Really depends on villa or apartment ? DEWA bills could be very different for both.
If it’s an apartment you need to find out if your cooling charges are included in the rent ? There is a standing charge of 5% of your annual rent divided by 12 before you even use electricity or water. As an example for the summer months our DEWA for a villa (occupied by 2 of us) was 2000+ per month obviously lower in the winter months.
Internet and TV package +/- 500 per month
Car - I rent a small Ford for 1200 per month
Mobile phone - minimum around 150 per month depending on use.
Food shopping - you could easily spend 2-3000 for a family of 4 depending where you shop.
You also need to factor potentially bringing a lump sum for startup costs DEWA deposit, Internet deposit, 5% agents fee, 5% deposit to landlord.
The list goes on ..... also don’t overlook that 5% VAT starts in January, which will affect many things including DEWA.
With respect if you are already moving here the cost of living is the first research that should have been done, you could have a huge shock regardless of your level of income.
Again thank you so much for this. We have been doing as much research as we can but it's always useful to hear what other people are spending etc.
We should be more than ok but I always like to factor for extras that may get overlooked.
Thank you again for your advice.
X
Apologies for all the random posts and questions I'm just trying to get my head around moving!
Excluding rent what would people say is a good monthly income? Including bills and maybe some luxury items.
Medical and rent are covered already :)
Thanks in advance x
Very difficult to answer without knowing more.
Bills - What size property ? How many cars ? How many in the family . ? Etc etc
Luxury items ? What do you mean .... it means totally different things to different people
Happy to help but it’s a very vague question :)
Thank you for the reply!
We will be a family of 4, living in a 3bed (JBR hopefully). Looking to only have 1 car but will have to see.
Luxury items meaning just fun things for us to do etc.
Thann you x
We had to concentrate on the southern part of Dubai within an easy commute of the Marina and Internet City. So we didn't really research any of the areas further north. We were initially open minded about apartments or villas and therefore viewed plenty of both. It's obviously personal choice but we very soon decided that a villa was best for us as it offered more space, small garden, easy parking and a little more normality having moved from a house in the U.K. We have not regretted the decision at all.
We chose Arabian Ranches as it was away from the main hussle and bussle but still close enough for everything you need. We viewed properties in Meadows, Jumeirah Village Triangle/Village circle, The Villa and many others ..... all really nice places and all have pros and cons.
If you can I would highly recommend trying to get out here for a few days just to drive around view loads of property and get a feel for places. We spent a couple of long weekends here before moving and we knew exactly where we wanted to live before we came. Which cut down the time in a hotel and the stress of finding somewhere quickly.
I would add that our kids are grown up but we still needed space for when they visit :)
Sorry it has taken me so long to reply to you!
And thank you again for the information it really is helpful :).
Once things are a little more confirmed we are going to make a few trips over to see where would be best especially with a little one.
What has been the best thing for you since moving there? x
Hello, I apologise in advance as this post will be similar to lots of the other ones (which I have read through!).
We are looking to move to Dubai next year sometime. My husband will be working out here and I will be at home with our 18m old.
Where would be recommended to live? I've done some research but would like personal opinions. I love the idea of being on the beach so looking at JBR but wonder with a little one whether our own outdoor space might be better?
What do most stay at home mums get up to with their children?
We are hoping to save a little money whilst out there but would also like to have adventures and explore everything dubai has to offer. What sort of budget for activities and fun things etc should we aim for? Any ideas would also be lovely.
Thank you in advance
X
Hi
I'm sure you will get lots of suggestions as there are many nice places to live out here.
There are some important factors that are likely to have an impact on where you live. Firstly and most important will be your budget, then whether you want an apartment or villa, then last but not least the location of where your husband will be working (also how he will be commuting, car or Metro), then although it's a little way off keep in the back of your mind schools.
Pointless setting your heart on somewhere only to find your husband has a nightmare journey to and from work every day or to find that it's way out of your budget.
Does your hubby yet have a job offer and know what sort of housing budget you are looking at ..... that might help others advise..
Good luck !!
Evening,
Thank you for your reply. We have two budgets 150 for a flat and 180 for a villa. I'm keen to hear where people think are good places to live and also opinions on apartment life vs having a villa.
We are waiting to hear where my husband will be based which I know will impact where we live but still good to get an idea. I think at the moment we are just looking at the one car (work base dependent).
X
