The True Cost of Living in Dubai: Our Incredible Experience Renting a 2-Bedroom Apartment with a Stunning Burj Khalifa View

Exploring the Cost of Living in Dubai: Our Two-Bedroom Apartment with a Stunning Burj Khalifa View

In one of our previous videos, we gave you a tour of our stunning apartment that offers an incredible, unobstructed view of the Burj Khalifa. Today, we’re going to break down the cost of living in Dubai, specifically how much we spend on rent and other expenses for a two-bedroom apartment in Business Bay.

Location and View: The Perks of Living Near the Burj Khalifa

Our apartment is located about 3 kilometers away from the Burj Khalifa by road. In a straight line, it’s about 1.5 kilometers. Although we’re not right next to the world’s tallest building, we lucked out with an unrestricted view. This is rare because many buildings in Dubai have their views blocked by other skyscrapers. We can even see the iconic nightly light and projector shows that happen at the Burj.

Let’s talk about why our view is so special. The buildings around us do not have the same clear perspective of the Burj. Some are under construction, and others are blocked by surrounding buildings. If you move closer to the Burj, the rents go up significantly, with some buildings just 500 meters closer charging much higher rates. So, we got really lucky with both the view and the rent.

Rent Breakdown: What We Pay to Live Here

In Dubai, rent is typically paid for the entire year upfront. Unlike monthly rent payments in many countries, Dubai landlords usually prefer a lump sum or a small number of post-dated checks. Our annual rent for this two-bedroom apartment is AED 120,000, which translates to approximately $32,000 or ₹27 lakh. That breaks down to about AED 10,000 ($2,700) per month.

While many tenants in Dubai are required to pay their entire rent in one check, we managed to secure a more manageable six-check payment plan. This meant that we could spread out our rent over six payments of AED 20,000 each.

The two-bedroom layout is spacious, and we get to enjoy a host of amenities with the building, which is part of why we think the cost of living in Dubai is worth it.

Monthly Expenses: What Living in Dubai Really Costs

Beyond rent, there are several additional monthly expenses to consider when calculating the cost of living in Dubai. Here’s a detailed breakdown of our monthly costs:

• Electricity and Water: Dubai’s utility bills are often calculated based on your rent. We pay 5% of our rent for electricity and water. For us, that’s AED 500 per month, regardless of how much we use.
• Air Conditioning (Chiller): Our building doesn’t offer the ‘chiller-free’ option that some buildings in Dubai provide. This means we have to pay for air conditioning separately. On average, we spend AED 1,200 to 1,500 on air conditioning (including the 500), depending on the season. Since Dubai gets extremely hot, AC is a necessity, not a luxury.
• Groceries: We spend around AED 1,000 a month on groceries. If you enjoy cooking at home, you’ll find that groceries are relatively affordable compared to dining out in Dubai, which can get pricey quickly.
• Transport: Since my wife’s office is close to our apartment, our transport costs are relatively low at AED 700 per month. Dubai’s public transport is excellent, but we mainly rely on taxis and ride-hailing services like Careem for short trips.
• Shopping: Dubai is known for its shopping malls, and while we try to be cautious about our spending, we typically spend about AED 500 per month on shopping.
• Phone and Internet: Our combined phone bill is AED 250, and we spend AED 400 on Wi-Fi. Telecommunications in Dubai are more expensive than in places like India, but relatively affordable compared to the US.

Amenities: What We Get for the Rent

Living in Dubai means that most residential buildings come with great amenities, and ours is no exception. We have access to a state-of-the-art gym, a sauna, and a steam room. There’s a beautiful canal right outside where we can walk or cycle, especially during the cooler winter months. These amenities are a significant part of the cost of living in Dubai because they contribute to a high quality of life.

Additionally, we’re surrounded by cafes and restaurants in the nearby Bay Square area, where you can find live music, delicious food, and a great atmosphere. It’s just a short walk away, so we don’t have to travel far for a fun night out.

Additional Costs: Travel and Entertainment

One thing we absolutely love to do is travel. It’s a big part of our lifestyle, so we budget around AED 3,000 to 3,500 per month for travel expenses. This may seem like a lot, but we typically travel to five or six countries a year. In fact, last year, we managed to visit nine different countries! It’s part of what makes our experience in Dubai so exciting and fulfilling, even though it adds to the cost of living in Dubai.

For entertainment and dining out, we budget an additional AED 1,000 a month. This covers our weekend outings, whether it’s dining at one of Dubai’s fantastic restaurants or enjoying a day out exploring the city.

Total Monthly Expenses: The Full Picture

When you combine all our monthly expenses—rent, utilities, groceries, transport, shopping, phone, internet, and entertainment—our total monthly spend comes to about AED 20,000. This includes everything from the basics to travel and weekend outings. The cost of living in Dubai may seem high compared to other cities, but it’s balanced by the incredible amenities, quality of life, and the unique experiences the city offers.

What’s Next?

In our upcoming videos, we’ll be sharing our travel plans. We’re deciding between a trip to Georgia (the birthplace of wine!) or the stunning Maasai region. If you enjoyed this breakdown of the cost of living in Dubai or are curious about our travel adventures, make sure to subscribe to our channel. There’s plenty more exciting content coming your way!

You can check out our channel here: www.youtube.com/@DesiTravellersDXB

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