Is it expensive to live in the Middle East?

I’m often asked if is it expensive to live in the Middle East but the truth is no matter where you chose to live in the world, for some people the cost of living will be affordable, and for others, it will be too expensive. The Middle East is no different from that. Just like the rest of the world, some parts of the Middle East will be more expensive than others, the reality is however that it’s not as expensive to travel or to live there as people think.

How much does it cost to live in the Middle East?

When people find out what I do for a living, I’m often asked a barrage of questions including the following:

• How much money do you need to earn in the Middle East to live a decent life?
• How expensive is it for a foreigner to live in the Middle East?
• How much do cars cost in the Middle East, and how does that compare with other countries?
• How affordable is it to buy or rent a property in the Middle east?
• How expensive are clothes there compared to Europe or America

When it comes to answering these questions there are so many different variables at play, that there isn’t a one size fits all answer for each question.

What is the average salary in the UAE?

Salaries in the UAE will vary depending on what job you are doing, where you will be doing it, and your level of experience. In general, you can expect to earn a good living as an ex-pat in the UAE and of course, the fact you won’t pay income tax will allow your salary to stretch further. Many employers also offer accommodation, flights back home and other perks so it is definitely worth checking on additional benefits.

How much does it cost to rent?

The cost of rent differs depending on where in the UAE you are looking at renting. In Dubai, if you were looking for a living space of under 1000 sqft, then you could expect to pay around USD$2800 on average each month. Whereas in Abu Dhabi the cost of rent is more expensive, you could expect to pay an average of $3500 a month for 1,000 sqft. The cost of renting is very similar across the other emirates except for Sharjah where rent usually comes at a lower price than in Dubai or Abu Dhabi because it is considered a less desirable location.

How much does it cost to buy a house in the UAE?

When it comes to buying property in the UAE, it won’t always be the easiest option. How much you will have to spend will depend on where you want to buy, the type of property, and how easy you find it is to actually purchase a property. Buying property in the UAE as an ex-pat is always going to be more difficult because the laws don’t favour those from outside the UAE as much as those born and raised here. Prices for properties will range from $400,000 to millions of $.

Renting is often more affordable than buying property in the UAE – especially when you consider that rentals are easier to negotiate as an ex-pat than buying a property is. Also, many employers offer accommodation as part of their package so this will also help you save $.

How expensive is food in the Middle East?

When it comes to food costs in the Middle East they are actually very reasonable if you compare them with other parts of the world. Food is not that much more expensive in the Middle East than in any other place in the world. How much you spend will depend on what type of lifestyle you live and whether you eat out at a restaurant or at home (and let’s just say in Dubai there are plenty of options to eat out). The cost of eating out in Dubai is sometimes slightly higher than in other Middle Eastern cities. In Dubai, you will pay upwards of USD$25 per person for a good quality meal. This cost drops to around USD$19 per person if you are in Abu Dhabi. In general across the UAE, if you are looking for western cuisine it will be slightly more expensive, whereas eating traditional Arabic food is cheaper.

General cost of living

However, the cost of living is fairly affordable if you take into account that there’s only 5% VAT (value-added tax) on goods so you can expect anything from electronics to vehicles to be sold at a better price than in Europe. Clothes are similarly relatively affordable except for certain fashions such as designer brands which tend to be expensive compared with Europe or America where they originate from. When you add all this up along with the fact that you won’t pay income tax on your salary it means you with the right job you will be able to afford a decent quality of life in the UAE, most people also find they can grow their savings as well while living and working here.

I hope you found this post helpful in answering the question “Is it expensive to live in the Middle East”. If you have any questions shoot us a message!