A visit to Dubai is not cheap. It comes with a price tag that is usually quite substantial compared to many other places on average, which can make planning a vacation on a budget somewhat difficult. The city itself is considered pure luxury, with high-end accommodations that are practically futuristic in their designs. After all, when you travel to Dubai, that’s what you pay for.
That’s not to say a trip to Dubai isn’t worth it, especially for anyone in search of designer shopping and rooftop infinity pools. An entire trip can’t be done with just US$100 (obviously), but here’s what that amount could fetch for a budget traveler in Dubai.
What $100 will buy in food
One of the biggest benefits of visiting Dubai besides shopping is its delicious cuisine. While most restaurants see bills that average into the hundreds for two people, there are ways around those extravagant food costs. Before understanding this, we must first know the basics:
- Conversion rate: US$100 is equivalent to 367 Emirati dirhams.
Although this conversion rate gives the impression that one hundred dollars should earn a traveler a decent amount of coins, it is actually quite misleading. To put things into perspective, a pound of fruit or vegetables bought from a grocery store in Dubai will cost between two and four dirhams, according to Money. This equates to between 54 cents and $1.09, which is quite affordable; a pound of chicken or beef will cost between just over three dollars and nearly five US dollars. Now let’s compare a dinner.
Average cost of dinner in Dubai
According to Hikers Bay, the cost of a meal for two in Dubai is, at a 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 dinner costs are found in French restaurants, where an average meal for two costs around US$86, which equates to 316 dirhams. If we were to divide the cost of the cheapest meal in half, it would be 99 dirhams – which is the total cost for a day if the budget is 100 USD.
There are other options in Dubai that will be more affordable, such as fast food restaurants. However, the most affordable way to control food costs is to cook your own or check the local grocery store to see what’s available. On average, it would probably cost two travelers between $55 and just over $100 in food alone, per day, while traveling in Dubai. For a solo traveler, dining costs are lower and range from nearly US$30 to just over US$50 for the day.
Pro tip: Try scouting the neighborhood or local pub to cut down on food costs, or try street food in the neighborhood around the accommodation!
Now the big question: if a traveler sets aside a budget for shopping in Dubai, how much will they get a hundred dollars? This amount is very subjective in other parts of the world and especially in the United States, where $100 can vary greatly depending on the type of store it is used in. While in Dubai, many shopping options are priced higher and tend to overlap in cost.
On average, $100 will get travelers a thing or two on a shopping trip to Dubai. It’s not uncommon for a pair of jeans (especially designer brands) to cost close to that total budget, or even for a pair of Nikes to cost close to US$100. When it comes to shopping in Dubai, travelers planning to splurge should budget to reflect this – which will likely require upwards of $100.
Can $100 cover accommodation?
If 100 USD is the budget for a day, it is possible to find accommodation in this city in this price range. While many hotels will be out of the question, travelers looking to save money might consider staying in a hostel instead. The good thing about hostel accommodation is that some meals may even be included in the price; at the very least, travelers could have access to a kitchen to cook their own meals.
On average, prices for hostels in Dubai can range from US$50 to US$70 per night. This not only saves hundreds in accommodation costs, but will also give travelers some extra cash to gamble on during their trip. An extra $50 could be used for dinner or shopping.
Read more
About the Author
Comments are closed.