 16

3 course dinner

$ 30/person
($ 15 to $ 60)

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5% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 32

McDonald's meal

$ 8.2/person
($ 5.9 to $ 10.3)

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2% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 8.1

Local beer

$ 14 for 500ml
($ 7.4 to $ 17)

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163% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Imported beer

$ 4.7 for 330ml
($ 2.4 to $ 12)

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64% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.9

Cappuccino

$ 5.4/cup
($ 3.6 to $ 7.4)

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24% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.4

Fizzy drink

$ 1/can
($ 0.6 to $ 2.4)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9

Water bottle

$ 0.5/bottle
($ 0.4 to $ 1.2)

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70% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.6

Hotel and accommodation budget in Dubai

1-star hotel

$ 87/night
($ 47 to $ 179)

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20% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 109

2-star hotel

$ 83/night
($ 55 to $ 118)

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34% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 126

3-star hotel

$ 89/night
($ 65 to $ 127)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 180

4-star hotel

$ 126/night
($ 79 to $ 204)

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52% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 262

5-star hotel

$ 326/night
($ 151 to $ 634)

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36% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 510

Hotel/Youth Hostel

$ 64/month
($ 54 to $ 71)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 122

Room with kitchen

$ 195/month
($ 97 to $ 345)

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16% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 169

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 228/month
($ 100 to $ 450)

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38% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 165

Cottage or guest house

$ 208/month
($ 109 to $ 386)

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6% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 223

Family room

$ 285/month
($ 120 to $ 562)

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64% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 175

Supermarket food budget in Dubai

Milk

$ 1.8/litre
($ 1.1 to $ 3.1)

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102% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9

Bread

$ 1.3/500g
($ 0.7 to $ 2.4)

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52% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.8

Rice

$ 1.9/kg
($ 1 to $ 4.4)

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54% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4

Eggs

$ 3.1/12 eggs
($ 1.8 to $ 5.9)

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36% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3

Chicken

$ 8.2/kg
($ 4.7 to $ 15)

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11% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 9.3

Apples

$ 2.4/kg
($ 1.4 to $ 4.2)

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47% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Tomatoes

$ 1.6/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 3.6)

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64% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.3

Potatoes

$ 1.2/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 1.8)

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56% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Water bottle

$ 0.7
($ 0.5 to $ 1.4)

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61% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8

Public and private transport budget in Dubai

Bus ticket

$ 1.8/ticket
($ 0.8 to $ 3)

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20% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Taxi (per km)

$ 0.6/km
($ 0.4 to $ 1.2)

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64% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.6

Petrol

$ 0.7/litre
($ 0.6 to $ 0.8)

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3% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.7

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 3.6
($ 1.4 to $ 3.8)

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8% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.3

Car hire

$ 21/24hrs
($ 1.2 to $ 120)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 40

Leisure activity budget in Dubai

Cinema

$ 14/ticket
($ 10.3 to $ 18)

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10% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Tennis

$ 35/hr
($ 14 to $ 60)

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116% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 16

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Dubai

Cigarettes

$ 6.2/pack
($ 5.6 to $ 7.4)

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23% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 8.1

Levi's jeans

$ 67
($ 30 to $ 134)

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45% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 46

Summer dress

$ 57
($ 28 to $ 104)

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52% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38

Plane ticket budget

London → Dubai

$ 415
(fair price: $ 373)

Manchester → Dubai

$ 526
(fair price: $ 446)

Dublin → Dubai

$ 525
(fair price: $ 426)

New York City → Dubai

$ 841
(fair price: $ 708)

Los Angeles → Dubai

$ 947
(fair price: $ 800)

Edinburgh → Dubai

$ 551
(fair price: $ 470)