A major part of your monthly expenses will be the rental cost, as you have to deposit a fairly large amount of money, if paying in a reduced amount of cheques. In most cases, those who move to Dubai alone or as a couple without children, consider renting a studio or a 1-bedroom apartment.
If you are looking for affordable housing, it's better to pay attention to the following districts:
- Dubai Production City (IMPZ) and International City - from AED 15,000 (USD 4,084).
- Remraam - from AED 19,000 (USD 5,173).
- Dubai Silicon Oasis, Town Square and Discovery Garden - from AED 20,000 (USD 5,445).
- Dubai Sports City - from AED 22,000 (USD 5,445).
The above-mentioned prices are for unfurnished studios with a minimum total area of 366 sq. ft. If we consider a furnished apartment, you need to add approximately AED 5-15,000 (USD 1,36-4,084) per year. In terms of location, these areas are within a 30 minute drive from the business centers of Dubai – Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, and DIFC.
Although these areas have the most attractive rental costs, those who plan to work in the city center should consider housing options closer to their workplace, for example, districts such as Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, DIFC, Al Wasl, Al Quoz, and Jumeirah all have great travel connections. Here, the rental cost of a studio with a total area of 409 sq. ft starts from AED 40,000 (USD 10,890). A 1-bedroom apartment of 1,151 sq. ft. will cost you AED 165,000 (USD 44,922). Although you will pay more, you will save time and money on commuting.
For a family of 4, 3-bedroom apartments, villas, or duplexes are probably more appropriate. This can include both residential complexes and integrated communities in which all the necessary amenities (nurseries, kindergartens, schools or universities, parks and playgrounds, etc.) are concentrated within the same area, but not too far from the workplace. From this point of view, good transport accessibility, relatively low prices, and a good infrastructure are combined in such areas as Discovery Gardens, Dubai Investment Park, and Jumeirah Village Circle.
Discovery Gardens is a quiet community which is predominantly a residential development. Dubai Investment Park also has many businesses and offices, while there are schools, shops, and kindergartens closeby - if you work near the EXPO 2020 zone, then this is one of the best options. The cost for renting an unfurnished 3-bedroom apartment starts from AED 65,000 (USD 17,700). A fully furnished apartment will cost you AED 90,000 (USD 24,500). As for villas, you can find a ready-to-move-in 2-bedroom property unit for AED 70,000 (USD 19,100) in the community of Amazonia (Akoya).