Rising cost of living pinches Dubai residents

Dubai residents say the cost of living increase is having a noticeable impact on their lives.

While rents have fallen slightly, the cost of everything else has gone up, according to Larissa Voronina, Russian expat living with her husband and two children in the city. “I used to spend Dh500 weekly for groceries a year ago, but for the same quantity of essential items, the bill comes to Dhs600 or even Dhs700 now,” she said. The housewife continued that she had checked the price of many items and most of them are now costing by 10% – 20% more than few months back. “School fees, restaurants and coffee shop bills, and the prices of leisure activities have all risen,” said Larissa, who lives in the Dubai Marina. “It is true that rents are  not so high now, but still such the cost of living increase is not reasonable,” she said.

Samantha Brown, a British expat living alone in a one bedroom apartment on Palm Jumeirah, said although her rent has been stable for a year and half now, she feels the cost of essential items, eating out, entertainment and clothes have gone up. “I pay Dh35 per visit to my favorite Chinese restaurant in the food court, where I paid Dh28 for the same food one year ago.” The media executive continues: “A cinema ticket  now costs Dhs35, where it used to cost Dhs30 just few months before. Ticket for Atlantis water park now costs Dhs210, up from Dhs200. Champion Cleaners prices have just risen in April by nearly 5%, while during the past five years tripled.”

Lana Dunn, an Australian teacher, said costs of living had gone up in all spheres, including medical treatment. “Medcare hospital increased its prices by 5%.” She has also noticed the slight increases in the costs of groceries, eating out and entertainment in Dubai. However, she is really concerned about the recent increase in school fees. “Education is extremely expensive in Dubai. It is really important for school administrations to understand that the tuition fees can be increased in proportion to the quality of education. Now some of the Dubai schools are more expensive than top schools in  Sydney and New York.”

What could be the answer to the rising cost living concerns? Survival kit to help you manage the rising cost of living coming next!