Real estate. It is the most considerable cost for any immigrant. The price for furnished studios starts around AED 25K annually, which is USD 6.8K.
The two-bedroom townhouses minimum price will be AED 50K annually, for three-bedroom villa AED 95K. It is USD 13K and USD 26K, respectively.
If you intend to purchase real estate, get ready to pay a minimum of AED 10K for each square meter.
Read here why you should invest in Abu Dhabi real estate.
Transportation. Public transport in Abu Dhabi is not very well organized. There are some buses run here, but using them is not as convenient as in Dubai. A single trip on a city bus costs AED 2, while a month's travel card is 80 dirhams. Taxi services are relatively cheap here: every kilometer is from AED 2, depending on the tariff.
If you permanently reside in Abu Dhabi, it is easier and cheaper to buy your car. In the UAE, a liter of gasoline costs from AED 1.5. If you have an international license, you only need to issue a driving license in the UAE. If not, you will have to obtain a permit in the Emirates: courses cost from AED 2900 to 3700, the registration itself from AED 4 500 to 7 000.
Food. Food prices are different:
- fruits and vegetables - from AED 5 per kilo (USD 1.36);
- meat - from AED 20 per kilo;
- bread - from AED 4 per loaf;
- milk - from AED 6 per liter;
- cereals - from AED 8 per kilo;
- drinking water - AED 2 for a bottle of 1.5 liters.
Alcohol in Abu Dhabi is not only expensive but also not sold freely. If you want to save money, it is worth buying domestic - Emirati products, they are cheaper than imported ones.
Electronics. Housing in Abu Dhabi is often rented furnished, but certainly without household or computer equipment. Fortunately, in the UAE, the cost of televisions, computers, refrigerators, and other electrical appliances is significantly lower than average.
Medicine. Pharmacy products in Abu Dhabi are not too cheap. For example, a packet of antipyretic Coldrex will cost you AED 20-30 (USD 6-8). The treatments are also quite expensive, so you cannot do without medical insurance—fortunately, most employers in Abu Dhabi provide it. If you need to get it yourself, it will cost from several hundred dollars to a thousand. But if you have to go to a doctor without insurance, the treatment will be even more expensive. For example, each visit to a specialist costs about $ 70, filling a tooth - from $ 50, simple operation (removal of the appendix, for example) - from $ 1.5 thousand.
Education. If you come to permanent residence in the UAE with your family: wife and minor kids, you will have to take care of preschool or school educational institutions for them. There are no free schools and kindergartens for immigrants in Abu Dhabi. The fees largely depend on which country founded this institution, what program is used to teach, and the reputation of the school or kindergarten.
The most expensive are considered British-style: prepare to pay at least AED 50 K annually (USD 13.6). Others may start from AED 30K.
Entertainment. Monthly gym membership costs from AED 300. Two tickets to a theater or cinema cost AED 80+. But nightlife will cost more: to visit a nightclub you need to have at least AED 100 per person. A romantic dinner for two in a good restaurant will cost AED 250-350.
Utilities. In Abu Dhabi, this includes mainly electricity, water, gas, and garbage disposal. It will cost you about AED 250 per month for an 85-sq m apartment.
Communications. Almost all houses and apartments are equipped with landline telephones, but mobile communication is much more appreciated. The standard price for one minute of mobile communication is AED 0.36. If you need unlimited communication, then the monthly payment will be AED 300. Internet in the Emirates is not a cheap pleasure: AED 350+ per month for limited access, since there is Internet censorship in Abu Dhabi.
There are numerous things you need to know before moving to Abu Dhabi, however, we tried to give you the most important details. You can find more information in our articles.