Dubai has a reputation for luxury, but the city offers a much wider range of hotels, restaurants and activities than the premium end suggests.
The key is deciding which experiences you want to spend more on and where you are happy to keep costs controlled.
Plan your budget
How much will your trip cost?
Build a personalised estimate for flights, accommodation, food, transport, activities and other major travel costs.
Calculate My Trip →How much should you budget?
Dubai budgets are strongly influenced by hotel choice and paid attractions. A mid-range trip can look very different from a stay built around five-star resorts and premium dining.
Your final cost will depend on travel dates, booking time, accommodation standard and the experiences you choose. Treat estimated figures as a planning guide and compare live prices before booking.
Accommodation costs
Hotel prices vary by area, season and standard. Compare central locations with areas connected by the Metro rather than looking at room price alone.
Location can make a major difference, so compare the total value of staying centrally with the cost of travelling in from cheaper areas.
Food and drink
You can find inexpensive casual meals as well as some of the world's most expensive restaurants, making food one of the easiest categories to adjust.
A useful approach is to mix inexpensive everyday meals with a smaller number of restaurants or experiences you particularly want to try.
Getting around
The Metro can cover many journeys, while taxis are useful for places that are less convenient by public transport.
Remember to include airport transfers and any longer journeys or day trips rather than budgeting only for short local transport.
Activities and experiences
Observation decks, water parks, desert trips, beach clubs and premium experiences can quickly become a significant part of the total.
List your must-do experiences before travelling so that attraction and tour costs do not become an unexpected addition to your budget.
How to keep the trip cost down
Choose your expensive attractions in advance, use public transport where practical and compare hotel packages rather than automatically choosing the cheapest room rate.
You can also use the Mystique Getaways travel cost calculator to create a starting estimate for your own route, trip length and travel style.
Keep planning
Explore more before you book
Frequently asked questions
Planning your trip
Is Dubai expensive?
It can suit different budgets, but the biggest variables are usually flights, accommodation, season and travel style. Planning those costs first gives you a much clearer idea of the total trip price.
How much spending money should I take?
That depends on what you have already paid for. Build a daily allowance for food, local transport and activities, then add a buffer for optional purchases and unexpected costs.
How can I get better value?
Compare dates, accommodation areas and transport options before booking. Shoulder periods can sometimes offer a better balance of price, weather and crowds than peak dates.