To reassure youself about the cost for accomodation go to the Gulf News classifieds online and a place like
www.dubizzle.com. You'll see that the monthly allowance is more than adequate. These online sites (another is Kaleej times) will also help you determine the cost of cars too. For other stuff like groceries do a search in the archives-I know I've replied to these sort of requests before and so have others....you'll find dbxsoul's replies really helpful (he answered loads of questions I had before we arrived and they were spot on!!)- Carrefour, from memory also has its weekly specials online and this can be a good indicator of COL. It does depend on where you shop of course, but briefly here are a few indicators from my shopping list:
1 litre milk DH5
1 loaf white bread DH3 to DH7
2 litre juice DH10
24 cheese slice DH10.50
1 litre of cream DH 12
Australian Lamb chops DH 28 per kg
Australia beef mince DH 18 per kg
Chicken breast fillets DH26 to DH30 per kg
Australian Rib eye steak DH 32 per kg
2 litre tub Baskin Robbins icecream DH30
1.2 kg fresh whole chicken around DH15
30 fresh eggs DH12
Fish seems to be cheap and around the DH30 per kg up but Hammour is especially nice and considered to be a "local" fish. Overall fruit and veg varies in price according to the season and also according to it's origin. Currently mangoes are very expensive at around DH25 per kg, cherries (close to Xmas though) at Dh33 per kg. But apples are around Dh4 per kg, bananas Dh3 per kg, carrots Dh3 per kg,ya/ nashi pears Dh2 to DH3 per kg, watermelon Dh2.90 per kg (this is expensive tho as a few weeks back it was around Dh1 per kg)
Eating out varies too. Local bakeries and small restaurants without alcohol are cheap as are fast food places like KFC, Hardees, McDonald's, Burger King, Pizza Hut which all deliver. If you eat at Hotels some have buffets plus all you can drink ( INCLUDING alcohol) for LESS than DH150 per person and these are really nice places.
If you are moving get hold of a Dubai Explorer, the must have book and when you get here get The Connector free book and What's On and Time Out magazines.
Hope you haven't fallen asleep!! Cheers!!