Food & Grocery Costs in Dubai (2025)
Groceries in Dubai are surprisingly reasonable. Dining out is where the money goes. The social scene here revolves around restaurants and brunches, and if you're not careful, food becomes your second-largest expense.
Here's exactly what you'll spend on food—from supermarket basics to fine dining—with real prices from December 2025.
Monthly Food Budget
Most people spend AED 2,500-5,000/month on food (single) or AED 4,500-8,000 (couple). Heavy dining out can easily push this to AED 6,000-10,000+.
| Lifestyle | Groceries | Dining | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget (cook at home) | AED 1,200 | AED 400 | AED 1,600 |
| Moderate | AED 1,800 | AED 1,500 | AED 3,300 |
| Social (dining out often) | AED 1,500 | AED 3,500 | AED 5,000 |
| Premium lifestyle | AED 2,500+ | AED 5,000+ | AED 7,500+ |
Monthly estimates for single person. Double for couples, 2.5x for family of 4.
Grocery Costs
Where you shop matters more than what you buy. The same products can vary 30-50% between stores.
Supermarket Tiers
| Store | Price Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Carrefour, Lulu | Budget | Everyday shopping, bulk buying |
| Union Coop, Viva | Budget | Local chain, good prices |
| Spinneys | Mid-range | British products, quality produce |
| Waitrose | Premium | UK imports, specialty items |
| Organic Foods, Eataly | Premium+ | Organic, specialty |
Common Item Prices
| Item | Budget Store | Premium Store |
|---|---|---|
| Milk (1L) | AED 6-8 | AED 12-18 |
| Bread (loaf) | AED 5-8 | AED 12-20 |
| Eggs (12) | AED 10-15 | AED 25-35 |
| Chicken breast (kg) | AED 25-35 | AED 45-65 |
| Beef mince (kg) | AED 40-55 | AED 70-100 |
| Rice (5kg) | AED 25-40 | AED 50-80 |
| Pasta (500g) | AED 5-8 | AED 15-25 |
| Tomatoes (kg) | AED 6-10 | AED 15-25 |
| Apples (kg) | AED 10-15 | AED 25-40 |
| Bottled water (6L) | AED 5-8 | AED 10-15 |
| Coffee (250g) | AED 20-35 | AED 50-80 |
Carrefour and Lulu have weekly deals and bulk discounts. Union Coop gives dividends to members (anyone can join). Avoid convenience stores in residential buildings—prices are 30-50% higher.
Monthly Grocery Bills (Real Examples)
Budget Single (Carrefour/Lulu)
Basic cooking at home, simple ingredients, local brands. Weekly shop: AED 250-350. Monthly: AED 1,000-1,400.
Moderate Single (Mix of stores)
Regular cooking, some premium items, treats. Weekly shop: AED 400-500. Monthly: AED 1,600-2,000.
Family of 4 (Mid-range)
Regular home cooking, kids' snacks, varied diet. Weekly shop: AED 700-1,000. Monthly: AED 3,000-4,000.
Dining Out Costs
Dubai's restaurant scene is incredible but expensive. This is where budgets can spiral quickly—it's easy to spend AED 500 on a single dinner for two.
Restaurant Price Ranges
| Type | Per Person | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Cafeteria/Food Court | AED 15-30 | Indian cafeteria, food courts |
| Fast Food | AED 25-45 | McDonald's, Subway, local chains |
| Casual Dining | AED 60-100 | Nando's, PF Chang's, Wagamama |
| Mid-Range Restaurant | AED 100-180 | Nice dinner, licensed |
| Fine Dining | AED 250-500+ | Premium restaurants, celebrity chefs |
Per person, including drinks (soft drinks for unlicensed, alcohol extra for licensed)
Specific Meal Costs
| Meal Type | Budget | Mid-Range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast out | AED 25-40 | AED 50-80 | AED 100-150 |
| Quick lunch | AED 20-35 | AED 50-80 | AED 100-150 |
| Dinner for 2 | AED 100-150 | AED 200-350 | AED 500-1,000+ |
| Coffee + pastry | AED 25-40 | AED 40-60 | AED 60-90 |
| Friday brunch | AED 150-250 | AED 300-450 | AED 500-800 |
Friday brunch is a Dubai institution—and an expensive one. A "cheap" brunch is AED 200-250. Popular spots run AED 400-600 with unlimited drinks. One brunch per week adds AED 1,000-2,500/month to your food budget.
