UAE | General

People speak: How expensive is your city?

Gulf News speaks to several people to take a look at major cities around the world, to see just how expensive, or not, Dubai has become.

  • Gulf News
  • Published: 00:00 December 24, 2006
  • Gulf News

  • Regina Hackett from Melbourne says public parks are free for public use in Melbourne, although parking is expensive.
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Gulf News speaks to several people to take a look at major cities around the world, to see just how expensive, or not, Dubai has become.

Kay Vosloo, Cape Town

"In Cape Town, the cost of living is extremely high ? I am much happier here purely because it is safe and quite affordable to get involved in many social activities and hobbies. Public transport needs improvement here although it still does not compare to South Africa. I wouldn't dare get on a train or bus there anymore purely for safety reasons. I think people forget how spoilt we are ?The toll in my opinion is a good idea. We can't expect the government to pay for everything we make use of."

Regina Hackett, Melbourne

"I think it's easier to get around with public transport in Melbourne. We have buses, trams, trains and taxis. In Dubai, taxis are great but now the price is going up and traffic is getting worse. People don't walk. I've never caught the bus here. I think it is odd to pay for public parks here because it's free in Melbourne. Parking is expensive back home though.I guess for the road toll, we will just have to pay it. It's quite annoying because the roads and traffic here are a mess."

Jacqueline Khale, Mumbai

"There is no way out of the road toll. I have to travel on the Shaikh Zayed Road everyday so I will have to pay. Comparatively, I think Mumbai and Dubai are as expensive as each other overall, but the public transport in Mumbai is far superior. Also catching a bus here for 20 fils is unheard of... I don't think parking is expensive here but I don't have to pay to park outside my house like some people. In Mumbai, we have designated parking, but petrol is more expensive."

Allison Amour, Paris

"Public transport here is non-existent but I think that the cost of getting around represents a minimal amount in our budget. It doesn't really affect the cost of living. The difference between Dubai and Paris is that here we have a choice to live very cheaply or very expensively but either way we can still maintain a way of living similar to France. You can eat out more frequently here that you would in Paris. I think park fees are quite justified because they are so well maintained."

Will Caulfield , London

"Comparatively speaking London is far more expensive, especially with taxis at about five times the price. If you travel by car, you have the congestion charge and then parking is an additional Dh14 or so an hour on top of that. So, I think the Dh4 Shaikh Zayed Road toll is pocket change in comparison and to complain about it too much is pretty laughable, especially as petrol is so cheap. In Dubai, there is a lack of alternative transportation, but they are working on that and hopefully the toll will ease traffic as well."

Carol Valmy-Merchant, New York

"Dubai is not more expensive than New York. It's incredibly reasonable here. Overall, what I find here is that taxis or access to fairs like Global Village that part of living here is very reasonable. For a fair like that you would pay Dh35 in the States. To get into Manhattan you also have to pay about Dh16 one way. We have alternatives but in the summer they are constantly working on roads and fixing potholes. Here the roads are good all year round."

Have your say
Are you happy with public services in the UAE? What more would you like to see done? In what areas specifically? Tell us what you think at letter2editor@gulfnews.com

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