Cost of living

The cost of living is basically what it takes for you to live in a certain place. It's not just a matter of rent, but also utilities, food, and transportation costs — basically everything that goes into making sure you have the basics covered so that you can focus on pursuing more important things in life.

There are three different ways how to determine the cost of living:

• By figuring out what you spend every month on food and other necessities.
• By comparing your current rent with the average rental price for similar apartments in the city.
• By calculating how much money you’d need per month to meet your basic needs in Dubai.

The cost of living in Dubai seems high, but there are ways to save money on rent and other expenses. Monthly expenses for a single person are 3,488.84 AED without rent. To determine the cost of living in Dubai for a single person, consider these factors:

• Accommodation: There is no Murdoch accommodation available directly on campus or organised through the University. If you are looking for student accommodation in Dubai, please refer to our preferred student housing providers. Since accommodation places fill up quickly, students should prepare their living arrangements as early as possible.
• Rent: Rent expenses can range from 2,000 to 10,000 AED per month depending on what type of place you choose, the area you live in, and if you share a place with others.
• Food: 2,000-3,000 AED per month.
• Transportation: Monthly pass is 300 AED, a one-way ticket for local transport is 5.00 AED, and a taxi 1km (tariff) is 3.00 AED.
• Restaurants:  Generally, the main dish in a restaurant in Dubai costs between 40 and 100 AED, but can be as little as AED20 in local restaurants.
• Sports and Leisure: Up to 290 AED per month.

Other costs of living include healthcare, clothing and shoes, childcare, utilities, etc. Find more information on the cost of living in Dubai.