Salary Package OK to Live and Save on??

I am smiling at what u wrote here. Not to sound like a male sexiest the facts are the facts. You have your housing paid for that is half the battle no worries for u at all about where your going to stay. Cars are cheap there. Take a taxi if you are going out to drink. You are an american woman if u play your cards right you will never buy a drink after your first one. No matter what your shape and size. I have lived in 5 countries in my lifetime so far had a great time and i have seen so many times that american woman choose to snub the locals when they are overseas. American woman are considered the holy grail by most cultures they adore them just to get to know them is thought of a highly achievable thing. So if you do play your cards right u can probably double your salary and find better employment. So enjoy yourself and it does get cold in qatar in the winter time. Life never knows where you are going to end up if you do take a step out of the normal life in america.

You can't teach experience...

I agree, take the offer, accommodation is the biggest uncertainty here but yours is provided.

One observation, though - I would definitely not try to get a driver if you're single, for the simple reason that you'll need a car to go ANYwhere, not just to work and back. A reliable driver to work and back will set you back more than car hire, and leave you without a car the rest of the time. Someone who has their family here and hires a driver then relies on family and friends to get around most of the time is in a different situation than you.

I'd strongly recommend spending 20-40,000 QR on a modest 4-5yr old car (or 20,000 more for a reasonable 4x4 which will command more respect and less chance of intimidation by many of the more reckless drivers). In a year it will not lose more than 10% in value, meaning it cost you about 2-6,000. In the meantime you'd've spent 20-30,000 on car rental or drivers and taxis.

Decent clothes are generally cheaper in the US from what I remember, and bars here are exclusively in 5star hotels at around 10$ a beer. Most people get a license and buy booze for consumption with friends at private parties - usually less risk of unpleasant encounters and considerably cheaper!

DJones, Take the offer.

Clothes:

Better to buy from the USA.

Here, most of the clothing is higher in price than European countries or the USA.

The only exception is when they are on sale.

One last advice: read something about dehydration in hot summer weather just to get informed. You come from a cold weather background and may have no idea what hot humid weather does to you... here is a link:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2337599_avoid-dehydration-hot-weather.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art

Always have drinking water at your disposal whenever you go out in Doha. Even if hot, water is needed by your body to compensate for dehydration.

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When dealing with others: Never judge a person from his first act

When dealing with myself: You don't get a second chance to make a first impression.

year and how many stop overs your willing to do...

If acomidations provided I doubt you pay utilities..

Good luck...

You can't teach experience...

Goodness, your travel allowance is almost $10,000 USD/yr. You can get a coach ticket to the US for well under $2,000.

Mandi

Hmm.. yeah I'm actually not sure about the utility bills. I hope I don't have them! :) As far as travel allowance, I hope it is enough to cover at least one trip home plus a visit or 2 elsewhere in the region. Although, I've never purchased a round trip ticket to the middle east before so I guess I have no idea what that is going to run me.

I never heard of a monthly travel pay???

Most get one round trp ticket back home...

It's a good packaage....

You can't teach experience...

nice to know your mind's at ease now, DJones. sefri did put a lot of thought into that post. ^^

Welcome, D! I think you'll live very well here on the amount you've talked about. Do speak to your tax advisor, there are residency requirements you will need to meet in order to exclude part of your federal tax burden. You will still owe all state taxes, if applicable. Also ask if you will need to add the "fair market value" of your housing onto your taxable income. Really the "high" cost of living chiefly reflects the housing here. The rest is comparable to the US, higher in some areas, lower in others. But you will do better with the sales and selection in clothing in the US. Yes, it's best to cover knees, shoulders, bosom and butt with loose, airy apparel. Always remember, it's not just a job, it's an adventure!

Mandi

You can't teach experience...

Wow, thanks so much for all the input. I Thought it seemed like a pretty good package for me, I could DEFINITELY be living easy on that here in the States. I just wasn't sure when I see so many people posting HUGE QR amounts per month on this forum and a bunch of responses saying, "ohhhhh that might not be enough..." It freaked me out! Anyway, I am probably going to be out that way in July or August. :)

Last question, my summer wardrobe is mainly shorts, skirts and tank tops. I realize I should be covering shoulders and knees (HUGE adjustment for me) so I'll probably have to overhaul my closet. Is it more expensive to purchase clothes in Doha? Would I be better off shopping here beforehand? Thanks!!!

