Free tool · Moving to Dubai
Dubai rent and relocation budget calculator
Pick your household, area and bedrooms to see a typical yearly rent, the one-off move-in costs and a monthly cost of living range. In 2026 a single professional lives comfortably in Dubai on roughly AED 8,000 to 15,000 a month, a couple on AED 12,000 to 22,000 and a family with school-age children on AED 25,000 to 45,000 or more.
- JVC apartments averaged about AED 81,000 a year in Bayut's H1 2026 report, Dubai Marina about AED 153,000 and Downtown Dubai about AED 226,000.
- Move-in costs: a 5% security deposit, up to 5% agency fee plus VAT, Ejari from AED 177.75 and a DEWA deposit of AED 2,000 (apartment) or AED 4,000 (villa).
- Rents for more than 40 apartment areas and more than 35 villa communities come from Property Finder and Bayut rental data checked in September 2026; living costs, school fees and move-in costs come from our published guides.
Your Dubai budget
- Typical yearly rent: Palm Jumeirah
- AED 169,000 to AED 173,000 a year
- Per month: AED 14,083 to AED 14,417 a month
- DEWA housing fee (5% of rent, added to your monthly bill)
- about AED 713 a month
- Monthly cost of living, rent included
- AED 8,000 to AED 15,000 a month
- Indicative 2026 range from our cost of living guide.
One-off move-in costs
| Security deposit (5%, refundable) | AED 8,550 |
| Agency fee (5% + VAT) | AED 8,978 |
| Ejari registration (online) | AED 178 |
| DEWA deposit (refundable) | AED 2,000 |
| Total before the first rent cheque | AED 19,705 |
Plus your first rent cheque: a quarter of the yearly rent on 4 cheques, or all of it on 1.
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Rents are average asking rents from Property Finder Area Insights and Bayut's H1 2026 rental report, checked September 2026. Living costs, school fees and move-in costs come from our published guides. Indicative only.
The guides behind the numbers
Questions answered
How much rent should I budget for in Dubai?+
It depends on the area and size. In Bayut's H1 2026 report, JVC apartments averaged about AED 81,000 a year, Business Bay about AED 118,000, Dubai Marina about AED 153,000 and Downtown Dubai about AED 226,000. Property Finder data from September 2026 puts a one bedroom in Dubai Creek Harbour at about AED 114,000 and on Palm Jumeirah at about AED 173,000. Villas start from about AED 120,000 in DAMAC Hills 2.
What do I pay upfront when I rent in Dubai?+
Budget for a security deposit of about 5% of the yearly rent, an agency fee of up to 5% plus VAT, Ejari registration from AED 177.75 and a refundable DEWA deposit of AED 2,000 for an apartment or AED 4,000 for a villa, plus your first rent cheque.
Are these prices exact?+
No. Rents are average asking rents from Property Finder and Bayut, checked in September 2026, and the other costs come from our published guides. Real rents vary by building, floor, view and season. Leave your number and we will send live options that fit your budget.