Cost of Living in Abu Dhabi 2011
Nov 23, 2011
Abu Dhabi is one of the seven Emirates and is the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This Emirate houses many oil companies, foreign embassies and the federal cabinet. Abu Dhabi is also the workplace of thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
One of the most important things that an OFW that is planning to work in Abu Dhabi should know is the cost of living there. Knowing the cost of living in a desired work destination lets an OFW plan their budget ahead of time and allot an appropriate amount to remittance, savings and allowances. For OFWs aiming to work in Abu Dhabi, read on to gain tips on how to handle your expenses properly.
Cost of Living in Abu Dhabi
Compared to Dubai, working and living in Abu Dhabi is not too expensive so an OFW can always find a way to save their hard earned money.
Food
A huge portion of one’s income is allotted to food and it is reasonable as this is where you will get your energy to work all day. To save money on food, it is more economical to cook food at home than to eat out. Here is a rough estimation of food allowance.
|
Food |
Amount |
|
1kl of rice |
3 AED – 7 AED |
|
Meal in food chain |
17 AED |
|
Meal in catering |
9 AED |
|
Estimated monthly allowance |
500 AED |
Accommodation
Of course, same here in the Philippines, it would depend on your location. Accommodation rates in city is more expensive than in rural.
|
Accommodation type |
Monthly Rental |
|
Room |
3,000 – 3,500 AED |
|
Bed space 4-6 person per room or up to 8-10 person per room |
700 – 800 AED |
Transportation
Buses and taxis are the public utility vehicles available in Abu Dhabi. One can also choose car rental but it would be more expensive.
|
Transportation type |
Fare |
|
Bus – within Abu Dhabi |
1 AED |
|
Bus – intercity travel |
2 AED |
|
Taxi |
3 AED – initial flagdown, 2 AED succeeding kilometers |
|
|
|
You may also opt for taxi-sharing though there are disadvantages for this, for security reason, avoid taxi-sharing at night.
Utility Bills
|
Utility |
Monthly Charge |
|
Water and electricity |
100 – 150 AED |
|
Internet connections |
50 – 100 AED |
|
|
|
Some accommodations include electric and water bills in monthly rentals. For internet connection, wi-fi access is usually available in accommodations but you have to pay a certain fee for this. The fee would depend on the number of people sharing the connection.
Weekend Getaway
After a long week of working, you may also want to unwind to relax and forget homesickness. If you live in the suburbs that is around 50km away from the city, it may cost you around 200 – 300 AED. This rough estimation only includes food and transportation and doesn’t include your purchases like clothes, souvenir items, etc.
Bar entrance is around 50 AED inclusive of a single drink. You may opt to go nature tripping in Al Ain or go shopping in Dubai.
Cost of Living in Abu Dhabi is also a hot topic at OFWGuide Forum. If you want to interact with OFWs or to gain information about the life of an OFW, feel free to visit OFWGuide Forum and sign up to view and join the discussions.