Hello,

This is what you are provided with in Qatari Riyals (1 US$ = 3.65QR):

Salary 3,500 = 12,775 QR

Travel 825 = 3011 QR

Transportation 500 = 1825 QR

Storage/Maint 450 = 1642 QR

Phone 50 = 182 QR

Shipping 175 = 638 QR

Now for the ratings:

Yearly Costs:

1- Travel total = 3011 X 12 = 36,132 QR. This should get you traveling all year through to all neighboring countries without a problem. It is excellent.

2- Storage/Maintenance = 1642 X 12 = 19,704 QR. This is also excellent. You should save a lot out of this. I don't believe you will even spend 25% of it all year through.

3- Shipping: 638 X 12 = 7656 QR. This is fair if you are shipping some goods back to the USA or from there to here, but only one way!

Monthly Costs:

1- Basic Salary: 12,775 QR. For a single lady, this is very good. I will give some spending examples below, but rest assured you should save out of this at least 40-50% if you are not a big spender as you claim.

2- Transportation: 1,825 QR. With this amount you should rent a small car (Nissan Tiida => 1.6 liter engine), which is not bad (average). But it is slightly on the edge. Buying a car would very much depend on how long you plan to stay here. For one year, it is better to rent a car.

3- Phone: 182 QR. This is more than enough for your local phone charges, but for international calls, it is not enough at all. One minute to foreign countries costs around 2.5 to 3 QR. So if you phone home regularly 3 times a week for about 10 minutes of time on each occasion, it would cost you around 400 QR.

The FSA should not count in your calculations as it is yours to save, so I did not include it.

Spendings & Important things to watch for:

1- Medical Insurance Coverage (especially dental): This is very important, otherwise, you will spend a part of your maintenance package on this issue. I hope that isn't what they mean by maintenance :-)

2- Monthly food and living costs would be around: 2,500 QR. This is more than enough for you...

3- Monthly Water & Electricity: 400 QR.

4- Internet with land phone line: 250 QR per month (with this option you can save a lot on international phone calls by calling through internet-around 10US$ per month only).

5- Meal in a classy restaurant: 100-150 QR. In a good restaurant: 50-100 QR. In a quick meal place: 25-50 QR.

6- I can't help you on the drinks issue because I am a Muslim and don't drink...

7- Doing you hair: 100-150 QR.

8- Fuel costs around: 150 QR per month for a 1.6L car.

If you consider monthly spending costs for recreation at: 1500 QR, then your monthly spending should not exceed 5,000 QR, which is less than half your basic salary.

You should note that you will not have all the freedom you have in the USA, and you may feel being targeted and observed by some people around here, but it doesn't get any further than that. It is very safe around here.

The summer is very hot and very humid, but most places are air conditioned.

Based on this, you decide...

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When dealing with others: Never judge a person from his first act

When dealing with myself: You don't get a second chance to make a first impression.

you have mentioned if it is in USD (Qar.23k)then it's a very good salary package but if it's in QAR then it's an average salary.

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Everybody wishes they could go to heaven but no one wants to die.

I see that you are pretty busy scaring away the girl...

Seriously...one simple question...

Enough or not...

$6500/- = QR 23400/-

Thats the math...

Beat that math for a Single girl...

Sheeeesh people, you're ranting on a thread when its a simple deal...and what "PERSON" said was absolutely true and I totally agree...

Cut the crap people...its a simple deal...the rest of the answers about Living, Friends, Pubs, Shopping, Car, Rentals etc etc is something that is discussed, answered on pretty-much an alternative-day basis...so finding for some answers and rather searching for them, shouldn't be given easy...not that I dont want to help, but somethings are to be sought after on your own...as would the startup of a new life in a new place would be sought after ON YOUR OWN!

Stay tuned on QL and you should make a pretty COMFORTABLE AND DECENT START!

All the Best!

P.S: Its a damn good offer...TAKE IT !!!

guys scared the girl now. djones come back come back come back.

lol at darude

Just come me and vegas will get you to get you settled here for good. right vegas.

relax, Person was talking about DJones the whole time, Vegas..

You can't teach experience...

