Average cost of living in Abu Dhabi: A complete guide

• Housing
• Groceries
• Utilities
• Schooling
• Healthcare
• Transportation
• Entertainment
• Househelp
• FAQs

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, has long been attracting residents from across the world. Especially, since the introduction of more long-term UAE visas, the number of people looking to move to Abu Dhabi has continued to increase. If you’re considering relocating to the capital, an insight into the lifestyle and average cost of living in Abu Dhabi can help you make an informed decision. As always, we’ve got you covered with details about the cost of essentials such as housing, utilities, groceries and transport in Abu Dhabi.

Whether you’re a single person, a couple or a family moving to the capital, here’s a lowdown of the basic expenses you should expect. 

BREAKDOWN OF TYPICAL MONTHLY LIVING EXPENSES IN ABU DHABI

To give you a comprehensive picture of the living expenses in Abu Dhabi, we have split the costs by the type of residents. Detailed below are the estimated monthly cost of living in Abu Dhabi for a single person, a couple and a family of four. 

Please keep in mind that these costs can vary greatly depending on your lifestyle and preferences. Abu Dhabi is a place where people can choose to live a modest or lavish lifestyle, with an equally good selection of high-end residences in popular locations such as Yas Island and Saadiyat Island and affordable properties in suburban areas along major highways. 

Read on for a closer look at each of the essential expenses you’ll face when living in Abu Dhabi. 

Housing

Housing cost makes up the biggest chunk of living expenditure in Abu Dhabi. The type of property and location you choose to live in can greatly impact your monthly rent expense in Abu Dhabi.

The property market in the capital emirate offers everything from spacious villas on luxurious islands to affordable communities on the mainland. Generally, properties for rent in Abu Dhabi located on the mainland outskirts are more affordable.

There are many options available when it comes to apartments for rent in Abu Dhabi. To put things in perspective, a 1-bedroom apartment in Khalifa City, an established suburban community, is let out for a monthly rental cost of AED 3,583 on average. However, your average expenses in Abu Dhabi will significantly increase if you choose to rent 1-bedroom apartments on Al Reem Island, which costs AED 5,500 per month on average.

Families who choose to rent 3-BHK villas in Al Raha Gardens, will have their monthly housing cost averaging at AED 13,166. These families will have a much higher cost of living in Abu Dhabi, than those who prefer a 3-bed villa in Al Reef, instead which presently average at AED 8,916 per month.

Your cost of housing in Abu Dhabi will also depend on several other factors. Homes with premium features like a private swimming pool or garden bring the additional expenditure of maintaining these facilities. Also, if the property you choose has upgraded interiors or allows access to upscale amenities, the monthly rentals would generally be higher.

You can find both luxurious and affordable properties for rent in Abu Dhabi. At the end of the day, you have to make that final call.

Groceries

The monthly grocery bills are another unavoidable expense that residents must account for. The supermarkets you shop from along with the food and lifestyle preferences you have, are the biggest factors that contribute to your monthly cost of groceries. Supermarket chains in Abu Dhabi such as Waitrose or Choithrams tend to be more expensive, whereas shopping at Lulu or Carrefour is much cheaper.

On average monthly groceries in Abu Dhabi for a single person can cost around AED 700, given they stick to a strict budget. A family of four that regularly splurges on imported food items can have their cost of groceries in Abu Dhabi as high as AED 4,000.

Take a look below at the average cost of groceries in Abu Dhabi for essential items such as fruits and dairy products.

Utilities

Your monthly living costs in Abu Dhabi will also include your electricity and water connection, provided by the Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC). The cost of utilities in Abu Dhabi for your home will depend on your consumption levels, with a higher rate charged when you consume more than your daily allowance.

A single person living in a studio apartment should budget a minimum of AED 500 for their monthly utility bills in Abu Dhabi. On the other hand, families renting 3-bedroom villas in Abu Dhabi can expect this cost to be a minimum of AED 13k. This cost will be naturally higher for homes with swimming pools and gardens to maintain.

So if you want to save on your monthly ADDC bill, it is best to choose villas with a small backyard and no swimming pool. Obviously, you’ll also need to be mindful of your consumption habits.

Aside from electricity and water connection, your TV and internet connection add to the average living expenses in Abu Dhabi. Etisalat and du are the two main service providers in the UAE, which offer various internet and TV packages. These packages include both basic and premium plans, that vary in terms of download speeds and the number of TV channels.

While a basic internet and TV package will cost AED 429 per month, premium packages can set you back AED 639 or more. As for mobile plans, a basic package will cost AED 125 per month while premium packages have starting prices of AED 500.

