Budgeting for Food as a Single Person in Dubai

Living in Dubai as a single person brings with it a uniquely diverse range of dining options and cuisines, from street food to high-end restaurants. Understanding your monthly food expenses is crucial for budgeting effectively. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide to the cost of food for a single person in Dubai, covering both grocery shopping and dining out expenses. We will also share insights from a personal experience to give a more relatable perspective.

General Estimate for Monthly Food Expenses

Depending on your lifestyle and eating habits, the cost of food in Dubai can vary significantly. As of 2023, a general estimate for monthly food expenses is as follows:
Groceries: Around AED 800 to AED 1200. This includes basic staples and cooking at home. Dining Out: If you eat out frequently, monthly expenses can increase significantly. A meal at a mid-range restaurant might cost around AED 100, leading to a potential total of AED 1200 to AED 2000 or more per month, depending on how often you dine out.

Overall, a reasonable budget for food for a single person might range from AED 1500 to AED 3200 per month, depending on individual preferences and lifestyle choices.

A good estimate would be between AED 1500 and AED 3000 per month. If you are on a tight budget, you can easily spend less than AED 1500 per month on food by cooking at home and shopping for groceries at local markets and supermarkets. However, if you eat out frequently and enjoy dining at high-end restaurants, your food expenses will be closer to AED 3000 per month or more.

A Personal Experience

I personally belong to an Indian demographic and have minimal cravings for sugar and junk food. As a result, I joined a ‘mess’ at a nearby restaurant for a month, comprising 3 meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The cost was 350 AED for the month. We will round this to 500 AED.

Whether your cuisine is South Asian or European, it can vary greatly in cost. South Asian food is relatively less expensive in comparison to European and American food in Dubai. For instance, a typical Western meal in a non-hi-fi restaurant might cost roughly AED 130 per day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you cook at home, it would be significantly cheaper, around AED 50 per day for South Asian food.

Luxury Tourism Destination

As a luxury tourism destination, Dubai offers high living standards, with single-person estimated monthly expenses ranging from AED 3700 to AED 1000, excluding rent. A family of four would spend approximately three times more, which is AED 13000 or AED 3540 monthly.

Understanding these details can help you create a more accurate budget for food expenses in Dubai. Whether you focus on groceries or dining out, knowing your monthly costs can help you plan your finances more effectively.