Lifestyle Intelligence

Cost of Living · Dubai vs London

Compare rent pressure, discretionary drift, and monthly budgets across two sovereign hubs before you sign the relocation package.

Dubai

Cost-of-living

Rent index

Estimated median professional income: AED 289,000

London

Cost-of-living

Rent index

Estimated median professional income: £48,500

Spread

Index delta

-0.9

Dubai is 1 points less expensive on our deterministic index.

Dubai

The leading financial center of the MEASA region. Offers a tax-free salary environment for maximum wealth retention.

Reference monthly net: AED 24,083

Housing pressure

35% of take-home pay devoted to housing.

London

Europe’s leading financial center. Salaries typically include a "London weighting" to offset housing costs.

Reference monthly net: £12,406

Housing pressure

25% of take-home pay devoted to housing.

Monthly allocation

Budget blueprint

Dubai

Monthly net AED 24,083

HousingAED 8,429

EssentialsAED 7,225

LifestyleAED 4,817

SavingsAED 3,612

London

Monthly net £12,406

Housing£3,102

Essentials£1,861

Lifestyle£3,102

Savings£4,342

Launch salary comparison

Overlay net pay, taxes, and PPP for your exact role in this city pair.

Open salary route

Download relocation memo

Summarize the lifestyle delta for executive stakeholders in under a minute.

Access engine

Frequently asked

Is Dubai more expensive than London?+

Dubai posts a cost-of-living score of 55 with rent at 72. London sits at 56 / 56. The spread is driven by housing (16.4 points) and imported services.

What income do I need to maintain lifestyle parity?+

Using a reference salary of AED 289,000, the take-home pay differs by AED 140,125. Adjust offers upward if relocating to the more expensive hub.

How much of my income should go to rent?+

Allocating 30% of monthly net is sustainable in London, while Dubai may require closer to 35% unless allowances are provided.