ABU DHABI - Cost of Living

everything mentioned here is being paid by SBM offshore..thanks SBM! except for beers! hehe

lovin offshore!

You're a lucky man!

thanx...one tough job as well here in the site! abu dhabi's making 3 oil rigs in a row!

Hi
I am Bengali my husband is Belgian. We live in 1 bed room apartment- provided by his employer- full furnished. So for accommodation I can give an idea only, which may not be accurate… so forgive me please.

- Accommodation(sometimes they are furnished but most of them have wall cabinet, fridge, bed ( if in Abu dhabi city- 1 bed room apartment will be 6to10,000AED/Monthly. Sharing a room(with bathroom) in a flat would cost about 4-5,000AED/Monthly
- Outside the city is a bit cheaper- 3000-5,000 a room (shared flat)
- Studio 7-10,000AED

- public transport: in Abu Dhabi- very limited for public bus routs but it is very cheap 1-2AED one stop to another. Meter taxis are bit expensive- it starts from 3AED, (if called then starts at 5AED), 1 km =1 AED if I am not wrong! Car lift also available in cheap (it takes time to find one better)

- food prices: we shop 2 times a month(rice, canned food, dry food, cooking oil, butter, pasta, frozen prawns, fish, yoghurt, biscuits, tea/coffee = spend each time about 400AED

- vegetables and fruits 4 times a month – I spend monthly about 300-400AED

- price of bread 6-10AED, milk10-15AED, eggs 6-15AED and meat 1kg beef 18-25AED

- Shopping for myself monthly about (well I guess it’s personal!) it depends on individual…

- medical insurance (I have)

- Medical consultation (each time I meet my GP I pay 25AED), some medicines are not insured but mostly are. U pay in case of any Check up or Vaccination (please check with your insurance contract with ur employer before u go for any expensive medical test)

- School fees (no idea! lol)

- water and electricity (We pay only for gas 25each month, electricity(not sure how much)

- petrol prices (2 cars) 240AED+250=490AED/monthly

- internet @home- 250monthly, 2 Mobiles internet 90+90=180,   telephone landline(none),

- mobile phone – 2 phones 400/monthly 

- Average prices of a good menu in a traditional restaurant- 180-200AED for 2 people (u can spend more if u wish!)

- Prices of a beer (7 if u buy from ware house, 30AED from a bar/rest) and of a coffee- 8-10AED at ADNOC, 12-15AED at Costa!

Hi Marufa,
Thanks for your info.
Would you mind specifying which beef you're talking aboUt because so far the beef I've bought is far more expensive (but then it's'filet I'm talking about!)

Hi,

I prefer stew beef (paksitani/ indian) which starts from 18 AED/kg up to 25AEd I think. Aus veal would be about 27AED (if not wrong) other types of beef would be more I agree with you....Hehehe.

My employer has assignees in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.  We pay a significantly higher housing allowance for the ones in Abu Dhabi:  29% higher for a two-bedroom flat; 42% for a 3-bedroom house.

In Ras al-Khaimah, we just rented a 3-br townhouse in a brand new complex for 80.000 Dhs!

I live in Al Nahda Sharjah, just boundery of Dubai/Sharjah and we rent a 3 bedroom flat costing 55,000 Dhs. per year.  I think it will be reduced down further next year.  Its a big Flat for my big family but when the brownouts come,  it is really difficult specially this summer time.