Dubai Voted Highest in Salary… but Still the Most Expensive City?
If you’re thinking about starting a new life in Dubai, it could honestly be one of the most exciting experiences you’ll ever enjoy. On the other hand, moving to Dubai can also be a little daunting, especially if you lack knowledge with regards to what your expected salary should be? Or what your monthly costs will be, and what to expect in general, so that you can plan ahead before hand and make the most of everything that Dubai has to offer.
A new survey was released last Monday called “Mapping the World’s Prices 2019” report. Dubai was actually ranked the 14th in the average monthly salary report; which details the average monthly salary of more than 50 other cities. According to this report, the average monthly salary in Dubai is USD 2,856 (around Dhs 10,500). However, the city with the highest monthly salary is San Fransisco with an average monthly salary of USD 6,526 (around Dhs 24,000).
The index’s numbers and calculations are based on many factors that overall contribute to the quality of life including; consumer purchasing power, cost of consumer goods, crime and safety, housing affordability, traffic and commute times, healthcare and finally pollution.
Also, among all the cities in the safety index, Dubai was ranked number one! There’s no surprise for Dubai to rank highly, as earlier this year the UAE was actually ranked as the safest country in the world. Check out our article here.
I must point out that although Dubai has been ranked as the highest in average monthly salaries, a lot complain about how life in Dubai is actually expensive. Once you get your salary, you start paying for rent, utilities, food, transportation, etc.. you end up with the bare minimum of disposable income!
However, according to “Mapping the World’s Prices 2019 survey” The Emirates quality of life has been rated higher when compared to other European, US as well as Asian cities. The cost of goods and services, like buying a new iPhone or renting a car, actually comes out cheaper in Dubai.
So, to sum this up, living in Dubai is really what you make of it. It’s a basically a matter of personal choice and preferences, and finding out whether the opportunities that Dubai offers, such as a good income not burdened with taxes, would outweigh the possible negatives that would challenge you.
