Cost of Living Calculator

The Gulf Cooperation Council countries — UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman — attract hundreds of thousands of professionals each year with tax-free salaries, modern infrastructure, and career opportunities that are difficult to find elsewhere. But relocating without understanding the real cost of living is one of the most common and expensive mistakes expats make. A generous-sounding salary offer can thin out quickly once you account for housing, school fees, and the fixed monthly costs that are unavoidable.

Our calculator focuses on the costs you can budget for with confidence: housing (apartments and villas by size and furnishing), transport (public transit, ride-hailing, or car ownership), utilities (electricity, water, internet, mobile), and school fees (by curriculum and level). We deliberately exclude categories like groceries, dining, and lifestyle spending where individual variation makes generic estimates unreliable — those are better planned from your own spending habits. You can also explore salary benchmarks across the GCC or calculate your end-of-service gratuity to get the complete financial picture before making a move.

Cost of living in Dubai

Dubai remains the GCC's most popular destination for expats and typically the most expensive city in the region. Housing dominates the budget — a furnished one-bedroom apartment in areas like JLT, Business Bay, or Dubai Marina ranges from AED 7,000 to AED 14,000 per month, while Downtown and DIFC command premiums of 30–50% above that. Studios start from AED 4,000 in more affordable areas like International City or Dubai Silicon Oasis. Villas for families range from AED 15,000 for a 3-bedroom in a suburban compound to AED 50,000+ for a 5-bedroom in Emirates Hills or Palm Jumeirah.

Transport costs depend entirely on whether you own a car. Dubai's metro and bus network costs AED 350/month for a Nol Silver card, and the system covers most major employment hubs along Sheikh Zayed Road. Car ownership adds AED 2,500–4,000/month all-in: lease payments (AED 1,500–2,500), fuel (AED 500–700), Salik tolls (AED 300–500), insurance (AED 200–400/month amortised), parking (AED 250), and maintenance. Utilities run AED 500–1,000/month for an apartment (DEWA), with district cooling adding AED 300–600 in tower buildings. Internet ranges from AED 299–499/month depending on speed tier.

Cost of living in Riyadh

Riyadh is typically 15–25% cheaper than Dubai for housing and fixed costs, making it an increasingly attractive destination as Vision 2030 drives investment and job creation. A furnished one-bedroom apartment in Olaya or Al Malqa ranges from SAR 5,000–9,000 per month, roughly 20–30% below equivalent Dubai neighborhoods. The KAFD (King Abdullah Financial District) area commands premium rents closer to Dubai DIFC levels. Transport is car-dependent — Riyadh's metro system opened in late 2024 but coverage is still limited, so most expats budget SAR 2,000–3,500/month for a car. School fees are generally 10–20% lower than Dubai for equivalent international schools.

Cost of living in Doha

Qatar sits between Dubai and Riyadh on housing costs. Popular areas like The Pearl, West Bay, and Lusail range from QAR 5,000–12,000 for a one-bedroom apartment. School fees are among the highest in the GCC — premium international schools in Doha can exceed QAR 60,000 per year per child. The trade-off is that many Doha employers offer comprehensive housing and school fee allowances as part of the package, especially in energy, finance, and government sectors. Transport is car-dependent; public transit options are limited compared to Dubai.

Healthcare in the GCC

Healthcare is not included in our calculator because it varies too widely by employer and individual circumstance to estimate generically. However, it's an important cost to understand. In the UAE, employer-provided health insurance is mandatory — all employees receive basic coverage. Many professionals top this up with enhanced plans covering dental, vision, and mental health, typically costing AED 300–800 per month for individual coverage or AED 1,000–2,500 for a family plan. In Saudi Arabia, employer-provided insurance is similarly mandatory under CCHI regulations. Qatar provides free public healthcare to residents through Hamad Medical Corporation, though most expats opt for private coverage for shorter wait times. Out-of-pocket costs for routine care (dental checkups, optometry, pharmacy) typically add AED 200–500 per month. If your employer doesn't provide comprehensive coverage, budget an additional AED 500–1,500 per month for private insurance premiums.

The tax-free advantage

The single biggest financial differentiator for GCC expats is zero personal income tax. A professional earning AED 30,000 per month in Dubai takes home AED 30,000. The same gross salary in London would yield approximately GBP 4,800 after income tax, National Insurance, and student loan repayments — a 40%+ reduction. This tax advantage means that even when headline living costs in Dubai are similar to European cities, net disposable income is dramatically higher. Our calculator lets you compare GCC cities against London, New York, Singapore, and Sydney to see the real purchasing power difference.

School fees: the hidden cost for families

For families relocating with children, school fees are often the second-largest expense after housing — and the one most frequently underestimated. International school tuition in Dubai ranges from AED 20,000–50,000 per year for primary level and AED 40,000–120,000 for secondary, depending on curriculum (British, American, IB, French). Registration fees, uniforms, transport, and activity costs add 10–20% on top. In Riyadh, equivalent schools are typically 10–20% cheaper; in Doha, 5–10% more expensive. Our calculator breaks down education costs by curriculum type and school level so you can budget accurately before committing to a move.

What our calculator covers — and what it doesn't

We focus on four categories where we have high-confidence data and where costs are predictable enough to budget: housing (apartments and villas across multiple sizes, furnishing options, and neighborhoods), transport (public transit passes, ride-hailing budgets, and full car ownership costs), utilities (electricity, water, district cooling, internet, mobile), and education (tuition by curriculum, school transport, registration fees). Every figure is sourced from Q1 2026 market data — property listings from Bayut, Property Finder, and Aqar; school fee schedules from EdArabia and KHDA; utility tariffs from DEWA, SEWA, Kahramaa, and SEC; and transport costs from RTA and Salik.

We deliberately exclude groceries, dining, healthcare, and lifestyle spending. These categories vary so widely by individual preference, dietary requirements, and employer benefits that a generic estimate would be misleading. A single professional who cooks at home spends AED 800/month on groceries; one who eats out daily spends AED 4,000+. Healthcare costs depend almost entirely on whether your employer provides comprehensive coverage. Rather than present inaccurate averages, we leave these categories for you to plan based on your own habits — and focus the calculator on the costs you can actually predict before you arrive.