Cost of Living in Dubai

Was always wondering why no websites are there showing the real cost of living in Dubai!

Dubai is not that costly... nor it is that cheap.... ofcourse telephone calls are costly in Dubai!

1. Accomodation: A single bedroom apartment will cost around 35,000 dhs in Sharjah to 125,000 in dubai Marina area.

or you can opt for a sharing accomodation at AED 500 plus per month. No:of people depends on the rent. it can be 2 to a max 14 per flat/ villa.

2. Food: It really depends from where you are having! In Karama, Deira Burdubai areas it is relatively cheap.. will be around AED 30 per day... where as it can go up in Sheikh Zayed Road, Jumeriah etc..

3. Travel: Taxi minimum charge is AED 10. plus AED 1.6 per kilometer. However you can use Dubai bus and Dubai Metro. Both are cheap. For using Dubai Bus service, you ahve to buy a prepaid card of AED 20 and continue recharging it. Minimum charge for bus is AED 2.5 and Train is AED 2.5.

4. Telephone: To India, you can call through etisalat/ du at the rate of AED 2.4 per min from mobile (off peak - AED 1.8)

but, there are public booths, from where it is only AED 0.99 per min. YOu have to buy prepaid cards to call from all the public booths. Prepaid card charge is AED 30 with full talk time.

Recharge cards are available from AED 20 for Du and AED 25 for Etisalat. How ever, some shops even sell e-recharge for AED5

So... what you think... is Dubai cheap...or costly?