Updated 26 October 2026
Monthly Grocery Budget for a Dubai Family: What a Basket Costs Today
Working out a monthly grocery budget for a Dubai family of four starts with knowing what the basics cost. We priced a typical basket of 16 everyday items across Carrefour, Lulu, Nesto, Viva and Kibsons on 26 October 2026.
Buying the cheapest match for each item, wherever it was cheapest, came to AED 155.28 for 15 of the 16 items. Bananas were not found at any store today. Here is where the savings are and how to build your own monthly figure from these prices.
What the basket costs today
No single store stocked the full basket today. Carrefour came closest with 11 of 16 items for AED 168.39. Viva had 8 items for AED 60.55, Nesto 4 items for AED 47.96 and Lulu 2 items for AED 41.40. Kibsons had none of the items listed.
Mixing stores and picking the cheapest option for each item gives AED 155.28 for 15 items. That is one of each item, so it is a starting point rather than a full month's shop. One item, the potatoes, adds a lot to that total, which we cover below.
Milk, eggs, yoghurt and cheese
For milk, Carrefour Full Fat Fresh Milk, 3.8L is AED 14.99 today, down from AED 19.99. LuLu Full Cream Fresh Milk 1 Gallon is AED 18.25, so Carrefour is the better buy for a large bottle today.
Eggs are much cheaper in bulk. White Eggs 30's at Viva cost AED 12.30, about AED 0.41 an egg. Al Jazira Super Six Eggs at Carrefour are AED 5.89 for six, around AED 0.98 an egg.
Al Ain Full Cream Fresh Yoghurt 1kg at Carrefour is AED 7.19. If you prefer Greek yoghurt, Al Rawabi Plain Greek Yoghurt 1 kg at Lulu is AED 23.15 on offer. For cheese, Pride Processed Cheddar Cheese Slices, 48 slices (800g) at Carrefour are AED 21.99, down from AED 26.49.
Rice, pasta, bread and oil
Ama Basmati Rice 5kg at Viva is AED 18.99 today, about AED 3.80 per kg. Sinnara Basmati Rice, 5kg at Carrefour is AED 29.99, or AED 6.00 per kg. For a family that eats rice often, that gap adds up.
Arbella Assorted Pasta at Viva is AED 2.99 for 500g. Assorted Arabic Breads 5's at Viva are just AED 1.19, while White Bloomer Sourdough Bread at Carrefour is AED 4.99 on offer.
Oil is where the cheapest shelf price is not the best value. Coroli Pure Sunflower Oil 750ml at Viva is AED 8.65, but that works out at AED 1.15 per 100ml. Nawar Sunflower Oil, 3L at Carrefour is AED 19.99, or AED 6.66 per litre, and Meezan Gold Pure Sunflower Oil 4Lt at Nesto is AED 31.99, or AED 8.00 per litre. If you cook daily, the Carrefour 3L bottle is the smart buy today.
Chicken and vegetables
Sadia Whole Chicken 900Gm at Nesto is AED 9.99 today, down from AED 17.99. Saha Fresh Whole Chicken Cut 12Pcs 800G at Carrefour is AED 18.49. Nesto is the clear winner for chicken today.
Nesto also has Tomato per kg and Onion per kg at AED 2.99 each, both half price. Red Onion at Carrefour is AED 4.69.
The only potatoes found were Baby Honey Gold Potatoes 680g at Carrefour for AED 34.59. That single item is more than a fifth of the AED 155.28 cheapest basket. Unless you specifically want baby potatoes, check for loose potatoes in store or skip them this week.
Tea and household basics
Samaara Premium (25 Tea Bags) Box at Viva is AED 3.88, down from AED 7.07. Rabea Express Tea Bags, 25 bags, at Carrefour are AED 5.59.
For household items, Viva has Fast Dissolving Laundry Detergent Powder at AED 5.03 and 3-Ply HD White Compact Toilet Paper Roll 150 Sheets at AED 7.52, down from AED 14.84.
Turning this into a monthly budget
Our basket is one of each item. A family of four will buy some things weekly and others once a month, so list how many times you buy each item and multiply by today's price.
For example, four bottles of Carrefour Full Fat Fresh Milk, 3.8L at today's AED 14.99 come to AED 59.96. A 5kg bag of Ama Basmati Rice at AED 18.99 may last a whole month. Fruit, which was missing from today's data, and meat beyond chicken will sit on top of this, so leave room for them.
| Store | Items found | Basket total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrefour | 11/16 | AED 168.39 | Widest range; best milk, yoghurt and 3L oil value |
| Viva | 8/16 | AED 60.55 | Cheapest rice, eggs, bread, pasta, tea and household items |
| Nesto | 4/16 | AED 47.96 | Cheapest chicken, tomatoes and onions |
| Lulu | 2/16 | AED 41.40 | Milk and Greek yoghurt only |
| Kibsons | 0/16 | AED 0.00 | None of the basket items found |
| Cheapest mix | 15/16 | AED 155.28 | Cheapest option per item across all stores; bananas not found |
Quick ways to save
- Buy eggs by the 30: Viva's tray works out at about AED 0.41 an egg against roughly AED 0.98 for a six-pack at Carrefour today.
- Check price per litre or per kg, not just the shelf price. The 750ml oil is the cheapest bottle but the dearest per litre.
- Split your shop: Viva for dry goods and household items, Nesto for chicken and vegetables, Carrefour for dairy.
- Watch for high-cost items like the AED 34.59 baby potatoes and look for loose alternatives.
- Prices and offers change daily, so recheck before a big monthly shop.
Questions
How much does a basic grocery basket cost in Dubai today?
On 26 October 2026, buying the cheapest match for 15 everyday items across stores came to AED 155.28. Bananas were not found today, so they are not included.
Which supermarket is cheapest for a family shop in Dubai?
No store had every item today. Viva was cheapest for rice, eggs, bread, pasta, tea and household basics, Nesto for chicken, tomatoes and onions, and Carrefour for milk and yoghurt.
Is it worth buying rice in a 5kg bag?
Yes, if you eat it often. Ama Basmati Rice 5kg at Viva is AED 18.99 today, about AED 3.80 per kg, compared with AED 6.00 per kg for Sinnara Basmati Rice at Carrefour.
Where is chicken cheapest today?
Sadia Whole Chicken 900Gm at Nesto is AED 9.99, down from AED 17.99. Saha Fresh Whole Chicken Cut 12Pcs 800G at Carrefour is AED 18.49.
Prices are taken from each store's website and leaflets and change daily; the shelf price is final.