Abu Dhabi residents share how they manage everyday expenses, save money, and enjoy family life in the capital without overspending.
For families living in Abu Dhabi, maintaining a good quality of life does not necessarily mean spending more.
Long-term residents say the key is to plan around essential expenses, save consistently, and make use of the city’s many family-friendly experiences across different price points.
Housing and education tend to take the biggest share of household budgets, while groceries, transport, insurance and other regular expenses can add significantly to monthly costs. The actual amount varies widely depending on where a family lives, the number and age of children, school choices and lifestyle.
Housing and education take the biggest share.
For Ameena Centeno-Zienelabeden, a Filipino executive housekeeper who has lived in Abu Dhabi for 26 years, housing is her family’s largest expense.
Her family spends around Dh5,000 to Dh7,000 a month on housing, about Dh2,000 on groceries, and between Dh750 and Dh1,000 on utilities. Transportation costs roughly Dh900 to Dh1,000 a month.
She puts the annual rent at around Dh60,000, while education can cost about Dh50,000 a year depending on the children’s requirements.
“The biggest cost or expense in Abu Dhabi is the housing rent,” Zienelabeden told Gulf News.
For larger families, the overall budget can be considerably higher.
Rolly Brucales, a Filipino managing director of a restaurant group who has lived in Abu Dhabi for 22 years, estimates that a family of five with two school-age children and one child in nursery could spend Dh21,000 to Dh43,000 or more a month.
His estimate includes Dh8,000 to Dh15,000 or more for housing, Dh3,000 to Dh5,000 for food and groceries, Dh4,000 to Dh10,000 or more for schooling for two children, and another Dh2,000 to Dh5,000 for nursery or childcare.
Brucales stressed that these are planning estimates rather than a fixed cost-of-living benchmark.
“Costs can vary considerably depending on the neighborhood, type of home, school, age of the children, and the family’s lifestyle,” he said.
Premium schools, larger homes, domestic help, frequent travel and extracurricular activities can all push household spending higher.
Build the budget around essential needs.
Alfonso Halibas III, a Filipino senior IT analyst who has lived in Abu Dhabi for 18 years, believes families should establish their essential expenses before allocating money to leisure.
“Families should first prioritize housing, education, food, transportation, and savings, and then set aside a reasonable amount for dining, travel, and leisure,” he said.
His family spends around Dh7,000 a month on a two-bedroom home and about Dh4,000 on food and groceries, with most meals prepared at home. Leisure and family activities account for around Dh2,000 a month.
His company’s school allowance covers part of his child’s education costs.
Halibas estimates that a family of four with one child in private school could require a core budget of around Dh14,000 to Dh20,000 or more each month, excluding substantial savings, holidays, loan repayments and other commitments.
He also recommends spreading annual costs such as school expenses, insurance, vehicle registration, holidays and home maintenance across the year so they do not become unexpected financial burdens.
Financial planning works better as a family effort
For Suramya Kuniyil, an Indian nurse who has lived in Abu Dhabi for 11 years, managing household finances is a shared responsibility.
“I believe it requires teamwork and effort from both husband and wife. By planning together, families can manage their expenses wisely, save for the future, and still meet their family’s needs without compromising their quality of life,” she said.
Kuniyil estimates that a family’s monthly expenses can reach Dh10,000 to Dh12,000 or more, depending on its size and lifestyle.
She also considers education a long-term investment rather than simply another monthly expense.
“I believe investing in our children’s education is one of the best investments we can make for their future.”
Her advice is to set clear financial goals while making use of the opportunities available in Abu Dhabi.
Don’t build a lifestyle around every dirham you earn
Elize Al Darmaki, a South African digital strategist and content creator who has lived in Abu Dhabi for six years, recommends thinking about benefits as well as salary when negotiating an employment package.
“When negotiating your employment package, don’t only focus on the salary,” she said.
School allowances, medical insurance, family visas, annual flights home and housing allowances can make a significant difference to a family’s finances over time.
She also recommends maintaining an emergency fund instead of building a lifestyle that depends on every dirham earned each month.
“Circumstances can change, jobs change, benefits change, and unexpected expenses happen, so having savings and an emergency fund gives your family a level of security that is incredibly important when you’re living away from your home country.”
Save before you spend
One point comes through consistently in residents’ advice: savings should be treated as a regular household expense rather than whatever remains at the end of the month.
Zienelabeden recommends setting aside money automatically before spending on non-essential items.