It really gets to me when people come to ask about what is clearly a very good salary for anyone in their twenties anywhere in the world, especially for the job title, and everyone comes out with ooooh, it's SO expensive, you can't live a 'Western' life on that! IT IS NOT TRUE. This offer is plenty and I know many Western young people who don't get half of that and they are doing fine. Oh, and I also know skilled people of her age from certain other parts of the world, who make around the same figure - in riyals. You see, everything is relative.

To DJones, there are a few bars, and you can hire a driver but why not drive? It's not necessarily as horrible as they make it sound. Have you ever lived abroad before? It's just another different place over here.

There are lots of us expats, and you'll find some friends in no time. Then again, it depends on what kind of person you are; an independent nature and lots of patience will make life easier...

I rarely look at profiles...

Maybe I shouyld more????

You can't teach experience...

The math says if it is totaling twice what you make now, then yes it is a good deal.

Some things to consider:

You can rent a compact car for as little as $200 (US) per month.

Food is roughly the same as it is in the States, restaurant are slightly higher.

Recreational can be as much or as little as you want to spend. If you are okay going out for coffee or to a movie it won't be much, if you want to rent a helicopter it's going to cost you more. That all depends on what you like to do.

Be prepared for the heat and the bad driving. Summer temps can reach above 115 and some of the people that drive here are worse than anywhere I have seen; and I have traveled to all 50 states and a dozen or more countries.

I'm not sure about the monthly travel allowance, I believe CMU tends to pay "home country house maintenance" and an annual travel allowance, but I could be mistaken.

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What difference does it make to the dead whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or democracy?

-Gandhi

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What is going to be that expensive? I'm going to pay for car, food and recreational activities. How much do I need a month for these things?!

Cost of living here is really high. Shall we say high inflation rate. If you are to lead a very western type of life style then its not enough.

i wouldn't really say, show her the ropes..coz ummm..hmmm, were not really close. lol.

btw, you snoop on profiles, eh? i wonder if youve looked at mine already too.

You can't teach experience...

oh, my bad. but fyi, im having a time of my life too. lol.

well, there's always ways to read the other's emotions when he was writing it, you know. like when one puts too many question marks, or exclamation point or makes the words in caps. besides i was pertaining to that one when you defended why youre so active in QL. its mainly coz u think out loud too much and not specifally coz ure bored out of ur wits. am i wrong..again? sigh.

Why would I be defensive???

It's tr4ue I have had my moments on QL...LOL

You can't teach experience...

you sound(read?) defensive of my post, mr vegas. are you? one shouldnt take what i say here in QL seriously..im quite a light (not literally), happy person. yes, i think out loud too much, as well..it's making my boyfriend bored quite often. ^^

i wonder, why would u think im having the time of my life?

You should have the time of your life...

I have had my moments SenYo...

But those who really know me know I just speak my mind too much at times...But don't we all???

You can't teach experience...

if ure not a prejudice, i say it's quite easy to meet people. lol. you're not one of those snobby white girls, are you? kidding.

yep, traffic is bad.

that would be nice, wouldnt it-- be away from sub0temps? well, you're about to go to the equally opposite!

oh and yeah, be watchful of people like vegas as it is according to him that he is a bad apple. nu-oh, we don't like bad apples.

apples like me...QL social group is a good place to start. And the people you will be working with...

You can't teach experience...

And I do keep seeing warnings about the driving. I am scared. :-$ I think I would opt for a driver instead of renting a car myself! Would this be more expensive??

Would you guys say it's relatively easy to meet people in Qatar? I would be coming alone and know no one! I'm from Ilinois where winters are BRUTAL, so I would not mind the stifling heat for a few months if it means I can escape blizzards and sub zero temps. :)

Just a matter if your willing to fight the traffic and the heat...I usually hibernate for the summer...

But most of us do our QLing at work...Those that are working I mean...Lots of spouses use it for entertainment and information...Meet ups ect...

You can't teach experience...

@ Vegas. yes, i was actually thinking that at the back of my head when i wrote that last post for the missus. i pressume you affirm what i wrote there.

Actually most of us are on while at work...LOL

You can't teach experience...

yes, Djones..tax-free! another pro there in your "yes, i'll take the job" list.

but more than the income-- have you, first of all, considered the way of life in the middle east? a lot of Qlers here would prolly tell you it's quite boring for them. hmmmm, u better add that to your "im turning the offer down" list.

