Qatar most expensive country for living in GCC
Qatar’s tight rental market has made it the most expensive country to live in the GCC, according to a comprehensive analysis on the cost of cost of living in the region.
Details contained in publications by Cost of Living Reports (CLR), has revealed the true cost of life in the GCC across sectors such as accommodation, food, healthcare, education, transport and lifestyle.
The CLR’s GCC report has found that in a like-for-like comparison of seven measures, Qatar came out the most expensive overall, followed by the UAE, Saudi, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait.
Heavily influencing the result, the figures show the average cost last year to rent a two-bedroom apartment in Qatar was $42,930 a year, which was $15,540 more than the next highest average of $27,390 per year in the UAE, and 15 times more expensive than Bahrain ($2,849 per year).
Qatar also emerged as the most expensive GCC nation for:
- renting a car with a monthly fee of $2,773 to rent a small SUV – almost double the $1,390.50 cost for the same car in the UAE;
- annual gym membership in Qatar is $2,686.5 compared to $81 a year in Saudi and a meager $48 in Oman.
However, Qatar was the cheapest ($56.19) when it came to 21 typical food items, including bread, bottled water and a McDonald’s Big Mac - Bahrain is most expensive at $88.80, followed by Kuwait ($83.68), Oman ($74.28), Saudi ($61.85) and UAE ($61.32).
The report found the cost of power, water and sewerage for an average three-bedroom apartment was highest in the UAE at $268.5 per bill, with Oman the second-highest at $160, followed by Bahrain ($135.50), Qatar ($135) and Kuwait ($83).
Saudi was the cheapest country for utilities at a comparatively low $55.
CLR said the highest GDP was in Qatar at more than $100,000 per capita followed by Abu Dhabi at $90,000 per capita.
In Qatar, 94 percent of its population was expatriates, with the figure almost as high in the UAE at 80 percent.
Source: Arabian Business | Photo: Mariam Albalooshi in the QL Flickr Group
Of all the beauties i heard before coming to live and work in DOHA,I never knew it be a for only the RICH MARRIED.HOW ON EARTH WOULD THERE BE PREFRENCE ON SECURING ACCOMMODATION, LANDLORDS TELLS SORRY ONLY COUPLES.
But what do you expect people to do when so many people here are struggling to make money? Lots of families (and even individuals) cannot even afford an apartment to stay in because the cost of living in Qatar is so high, so renting a partitioned room is a good thing for them.
As Brit says, if there were no partitioned villas/apartments, then a large number of the poorer Asians wouldn't be able to live in Qatar at all.
The days when a family can easily afford to rent their own apartment in Qatar are long gone now.
I have seen/ known filipinos also doing the same...I mean partitioning or sharing. But as said by brit...would it be possible for many to rent out a place otherwise.
Qatar6789..
Question: If Rizks, sorry, I mean Indians did not do this, then would you still be able to afford to rent a place ?
Friends..I am agreeing with this report.... We all know that rent is too high. But what most of the Indains are doing. (i don't know about other nationalities). Indians specially Malayalis are taking flats and villas from direct owner, then making partition room and collecting 2000 QR for each room. you will think that how i know this. I am living in this type villa for 2500 QR.
We cant do anything for this. Govt authorities should implement legal rules. Otherwise its very difficult to survive in Qatar.
Absolutely correct report, yes the cost of accommodation has risen than anything else, you can't buy a decent family 1BHK within 3000 Riyals. Only Malabari partitions are available without any agreement or safety. But, if you see there are plenty of flats unoccupied if you go around Doha. But, still the rent seems to be not dropping because those owners are not bothered about the rent income they are losing because their income sources are overflowing. Because of this Malabaris are taking advantages and giving partition villas for high rents. In essence, there's no proper control from authorities to stabilize this inflation. Rent is the driving factor of this economy which has a direct link to inflation of products and services.
very expensive but nothing interested :
Regarding food items being cheap guess they didnt compare the portion sizes a few months back and now...the portion size, in most places, has been chopped off by 10-30 % with the price remaining same which indirectly means an increase in cost.
Well said Fubar,,,,,,,,Points are exactly noted,,,,,GDP rate too,,,,,for me, being bachelor, cost of eating is high,,,,almost 600 QR :(
i wil try to move to UAE with good salary package & best entertainment options too :)
lots of poorer people are tricked into coming to Qatar because they think it's the "richest country in the world". But when they arrive they discover the expensive accommodation, low construction standards, and high cost of living.
I feel sorry for these people. They would be happier in their home countries.
Rent is high but the apartment is of low quality and the design is very poor.
Rent is high. But how come Qatar the cheapest on bread/milk or other essential items? I saw the rate for bread to be almost double than in Saudi.
ya the Rent is so much , and than the Electricity and water bill is also coming more , is there in chance to decrees The accommodation Rent ?
There is a big difference between 94% and 80%
yes the rent increases and the living expenses also.. But no Salary increase.
i agree, very expensive, especially accommodation
yup, very expensive here in Qatar... more expensive than UAE... If I did not made a commitment from my present company here in Qatar, I already have fly out of Qatar 3 mos ago... what a waste...
Yes, Our standard rises daily with the new rising sun ....
Sun, 19.01.2014, 11.27 hrs ...