Dubai is much like heaven for people in search of a better lifestyle and employment opportunities. The Emirates can provide high-end lifestyles and multiple adventurous activities, but they will all cost you your hard-earned money. However, it is still possible to live on a budget in Dubai by bringing some changes to your daily life routine.
Here we have listed some tips and tricks that will help you to live in Dubai on a budget.
Tips on Living in Dubai On a Budget
Let’s discuss the tips on how to live in Dubai cheaply in more detail.
Residence
Accommodation is a major cost of living in Dubai and consumes a major part of the income. Hence, it is the best part to start your savings. By saving, it is not referred to as shifting your lifestyle downwards; rather, it refers to selecting and using your residence smartly.
Relocate to an Affordable Neighbourhood
The first step in living on a budget in Dubai is to relocate your house to an affordable neighbourhood. You can avail of all the basic life necessities available in the affordable neighbourhood by paying lesser rent. You can browse through rental apartments in Dubai available at dubizzle and can easily find convenient accommodation within a limited budget. Other than the aforementioned areas, there are many other locations that you can consider, read our Dubai area guide and identify a suitable area of residence.
Share your Accommodation Legally
This step in living on a budget and saving on residents is applicable if you are single. A single person can share an apartment with a roommate which will help in dividing the cost of living among two. However, make sure to consider important things to know before renting with your friend or roommates.
Live Near your Workplace
Another way of saving for a residence is to live near your workplace or educational institute (in case you are a student). This will significantly contribute to reducing the travelling cost even if you use public transport in Dubai. However, always calculate the opportunity cost prior to shifting near to your workplace, as a residence near commercial areas might get out of budget.
Household and Utilities
Other than the residence, the next major portion of your budget is consumed by the utilities and other household expenses. The first step in cutting down your household expenses is to reduce your bill. There are multiple tips and tricks to reduce the DEWA bill that you can follow.
Grocery
Make a strict monthly budget and purchase your groceries according to it. Opt for supermarkets offering mix and match of local and imported products such as Nesto Hypermarket, West Zone and Union Cooperative. Whereas, for purchasing groceries in bulk quantity, wait for the seasonal sales that every supermarket offers. Nonetheless, for a hasslefree shopping experience, you can buy your kitchen essentials online from grocery shopping apps in Dubai.
You can also use loyalty cards offered at supermarkets. These loyalty cards facilitate consumers with different types of discounts on multiple products.
Local Purchase
The most convenient way of reducing your monthly bills is to purchase local products. The local products are seasoned and are relatively affordable contrary to imported food items. Dubai Souk markets are also a feasible option for purchasing species and other kitchen items.
Schooling
If you are living with a family in Dubai, one of the major expenses is your children’s education. A wide range of schools are available and they all have a different fee structures. Generally, Indian Curriculum schools in Dubai are considered to be more affordable. That said, charging a lesser fee is not associated with the quality of education, as the education standards are regularised by official bodies. You can read our school guide for further details regarding the schools near your residence.
Entertainment
Dubai is known for the entertainment opportunities it has to offer. However, these activities can be expensive and have the potential to disrupt your monthly budget. Following are some tips for budgeted entertainment.
Budget-Friendly Outdoor Activities
There are a number of outdoor activities that are free of costs like beaches and parks. Dubai has many outdoor parks that are considered ideal places for weekends. Aside from the park, Dubai also has golden sand beaches that are also an ideal place to enjoy.
Discount Apps
If you opt for restaurants to enjoy your weekend, use discount apps. These discounted apps enable users to avail themselves of a wide variety of discounts on multiple items. The type of discounts like buy one get one free or free starter with a main course is provided but it may vary from app to app.
Try Street Food
Street food in Dubai is a more affordable option contrary to high-end restaurants. You can visit World Street Food Dubai, Bodega Street Food in Deira, DXB Urban Street food and other places.
These were all the tips on how to live in Dubai on a budget. These tips are generalised and can help anyone willing to save some additional money.
Stay tuned to dubizzle’s property blog for more tips on living in Dubai.
