TryBeforeDubaiYour true first-year cost in Dubai
Headline rent is a fraction of your first-year cost in Dubai. Here's a realistic breakdown for singles, couples and families — including the upfront stack that catches people out.
The first year is your most expensive because the setup costs all land at once — agent commission, deposit, the cheque stack, DEWA, furniture and school fees. These illustrative ranges assume mid-market choices; your numbers will vary, so model your own in the cost calculator.
The upfront 'move-in' stack (everyone pays this)
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Agent commission | 5% of annual rent + VAT |
| Security deposit | 5% (unfurnished) / 10% (furnished), refundable |
| Ejari registration | ~AED 220 |
| DEWA deposit + activation | ~AED 2,100 (apt) / 4,100 (villa), deposit refundable |
| Cooling deposit (if district cooling) | ~AED 1,000–2,000, refundable |
| First rent cheque(s) | Quarter to whole year upfront |
| Furniture & essentials (if unfurnished) | AED 10,000–60,000+ |
Illustrative — confirm each figure for your situation.
Single professional
- Rent (studio/1-bed)
- AED 45,000–110,000/yr
- Cooling + DEWA
- AED 4,000–9,000/yr
- Housing fee (5% of rent)
- AED 2,250–5,500/yr
- Transport (Metro or modest car)
- AED 3,000–20,000/yr
- Health, phone, internet, living
- AED 20,000–40,000/yr
- Indicative first-year total
- AED 90,000–200,000
Couple (no children)
- Rent (1–2 bed)
- AED 80,000–180,000/yr
- Cooling + DEWA
- AED 6,000–12,000/yr
- Housing fee (5% of rent)
- AED 4,000–9,000/yr
- Two-car or car + Metro
- AED 15,000–35,000/yr
- Health (dependant cover), living
- AED 35,000–70,000/yr
- Indicative first-year total
- AED 160,000–340,000
Family with two school-age children
- Rent (2–4 bed / villa)
- AED 130,000–350,000/yr
- School fees (2 children)
- AED 50,000–180,000/yr
- Cooling + DEWA
- AED 8,000–18,000/yr
- Housing fee (5% of rent)
- AED 6,500–17,500/yr
- Two cars + fuel
- AED 25,000–50,000/yr
- Health (family cover), living
- AED 50,000–120,000/yr
- Indicative first-year total
- AED 320,000–750,000+
For families, school fees often rival rent. A top British school can exceed AED 90,000 per child per year, plus registration and one-off term deposits. Factor it before you fix on an area — see Dubai school fees by area.
These are ranges, not your number. The cost calculator builds your personalised first-year total from real rent data, cooling, schools and setup.
Keep reading
Beyond rent, the act of moving has its own price tag — shipping, visas, deposits and setting up a home. Here's a realistic budget for the move itself.
Read guideDubai's salaries look great until the hidden costs land. Here are the bills newcomers don't see coming — and how to budget for them before you move.
Read guideSchool fees often rival rent for families, and the best schools cluster in specific areas. Here's how fees, ratings and locations connect — and how to plan around them.
Read guideSee how this applies to your move.
The free area match scores every Dubai community against your budget, schools and commute — then the Landing Plan turns it into a verified, decision-ready report.