You can't teach experience...

you are at work to work not to sleep and if that dumb pope is sitting next to you whack him and tell him answer my calls

okay, i confess..i just missed you reason why i came back

You can't teach experience...

being an active qler have seen alot of members showing up on forum and then vanishing

about being alive..were you pertaining to me, darude? if u are..well yes, i'm alive and kicking! thank u very much. you, on the other hand never seems to lose edge here in QL. ^^

yes it's about times 3 in QR. i wouldnt say NOOO right away without thinking it thoroughly..i mean it is not a bad offer. on the side of things, im being a realist here..for a non qatari, around QR20K with paid in housing is small for you, darude? she's single. i guess, if it was double of what she's earning..she's probably not going to think thrice about this decision to make.

going back-- but it's not of a big difference, financial wise. this is a tight choice to make considering you're changing continents of where to live in just for a few pennies higher but so away from your family and friends. if you ask me, i'll do it just for the adventure/excitement of it. see and be a part of a different place and culture, besides US isnt doing so good now. if things dont work well for you in doha, you can always go back to your comfort zone or as simply put, your home..back in the US. years from now, economy is prolly doing better than it is now-- you can still get a better job back home.

You can't teach experience...

That is a huge relief as I am really leaning toward taking it! Thank you for the advice.

Some IT guys make triple that...

And say security guards mnake that but work long hours.

And secretary may make a third...

3.65 is the exchange rate.

Good money for someone in her 20s I think

You can't teach experience...

if that you calculated in USD sum up 6375 then its ok for a single like you alot so take it. but if its in Qatari amount then i think you can earn better back at home,

That's what I thought, but it's my understanding that I will still have to pay taxes to the US- but only on the basic salary and Foreign Station Allowance. Thanks.

You can't teach experience...

6375USD per month. Out of which I rent a car and phone and have free housing.

This forum is so confusing!! in past threads I see some people say numbers like this are ok and some say it is awful! Also, I don't see distinctions between QR or US or per month, or per year... Help! I don't want to live like a pauper half way around the world. :$

@ DJones

yes it is intimidating, isnt it? changing jobs is a big decision..what more if you're changing your job and the country to live in, then as it follows-- your friends, environment, social life-- etc... it's a huge decision! hmmm but i'm prolly not helping you by saying all this.

lol

YOU MEAN 6375 is all you will get???

NOOOOOO you beeeeetttttttter quit it.

Thanks for the feedback. I wasn't sure if I should try to negotiate for higher basic salary off the bat or if the allowances on top made this ok. I just don't want to move into something where I will be living beneath my current means and there is so much internet talk about the HIGH cost living.. it's a bit intimidating!

you are still alive where have you been i thought you passed away :D

look at the older forums over the months..you'll prolly find useful tips, facts and infos regarding in and about doha; and the culture, cost and way of living in qatar. goodluck!

if single good

if double fair

if triple unfair

if quad better go find other job

good luck

The "basic salary" is only slightly higher than my current salary. All the allowances on top of that, though, essentially double what I make. However, I imagine I'll be making use of these allowances to offset the higher cost of living? I do pay for my apartment currently but my car in the US is paid off. I'll have to rent a car each month in Doha (or pay for drivers) but not pay rent. The company does provide travel allowance of $500USD per month. Thanks!

only a slight difference from what youre earning? but it depends..are you paying for your own apartment at your present situation? theyre giving furnished housing, arent they? housing is expensive in doha but yours is paid for. my opinion--then 6k isnt so bad. for a woman in her early or mid 20's to be earning the way you are, qatar or not in qatar, is more than nice. and yes there are bars in qatar. goodluck!

Well, the travel allowance is meant to accommodate flights home (to the US) but I can spend it on whatever I want I suppose. I would like to shoot over to Europe at some point as I've never been. :) The phone allowance I think is to offset the long distance charges? Shipping allowance is to have things from the US shipped to me each month. I don't know at this point what I'd even need to have shipped over!! Maybe movies on a netflix account or something?

The company gives me $15 for phone. What's shipping? Wait, $825/month for travel? Travel to where? Must be a mistake, ya? How about housing allowance?