Rs 3.6 lakh a month in Dubai? Indian couple shares where their money goes
An Indian couple in Dubai shared a detailed video breaking down their fixed monthly expenses. Their estimate has sparked online discussion over what it really costs to live in the city.
For many, life in Dubai is often associated with luxury and glamour. But an Indian couple living in the city has offered a different perspective by sharing exactly how much it costs them to get through a typical month.
Their expense breakdown, totalling between 13,000 and 14,000 UAE dirhams (roughly Rs 3.34 lakh to Rs 3.6 lakh) in fixed monthly costs, has struck a chord with viewers seeking a more realistic picture of everyday life in the UAE.
The couple, who run the Instagram page @visa_and_vadapav, posted a video walking viewers through their household budget. They clarified that the figures cover only their regular monthly commitments and do not account for vacations, luxury purchases or occasional splurges.
Leading the list is a monthly EMI of 6,000 dirhams (around Rs 1.5 lakh), making it their single biggest financial commitment. Their utility bills come to another 1,500 dirhams (around Rs 39,000).
Unlike many households, the couple admitted they don't spend much time cooking at home. Because of that, groceries cost them only 500 dirhams (around Rs 13,000) each month, while eating out pushes their food bill up by another 1,500 dirhams (around Rs 39,000).
Commuting also takes up a sizeable share of their budget. The husband spends about 1,700 dirhams (around Rs 44,000) each month on fuel, parking and Salik tolls for his car.
Meanwhile, the wife, who travels between Dubai and Abu Dhabi for work several times a week, spends 1,700 to 2,000 dirhams (roughly Rs 44,000 to Rs 51,000) on transport.
Their monthly expenses also include 250 dirhams (around Rs 6,000) for a cleaner who visits every week and 1,000 dirhams (around Rs 26,000) kept aside for miscellaneous costs.
Watch the video here:
Explaining the video, the couple wrote, "Here's what it costs us as a couple living in Dubai. Please note: This is almost fixed monthly expenses – Any fancy dinner, activities are over and above this!"
The post quickly became a talking point online. While some viewers were surprised by how much everyday life costs in Dubai, others said the figures felt refreshingly honest compared to social media's often-polished image of life abroad.
Many appreciated the transparency, with several users sharing that the couple's breakdown closely reflected the expenses faced by working professionals in the city.
For many, life in Dubai is often associated with luxury and glamour. But an Indian couple living in the city has offered a different perspective by sharing exactly how much it costs them to get through a typical month.
Their expense breakdown, totalling between 13,000 and 14,000 UAE dirhams (roughly Rs 3.34 lakh to Rs 3.6 lakh) in fixed monthly costs, has struck a chord with viewers seeking a more realistic picture of everyday life in the UAE.
The couple, who run the Instagram page @visa_and_vadapav, posted a video walking viewers through their household budget. They clarified that the figures cover only their regular monthly commitments and do not account for vacations, luxury purchases or occasional splurges.
Leading the list is a monthly EMI of 6,000 dirhams (around Rs 1.5 lakh), making it their single biggest financial commitment. Their utility bills come to another 1,500 dirhams (around Rs 39,000).
Unlike many households, the couple admitted they don't spend much time cooking at home. Because of that, groceries cost them only 500 dirhams (around Rs 13,000) each month, while eating out pushes their food bill up by another 1,500 dirhams (around Rs 39,000).
Commuting also takes up a sizeable share of their budget. The husband spends about 1,700 dirhams (around Rs 44,000) each month on fuel, parking and Salik tolls for his car.
Meanwhile, the wife, who travels between Dubai and Abu Dhabi for work several times a week, spends 1,700 to 2,000 dirhams (roughly Rs 44,000 to Rs 51,000) on transport.
Their monthly expenses also include 250 dirhams (around Rs 6,000) for a cleaner who visits every week and 1,000 dirhams (around Rs 26,000) kept aside for miscellaneous costs.
Watch the video here:
Explaining the video, the couple wrote, "Here's what it costs us as a couple living in Dubai. Please note: This is almost fixed monthly expenses – Any fancy dinner, activities are over and above this!"
The post quickly became a talking point online. While some viewers were surprised by how much everyday life costs in Dubai, others said the figures felt refreshingly honest compared to social media's often-polished image of life abroad.
Many appreciated the transparency, with several users sharing that the couple's breakdown closely reflected the expenses faced by working professionals in the city.