Alcohol Costs
Alcohol is expensive in Dubai due to 50% tax. If you drink regularly, budget for it seriously—this is where many expats underestimate costs.
| Item | At Restaurant/Bar | From Store |
|---|---|---|
| Beer (pint) | AED 40-70 | AED 10-20 |
| Glass of wine | AED 50-90 | — |
| Bottle of wine (basic) | AED 150-300 | AED 40-80 |
| Cocktail | AED 50-90 | — |
| Bottle of spirits | — | AED 80-200 |
Where to Buy Alcohol
MMI (African + Eastern) and Barracuda are the main retailers. You need a liquor license (free, apply online) or tourist pass. Supermarkets now sell alcohol in designated sections.
Monthly Alcohol Budgets
| Drinking Style | Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-drinker | AED 0 | UAE has great mocktail culture |
| Occasional | AED 300-600 | Few drinks on weekends, home drinking |
| Social | AED 800-1,500 | Weekly nights out, some bars |
| Regular | AED 1,500-3,000 | Multiple nights out, brunches |
| Heavy social | AED 3,000+ | Frequent bars/clubs, fine dining |
Happy hours exist (usually 4-8pm). Ladies' nights offer free drinks for women (usually Tuesday/Wednesday). Brunches include unlimited drinks. Buy from liquor stores for home drinking—bars charge 3-5x store prices.
Food Delivery Costs
Dubai has excellent food delivery—which is both convenient and dangerous for your budget. The apps make it too easy to order.
| App | Delivery Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Talabat | AED 5-15 | Largest selection |
| Deliveroo | AED 7-15 | Good restaurant selection |
| Careem | AED 5-12 | Includes groceries |
| Noon Food | AED 5-10 | Often has discounts |
| InstaShop | AED 10-15 | Grocery delivery |
Hidden Delivery Costs
- Menu prices often 10-15% higher than restaurant
- Service fees: AED 2-5
- Small order fees if under minimum
- Tips (optional but expected): AED 5-10
A AED 50 meal becomes AED 70-80 delivered. Order twice weekly, add AED 800-1,200/month to food budget.
Real Monthly Food Budgets
Budget-Conscious Single: AED 1,800/month
- Groceries (Carrefour/Lulu): AED 1,200
- Occasional dining out (4x): AED 400
- Coffee out (5x): AED 150
- Delivery (2x): AED 100
Cook 90% of meals at home, rare social dining.
Moderate Single: AED 3,500/month
- Groceries (mix of stores): AED 1,800
- Dining out (8-10x): AED 1,000
- Coffee/cafes (regular): AED 350
- Delivery (6-8x): AED 400
Cook most weeknight meals, eat out weekends, occasional delivery.
Social Single: AED 5,500/month
- Groceries: AED 1,500
- Dining out (15-20x): AED 2,500
- Coffee/cafes: AED 500
- Delivery (8-10x): AED 600
- Friday brunch (2x): AED 600
Active social life, regular dining out, brunch culture.
Family of 4 (Moderate): AED 6,500/month
- Groceries: AED 4,000
- Family dining out (4-6x): AED 1,500
- Kids' activities/treats: AED 400
- Delivery (4x): AED 600
Home-cooked weeknight meals, family outings on weekends.
Common Questions
Groceries are comparable to most Western countries—sometimes cheaper for basics, sometimes more for imports. Dining out is more expensive, especially with alcohol. If you eat out a lot back home, budget 20-30% more in Dubai.
Carrefour for bulk basics, Spinneys for quality produce and British products, and specialty stores for specific cuisines. Most people use 2-3 stores. Online grocery delivery (Careem, InstaShop) is popular too.
Almost certainly. Dubai has huge communities from everywhere. British, American, Indian, Filipino, Lebanese, Pakistani—there are specialty stores and restaurants for every cuisine. International City is particularly good for diverse, affordable ethnic food.
50% excise tax on alcohol. This is non-negotiable and applies everywhere. Budget-conscious drinkers buy from liquor stores (still expensive, but less than bars). Non-drinkers save significant money in Dubai.
A Dubai tradition. Hotels and restaurants offer all-you-can-eat-and-drink buffets, typically from 12pm-4pm. Packages range from AED 200-800. It's social, festive, and the main way many expats spend their Friday (the weekend day).
10% is standard at restaurants. Many bills include service charge already (check). Delivery drivers: AED 5-10. Not tipping isn't rude like in the US, but is appreciated for good service.
Excellent vegetarian options (large Indian population). Vegan is growing but less common. Most restaurants have vegetarian dishes. Dedicated vegan spots exist mainly in trendy areas (Dubai Marina, JBR, Downtown).
Almost everything in Dubai is halal by default. Non-halal products (pork) are sold in separate sections of supermarkets. Most restaurants are halal unless specifically noted otherwise.