Cost of Moving to Dubai: Relocation Budget Calculator

Cost of moving to Dubai

How much money to have ready before you move to Dubai: the deposit, first month's rent, living costs until your first pay and a safety buffer, plus your own costs for the journey.

Cost	Amount
Rent deposit2 × monthly rent of AED 8,447	AED 16,894
First month's rentUsually paid when you sign	AED 8,447
Letting agent feeNone	AED 0
Living costs until your first pay1 month of food, transport and bills	AED 3,744
Emergency buffer3 months of all living costs	AED 36,571
Total	AED 65,655

Cost

Amount

Rent deposit2 × monthly rent of AED 8,447

AED 16,894

First month's rentUsually paid when you sign

AED 8,447

Letting agent feeNone

AED 0

Living costs until your first pay1 month of food, transport and bills

AED 3,744

Emergency buffer3 months of all living costs

AED 36,571

Total

AED 65,655

Where the numbers come from

Rent and living costs for Dubai come from the same prices as its city page.

Starting estimate, no reports yet.

Rent is a 1-bedroom flat in the centre. Living costs cover food, eating out, transport, bills, going out and clothes. Full method

Questions

How much money do I need to move to Dubai?

For one person renting in the city centre, our default plan comes to about AED 66,000 before travel and moving costs: a two-month deposit, the first month's rent, one month of living costs until your first pay, and a three-month emergency buffer. Change any of these to match your situation.

How big is a rent deposit?

It depends on the country and the landlord. One to three months' rent is common; some places also charge an agent fee or a non-refundable fee to the landlord. Ask for the exact amount before you sign and put it in the calculator.

Why include an emergency buffer?

Moving often costs more than planned: a later start date, a delayed first salary, or a deposit refund that takes months to arrive. A few months of living costs set aside gives you time to sort these out.