Brucales suggests maintaining an emergency fund covering around six months of essential expenses, while Halibas recommends three to six months of emergency savings.
“An increase in income should also be an opportunity to increase savings and investments, not simply expenses,” Halibas said.
Families can also create separate financial goals for children’s education, retirement and major future expenses.
Choose a home based on need, not status.
Housing can have one of the biggest effects on a family’s financial flexibility.
Zienelabeden advises families to choose accommodation according to their actual needs rather than social status or appearances.
“Try to become financially secure. Not only here but anywhere we go,” she said.
She also recommends planning school expenses several years ahead, particularly for families with more than one child, while keeping credit card debt and other expensive borrowing under control.
The same principle applies to education. Parents should consider what they can comfortably afford over several years instead of choosing a school purely for its reputation or perceived prestige.
Family life does not have to be expensive.
Despite the cost of housing and education, residents say Abu Dhabi offers plenty of ways for families to spend time together without large bills.
“Parks, beaches, cultural attractions, and family time can provide excellent quality of life without huge spending,” Zienelabeden said.
Brucales also points to the city’s beaches, parks, restaurants, and cultural experiences as ways families can spend time together.
“Financial planning should not mean postponing life until retirement. Make time for your family, create memories, and enjoy what Abu Dhabi has to offer,” he said.
Radwa Allabban, an Egyptian British managing director in strategic communications and government relations who has lived in Abu Dhabi for 15 years, believes families can also make better use of their social networks.
“I think Abu Dhabi offers exceptional quality of life in many ways,” she said.
Instead of always spending on restaurants and commercial entertainment, families can spend time with friends at home.
“We also have many close friends, so sometimes ‘home hangouts’ are the way to go.”
She also recommends comparing options before spending.
“There are options at almost every price point, so I always recommend looking around before spending. It’s important to still go out, travel, and treat yourself. For me, the balance is being intentional about those things rather than feeling like you constantly need to keep up with everyone around you.”
Don’t forget insurance and unexpected costs.
A household budget needs to account for expenses that may not arrive every month.
Health insurance, vehicle costs, home maintenance, and unexpected bills can quickly put pressure on families that budget only for routine spending.
Renante Abellanosa, a Filipino lead project control specialist who has lived in Abu Dhabi for 15 years, includes insurance among his family’s regular expenses.
His household spends around Dh21,000 to Dh25,000 a month. That includes about Dh10,000 for rent, Dh4,000 to Dh6,000 for food, groceries, and dining, Dh3,758 for insurance, Dh1,500 to Dh3,000 for lifestyle and shopping, Dh900 to Dh1,100 for utilities, and Dh700 to Dh1,200 for transportation.
Tracking these expenses has helped his family save, invest, and prepare for future needs.
Why families continue to choose Abu Dhabi
For many long-term residents, financial planning is ultimately about creating a stable family life rather than simply reducing expenses.
Residents point to safety, infrastructure, healthcare, education, multicultural communities and family-friendly neighbourhoods among the factors that make the capital attractive.
For Abellanosa, Abu Dhabi has become more than a workplace.
“Abu Dhabi is no longer just the place where I work. It has become our second home,” he said.
Halibas also values the city’s multicultural environment, particularly the opportunity for children to interact with people from different nationalities and cultures.
The UAE’s tax-friendly environment can also give families greater scope to save and invest when household finances are managed carefully.
The real measure of financial security
After years of living in Abu Dhabi, residents’ advice is less about cutting every possible expense and more about making deliberate choices.
Zienelabeden recommends budgeting for experiences as well as material needs and teaching children about saving and responsible spending from an early age.
Abellanosa puts the approach simply: “Enjoy today, but always prepare for tomorrow.”
For Brucales, financial success is not only about earning more. It is about creating a stable environment where children have opportunities and families still have time to enjoy life together.
Halibas similarly stresses the importance of avoiding lifestyle inflation when income increases.
The common message is straightforward: families do not necessarily have to sacrifice quality of life to achieve financial security in Abu Dhabi. The key is to understand where the money is going, spend according to priorities, save consistently, limit unnecessary debt, and make the most of the city’s experiences across different price points.
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Clockwise from top left: Alfonso Halibas III, Ameena Centeno-Zienelabeden, Elize Al Darmaki, Suramya Kuniyil, Rolly Brucales, and Renante Abellanosa
Supplied/ Gulf News
