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john_the_gypsy · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 8

What would be the salary needed for a family of three to live comfortably in Dubai? We have a newborn girl, and my wife and I are are not into partying, or living beyond our means. I'm just talking about having a comfortable place to live, with all the necessities, and some money to put away each month.

Thanks!

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

You can get an idea of the rental costs in Dubai at the www.gulfnews.com website. Note - most rents are quoted in yearly terms and are usually payable in full in advance.

That being said, the more desirable academic employers (HCT, UAEU, Sheikh Zayed to name a few) provide accomodation that is suitable for employees.

If you are not being provided with accomodation but with an allowance BE AWARE that rents are rising by the day and there is talk that the rent cap (never a real deterrent to the determined landlord) may be removed. That means jumps of 20-100% in rents depending on the facilities and location. The rationale is that the rental market will level out which might happen in a different economy. In Dubai, landlords are often able to sit with vacant properties (and there may be dozens if not hundreds of units in a particular property) until they get the price they want.

Dubai is a relatively expensive place to live - often you have to pay your own utilities and AC is an expensive drain on electricity depending on the size of the rental unit. Some landlords provide appliances including AC units, others may only be offering bare walls. Again the more desirable employers will provide housing that will usually include these.

As for how much to live comfortably - that depends on your lifestyle, you say it's quiet but what about so many other things like medical, paying off student loans, travel etc. That's a tough one to answer. Housing will cost you a lot if your employer isn't providing

adorabilly · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 430 Location: Ras Al Khaimah

Hi John.

It would be easier to clarify based on what you have been offered, rather than from a blanket statement of "what is a good salary to live comfortably in dubai."

Will your employer subsidize housing? With out subsidized housing/provided housing your salary had better be pretty high. If your position here subsidizes housing that helps, but with the real estate market as hot as it is in dubai right now, prices are doubling, and appear to just be going up up up.

You could try to live outside dubai and commute... (that is a nightmare btw) That would lower your costs some. Of course you could also shop at the local stores instead of spinneys/carefour and that will also lower the costs.

As for living comfortably... what is your definition? Going out 1x a week? Eating out every day? Never eating out? How about going out for entertainment (bowling, movies, snooker, etc...)

I know several teachers with families who make about 12,000 durahms a month with housing provided by their employer who are having what I consider a comfortable life in dubai.

mishmumkin · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929

I agree- a small family could live on 12,000/month in dubai, but WITH that housing allowance...i don't suppose you've got an offer pending w/ berlitz?

john_the_gypsy · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 8

Not an offer from Berlitz- just some interest from them. I was wondering if a family of three could do decently on what they were offering- 9000-10000 a month. My wife and I are more stay at home with the baby type of people. Other than eating out a couple times a week, or just strolling through a mall, we'd probably stay home enjoying the baby. Neither of us smoke or drink, and we aren't spendthrifts. The necessities and a little extra is just fine for us.

ProfessorsWife · Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 26 Location: Sharjah, UAE

We moved to the UAE in the beginning of August. We live, and my husband works, in Sharjah. I think the amount that they're offering you is a bit low to support a family, but that of course depends on what your expenses back home are. We're still paying bills from home. Basic credit card bills, a car payment, etc. In Sharjah, we're comfortable with what my husband earns. Housing is provided, but that's the only thing that is. There are some companies that cover much more. Some cover, housing, rental car, utilities, etc. I think it would be worth your while, if the company ends up with a sincere interest and an offer, to tell them that you need a bit more money. We're here with 2 small girls as well. 19 months and 5 months, so I know how it can be with babies. You want to be able to put away as much as you can.

adorabilly · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 430 Location: Ras Al Khaimah

Hey John.

If your employer is providing your housing it is very possible to have a very comfortable lifestyle on about 5,000 durhams a month.

That is no frills, not much towards savings (about 1,000 durhams a month), and buying a cheap used car. (you can find lots of used cars for less than 20,000 durhams, but your car insurance will rip you off the first year... over 1000 durham for a year insurance, can't do anything about it until you have been here a year).

Before anyone says I'm wrong, my wife and I are living on 5,000 durhams a month. Groceries, cell phone bills, gas for the car, utilities for the villa, miscellaneous bills (kids schooling), upgrading our furnishings each month and having showtime in the house. The salary my wife is making is much more than 5,000 durhams (almost 3x that), but we are living on it, and sending the rest back to the states to cover things like student loans, and other issues.

We have 3 kids, and eat out about 1x every two weeks. Bought a used land rover for 9,000 durhams, and have used the gulf news classifieds, and www.dubizzle.com to find used stuff.

So you can live on 5,000 durhams a month (heck most of the pakistani/indian/chinese make less than 3,000 durahms a month)

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

bje · Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 527

mishmumkin · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929

It's true that a lot of expats working in the UAE live on much less than 5000...I've also known of some who go clamming or fishing when they couldn't afford food from the market.

5000 is feasible if you're not up to your ears in debt back home, you shop w/ a frugle sense, and you don't succumb to the materialistic nature of Dubai. Oh...and you don't run the A/C non-stop. However, 10,000 dirhams w/ no housing provided will not work for the average westerner moving to dubai.

adorabilly · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 430 Location: Ras Al Khaimah

bje.

My estimate is based on conversations with several Pakistani cab drivers. They all say they make near 3,000 durham a month, but have to pay for their cabs, take 200 durham kickback to their sponsor, and rent...

The point I was making is it is pretty easy to spend less than 5,000 to live on and have a comfortable life IF you have housing provided. That and the airfare for the family are KEY.

If any employer does not include HOUSING, AIRFARE for the whole family, and education allowances (yours are young, so don't need it), then you could live nicely on 5,000 durham... (glad we are making so much more than that though)