Basic neccessities in Doha

Salam Mohammad Umer,

I am coming to Doha and need some advise, can you provide me your number so i can call you and discuss.

[email protected]

Arif Khan

Hey everyone thanks for the info, very helpful and gives me an idea of what to expect and what to aim for in the package. Just waiting to get the complete description from the company.

Ricochet - it is a senior transport planning position with an engineering consultancy.

Mahmoudtello - I'm still trying to convince the family to come. My wife is a little aprehensive of leaving Australia for the Middle East.

Hello!

Moving to the Middle East can be a pretty big step if you are not originally from the region. So here is the lowdown on what basic things cost in Qatar in Qatari Riyal ( 1 USD = 3.65 QR)

House Rent:

Rent varies among different areas in Doha. It also depends on what type of accommodation you require.

A respectable 1 bedroom apartment in a decent neighborhood is for around 4,500 QR a two bedroom will cost you around 6,000 QR.

Weekly Food:

Here it really depends on your eating habits. If you prefer to eat out more than to prepare food at home you will obviously spend more. I'll list below some prices of food items.

6-pack bottled water (1.5L) = 12 QR

5 baguette bread loafs = 6 QR

200 grs. smoked turkey breast = 17 QR

3 pieces of tenderloin steak (1 kg) = 90 QR

Big Mac = not pretty sure but I think its for 20 QR

Alcohol (per glass at pubs) = 45-70 QR

Shawarma Sandwich = 10 QR

Casper and Gambini's burger = 45 QR

Utilities

In summer (AC's 24/7 on), the median utilities bill for a 2 bedroom apartment will be in the range of 200 QR. A villa however, will cost you around QR 500. In the cold or mild season, your bill will be around 150 QR in a 2 BR.

Internet

You can visit www.qtel.com.qa they are the providers of Internet in Doha. They have a lot of plans so check out which one suites you.

Mobile

Also available on the Qtel website, but I have a plan that gives me 700 minutes to talk local and international + 250 sms + 250mb + free 1gb BlackBerry service for 300 QR per month.

Transportation and Petrol

You simply can't rely on public transportation here. I'd advise you to purchase a car. You have to check if your Australian driving license can be converted to a Qatari one though. Go to the Classifieds -> Cars section on this website and take an idea of car prices (usually you have a bargaining range of 3,000-5,000 QR). Petrol is the cheapest thing you can buy here. 1 Liter = 1 QR :)

Hope this helped! You can PM me if you need more clarifications! Good luck with whatever you end up doing.

Any company in the Gulf should provide you with these in addition to your basic salary:

Accommodation allowance

Transportation allowance

At least 1 air ticket per year

Child education subsidy

So you'd better be expecting such allowances to be able to save money and make the stay here worthwhile!

Cheers,

Personal tip: Bring your family with you because it tends to be boring here.

Cost of a decent one-bed apartment in a Western compound/tower with good facilities (pool, gym, shop etc) is likely to be between QR 8,000 to QR 10,000 per month. If you're gonna share I would expect to pay about QR 3,500. You can of course get a lot cheaper places, it depends on how you want to live while you're here. Bear in mind that if you're planning on living alone you will have to pay a month's bond and probably half a month's rent as commission on top of the first month's rent.

Renting a modest car (I had a Honda Civic when I first came) cost me QR2000 a month. A 4x4 will be more like QR3,500/4,000 a month. You can buy old Jeep Cherokees for about QR20,000 but there isn't really such a thing as a cheap second hand car over here. Cheapest thing to do is to find a freelance driver who you like (they stand outside the malls), get his number and use him as a private driver.

Petrol is so cheap it's not worth thinking about. Groceries will cost you about the same as they did in Oz. Beer is QR40 a pint in the hotels or about QR180 for a 24-pack from the booze shop.

Ideally you want to have accommodation included in your package as this will be your major expense. If it's not included you probably need an absolute minimum of QR15,000 per month. If it is included you're going to want at least QR10,000 to have a life and send a bit home. Ideally you want double that figure though.

Also, make sure private medical insurance is included with the package (it's usually in there as standard).

Good luck.

just spend 1 hr in QL, Use "search" in top right, you'll get all needed info.

Dont gorget to say thanks to QLers:)

You have not mention your job or position you applied for, but anyway i suggest that you have to bargain for the salary depending on your qualifications. Ask the company if they can provide you accommodation and transportation service (drop and pick-up), it's hard to find public transport or taxis here but some people uses their car as taxi plying on the (main) roads. You can also make an arrangements to these private transport to have them as your daily transport service, you'll pay on monthly basis. Cost of Petrol is very cheap, full tank will cost you QR 40-60. Good Day and Good Luck!

You should have package Qr:10,000+ for good life here then you going to be save some money too other wise you won't able to save anything yes you can live here easily because you came here alone and live single here

guess you have to try, bet you should have a good package. the fact that you are coming alone enough to make lots of saving here.PrisonerofownDevice has given about estimate cost of living here, but somehow it depends on yourself...

Accomodation: seperate>minimum 3500 and shared> minimum 1000 to 1500(Including Internet+Utilities), Weekly FOOD: Depends on u, UTILITIES: Seperate Max. 500 , INTERNET: 233, VEHICLE: We have PT but better u get ur own CAR and Petrol is Cheap here

GUD LUK