Schooling

Tuition fees for schools is another expense that contributes to the average monthly expenses in Abu Dhabi for families. Schools in Abu Dhabi cater to all budgets, providing quality education and extra-curricular activities for their students. The best schools in Abu Dhabi offer either British, American, International Baccalaureate (IB) or Indian curricula.

Similar to Dubai, schools in Abu Dhabi that offer British, American and IB curricula tend to be more expensive with fees for top schools ranging between AED 4,000 – AED 7,000 per month (depending on the grade/year).

Parents can always find more affordable options in Abu Dhabi. Most Indian schools in Abu Dhabi are quite affordable, which can lower the cost of living in Abu Dhabi for a family.

Take a look at the average grade 6 tuition fees in Abu Dhabi for popular schools per month over a period of 10 months. 

Healthcare

It’s mandatory in Abu Dhabi for both employers and sponsors to provide health insurance for their employees and dependents, respectively. If you’re being sponsored by a company in Abu Dhabi, the common practice is for them to provide you with medical insurance and in some cases, for your family as well. In case your family’s medical insurance is not covered or you have an investor visa, you will be required to purchase health insurance for yourself and your family.

The cost of medical insurance in Abu Dhabi will vary depending on the level of coverage and benefits. The basic plan for health insurance in Abu Dhabi starts from AED 600 per person. A comprehensive medical plan from a well-known provider such as DAMAN Health costs at least AED 20,000 for a family of four.

The medical insurance for a family of four from a premium provider such as AXA Insurance can even reach up to AED 65,000 for worldwide coverage and additional benefits. It’s essential to look at health insurance premiums when looking at the average cost of living in Abu Dhabi for bachelors and families per month.

Transportation

Residents of Abu Dhabi either use their own cars or public transport to move within the city. Your overall cost of transportation in Abu Dhabi however, will vary based on how often you travel.

On the other hand, taxis and public buses are the two options for those who want to get around via public transport in Abu Dhabi. A monthly pass for the Abu Dhabi public buses will cost around AED 80, which connects residents to different parts of Abu Dhabi city and suburbs. 

Entertainment

Those living in Abu Dhabi will find that weekends are never dull with a plethora of activities and things to do. Abu Dhabi is home to cinemas, parks, trendy restaurants and cafes, outdoor and indoor attractions.

Whether it’s the thrilling races at Yas Marina Circuit or the music concerts at Etihad Arena, residents will have their social calendars full of events and activities. Those moving to Abu Dhabi should budget a certain amount for entertainment and leisure activities with friends and family each month.

It’s common for residents to also sign up for an annual membership with gyms in Abu Dhabi, which will also factor in when calculating ‘what is the cost of living in Abu Dhabi’.

Here are the average costs for common leisure activities in Abu Dhabi, such as cinema tickets and dining out.

Househelp

Your cost of living in Abu Dhabi will considerably increase if you choose to sponsor and hire a full-time housemaid. The process to hire a maid in Abu Dhabi is similar to the steps for applying nanny visa in Dubai. Essentially, all domestic help sponsorships in Abu Dhabi take place through Tadbeer service centres.

In terms of cost, a private sponsorship via Tadbeer comprises an initial payment of AED 11,500 and an additional AED 7,500 for annual renewal. If you opt for Tadbeer sponsorship, a two-year contract will cost you AED 8,500, with no renewal charges. These costs are in addition to the monthly house help salary, which ranges between AED 1,500 and AED 5,000, depending on their workload.

If you are hiring a maid in Abu Dhabi through an agency, there will be a one-time agency fee, plus their monthly salary. Alternatively, you can also opt for part-time house help provided by cleaning companies in Abu Dhabi. They usually charge around AED 30 – AED 55 per hour.

FAQs

IS LIVING IN ABU DHABI EXPENSIVE?

In some aspects, the cost of living in Abu Dhabi is higher than in other smaller emirates. However, the amount of living expenses largely depends on your spending patterns and lifestyle choices. Take a look at a similar breakdown of the monthly expenses in Dubai for a better understanding. Know how to live in Abu Dhabi on a budget.

IS AED 20,000 A GOOD SALARY TO LIVE IN ABU DHABI?

Again this largely depends on the property type you choose, its size and the area it is in as well as the lifestyle you follow as discussed above. For more insights, explore popular areas to rent in Abu Dhabi based on salary.

That concludes MyBayut’s guide to the average cost of living in Abu Dhabi for couples, families and a single person.

Please bear in mind that our calculation for living expenses does not include the amount you may spend on annual vacations, car insurance and services, Abu Dhabi Toll Gates charges, after-school activities for children and more.

If you plan to bring in your family to live with you in the capital, some of the most popular family-friendly areas in Abu Dhabi include Al Reem Island, Al Mushrif and Mohammed Bin Zayed City. Anyone moving to the capital should also make themselves aware of the tenancy laws in Abu Dhabi.