Groceries in Dubai are easy to budget once you understand two things: how often you cook at home, and which supermarkets you use. Most freelancers can expect to spend about AED 1,000–2,500 per month on groceries as a single person.
If you cook most days and buy mainly basic staples, you will sit closer to the lower end. If you prefer imported brands, premium stores, and convenience foods, your monthly total can rise quickly.
This article explains what that budget looks like in real life. It covers prices for everyday essentials, a weekly grocery basket for one person, and shopping choices that keep your grocery bill predictable.

Key takeaways

You can budget AED 1,000–2,500 per month for groceries in Dubai.
Your grocery cost depends mainly on how often you cook and where you shop.
A basic weekly shop for one person often lands around AED 100–190, before extras.
Shopping at value supermarkets, choosing store brands, and sticking to a simple list keeps spending steady, while online add-ons can push your total up fast.

Grocery cost in Dubai for a single freelancer (monthly budget)

A realistic monthly grocery budget in Dubai for one freelancer is AED 1,000 to AED 2,000. The exact number depends less on “Dubai prices” and more on your routine.
If you cook most meals and shop at value supermarkets, you will spend less. If you buy imported brands, snack a lot, or rely on convenience foods, you will spend more.

Monthly grocery cost for a single freelance

To sanity-check your plan, convert it into a weekly number. AED 1,200/month is about AED 300/week. AED 1,800/month is about AED 450/week. That makes it easier to stay on track when you shop.

If you are mapping out the Dubai cost of living for freelancers, groceries are one of the most predictable categories. Once you pick your shopping style, your monthly spend becomes easy to control.

Typical food prices in Dubai for everyday essentials

As a freelancer, you don’t need a long price list. You just need a sense of what the weekly basics usually cost, so you can spot a “normal” basket versus an expensive one.

In Dubai, the same item can cost less or more depending on the supermarket, whether it’s on promotion, and whether you choose local or imported brands.

Here are common price ranges you will often see for everyday essentials: Food prices for everyday essentials in Dubai

The price ranges above are based on a quick scan of everyday items on the Carrefour UAE online store. They are meant to help you budget, not to act as fixed prices.

A simple way to stay on budget is to watch the “silent inflators”. Imported products, snacks, soft drinks, and convenience foods can push your total up quickly.

If you keep most of your basket to staples, seasonal fruit and veg, and store brands, your grocery spend is much easier to control.

A realistic weekly grocery basket for one person

If you want a simple way to estimate your weekly grocery budget in Dubai, use a basic “home-cooking” basket. It includes everyday staples that most freelancers buy often. Prices change by supermarket and brand, so the total is shown as a range.

Weekly grocery cost for a freelancer in Dubai Note: Basket totals vary based on store, brands, and weekly specials.

A realistic total for this basket is about AED 100–190 per week. That answers the question, “how much is groceries in Dubai?” for a basic, cook-at-home routine.

If you add “extras” like snacks, soft drinks, premium coffee, or imported items, the same weekly shop can easily move up by AED 50–150.

Cheapest places to buy groceries in Dubai

If you want to spend less on groceries in Dubai, choose your supermarket carefully. Prices can change a lot from one store to another.

For your main weekly shop, use value supermarkets. These stores usually have better prices on everyday basics.

Good examples are:

Carrefour
LuLu Hypermarket
Union Coop
Nesto
Viva

Premium supermarkets are usually more expensive. They often sell more imported products and speciality items. Common examples are Spinneys and Waitrose. M&S Food is also on the premium side.

A simple rule works well. Do your big shop at a value supermarket. Only use premium stores for a few specific items you cannot find elsewhere.

How to save money on groceries in Dubai

Shop at value supermarkets most of the time.
Do your main weekly shop there. Use premium stores only for a few specific items.
Choose store brands for everyday basics.
This works well for items like rice, pasta, bread, water, and cleaning products.
Shop with a simple list.
A list stops impulse buys. Snacks and convenience foods can raise your total fast.
Avoid “extras” when shopping online.
Delivery is convenient, but it makes add-ons easy. Stick to your list and check out quickly.

Plan your grocery budget with confidence

Your grocery bill in Dubai comes down to three choices: where you shop, what you cook, and how often you buy convenience items. When you set a monthly range and shop with a short list, your spending stays steady. That frees you up to focus on the real goal: building consistent freelance income.

How Much Do Groceries Cost for Freelancers Living in Dubai?