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- How Much Will $100 Get You In Dubai?
A visit to Dubai does not come cheap. It comes with a price tag that's usually pretty significant compared to many other places, on average, which can make vacation planning on a budget somewhat challenging. The city itself is seen as pure luxury, with high-end accommodations that are practically futuristic in their designs. After all, when one travels to Dubai, this is what they're paying for.
That's not to say that a trip to Dubai isn't worth it, especially for anyone who's bound for designer shopping trips and rooftop infinity pools. An entire trip can't be done with only $100 USD (obviously), but here's what that amount could get a traveler on a budget in Dubai.
UPDATE: 2022/11/29 11:28 EST BY AARON SPRAY
How Much Will $100 Get You In Dubai?
Dubai is a very expensive destination and $100 will not get one all that far. This article was updated to reflect how much one can expect to spend in a day and in a week. It's perhaps better to think of how much $100 bills one needs to spend in a day than how much one can get for $100.
UPDATE: 2022/09/24 11:24 EST BY AARON SPRAY
Updated By Aaron Spray 24th September 2022
Dubai is one of the top tourist destinations in the Middle East and draws visitors from around the world. Many travelers are on a budget and need to plan their finances. This article was updated to include the cost of living in Dubai in comparison to NYC to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the costs of the city.
What $100 Will Buy In Food
One of the biggest perks of visiting Dubai besides the shopping is its delicious cuisine. While most restaurants see bills that average hundreds for two people, there are some ways to get around such extravagant food costs. Before figuring this out though, we must first know the basics:
- Conversion Rate: $100 USD equals 367 Emirati Dirhams.
While this conversion rate makes it seem like one hundred bucks should get a traveler a decent amount of coin, it's actually quite misleading. To put it into perspective, a pound of fruit or vegetables purchased from a grocery store in Dubai will cost anywhere from two to four dirhams, according to Money.
That equals anywhere from 54 cents to $1.09 USD which is pretty affordable; a pound of chicken or beef will cost anywhere from just over three dollars to nearly five dollars USD. Now, let's compare a dinner out.
Average Cost Of Dinner Out In Dubai
According to Hikers Bay, the cost of a meal for two in Dubai is, at minimum, around 198 dirhams. This equates to $54 USD, and is standard for a meal for two at a Chinese restaurant in Dubai. The most expensive costs for dinner can be found at French restaurants, where an average meal for two is about $86 USD - which equates to 316 dirhams. If we were to split the cost of the cheapest meal out in half, it would be 99 dirhams - which takes up the entire cost for one day if $100 USD is the budget.
There are other options in Dubai that will be more affordable, such as fast-food restaurants. However, the most affordable way to keep food costs in check is to cook for oneself or check out the local grocery to see what's available. On average, it would likely cost two travelers anywhere from $55 USD to just over $100 in food alone, per day, during a trip to Dubai. For a single traveler, food costs are lower and range from nearly $30 USD to just over $50 USD for the day.
Pro Tip: Try to scout out the neighborhood or local pub to keep costs of dining out low, or try some street food in the neighborhood around the lodging accommodations!
What $100 Will Buy As Far As Shopping
Now, the big question: If a traveler sets a budget aside for shopping in Dubai, how much will one hundred dollars get them? This amount is very subjective in other parts of the world and especially in the U.S., where $100 can vary drastically depending on the type of store it's used in. Whereas in Dubai, many of the shopping options are priced in a higher range and tend to overlap in regard to costs.
On average, $100 USD will get travelers one or two things from a shopping trip in Dubai. It's not unusual for a pair of jeans (especially designer brands) to cost close to that entire budget, or even a pair of Nikes to cost nearly $100 USD. When it comes to Dubai's shopping, travelers who plan to splurge should put together a budget that reflects that - which will likely require more than $100.
Can $100 Cover Accommodations?
If $100 USD is the budget for one day then it is possible to find accommodations in this city within that price range. While many of the hotels will be out of the question, travelers looking to save money might consider staying at a hostel instead. The good thing about lodging at a hostel is that some meals may even be included in the cost; at the very least, travelers might have access to a kitchen to cook their own meals.
On average, hostel prices in Dubai can range from $50 to $70 USD per night. This not only saves hundreds in accommodation costs but will also give travelers a bit of extra money to play with during their trip. An extra $50 USD could be dinner or be put toward shopping trips.
Cost Of Living In Dubai
According to Numbeo.com, Dubai is certainly not the cheapest city in the world when it comes to the cost of living (but still it is much cheaper than New York City - one of the most expensive cities in the world). One can expect a meal at an inexpensive restaurant to cost around $10.90 ($25.00 in NYC) and a mid-range restaurant with a three-course meal for two will set one back around $81.00 ($90.00 in NYC).
Example Expenses In Dubai vs NYC:
- Domestic Deer (0.5 Liter): $12.20 vs $8.00
- McMeal: $8.20 vs $10.00
- Cappuccino: $5.20 vs $5.40
- Local Transport: $1.36 vs $2.75 (One Way Ticket)
- Taxi Per Kilometer: $0.82 vs $1.86
- Apartment In City Center: $1,655 vs $3,913 (One Bedroom)
Generally, Dubai is cheaper than New York City, but expect a night out drinking to cost more. Alcohol is permitted in Dubai (it is banned in some Middle Eastern countries) but it has a high tax.
How Much Money Does One Need For Visiting Dubai?
Dubai is certainly not a cheap destination. According to Budget Your Trip, the average tourist should reckon on spending around 729 Dumas or $198 per day while on vacation in Dubai. That is just the average daily price - many will be above that while many will be somewhat below it. The average hotel price in Dubai for two is $272.
Travelers spend on average $45 a day on meals - although if eating out at respectable restaurants, that is likely to skyrocket.
- Week Long Expense: Around $2,778 For Two
A week-long trip to Dubai for two is likely to cost around $2,778 - although it can easily be much more than that.
So how much time will $100 get a traveler in Dubai? Not much at all. Put another way, one can expect to burn through $100 at least every 12 hours - perhaps even every 6 hours. So let's just say that $100 buys between 6-12 hours in Dubai.
Dubai is also home to the Mall of Dubai - one of the largest and most luxurious malls in the world. It's better to have 100 x $100 for shopping in this mall!