How much disposable income do I need?.

I am sorry, Stuart, even if I know it's for the best. You WILL find better, I promise!

Mandi

My meeting with the company and school directors didn't go well. They refused to increase my salary and insisted the cost of living was very low. Despite evidence to the contrary and similar teaching posts were paying twice the amount the school were offering me I refused to sign the contract. I'm a little disappointed but glad that I'm not going to struggle for the next two years trying to survive on 1500 QAR per month. If any of you know of any ICT, Maths,Business Studies, or Law teaching posts please let me know. Thanks for your advice.

Tell them you have been offered much more at another school!

I have my meeting with the company directors and school principle tomorrow. Going try my best to increase me salary. Do any of you have any tips when negotiating a salary?

Ha ha cycling or victims as they are known in the press. Doha is expensive as everything is imported.

OMG, do NOT cycle in Doha! a) you will be killed your first day. b) you will die of a heatstroke the first day. A middle class life would be 20,000 - 25,000 month for a person coming from the UK.

Mandi

In regards to transport, is Doha good for cycling? I was thinking of either shipping my bike over, or buy one when I arrive.

Ok, so...Let me imagine that I manage to either, increase my salary or even find a better job paying between 12000-15000QAR per month, will that provide me with an average standard of living?

Everyone has been saying how expensive Qatar is. What is living in Qatar like? What are the positives about living in Doha?

Surely if I buy local products, and cook from scratch, it'll be cheaper than buying supermarket products? Luckily I'm a damn good cook.

I remember the time I paid 5 GBP for Biopot yoghurt at MegaMart. Or 20GBP for a hamburger (it was a good one at Paloma's but I never did that again.) I think it's a minimum of 2,000 QR to rent a car here. And you need a car since there is no real public transportation. Taxis are about the same price as in the UK.

Mandi

9 pound for a beer in London, where the hell were you drinking!?!!?

You can get a booze permit here and buy from the one licenced shop, much cheaper than drinking out.

I've already started looking for different schools, I have just seen one job paying an extra 15000 QAR pm for teaching Business Studies which is much closer to me salary back in the UK and more importantly help me save for a deposit on a house when I return.

I would love to stay and teach in the UK, but sadly the cost of living is so painfully expensive that I'll never be able to afford to save for a deposit or clear my debts. Immigration to Qatar is the only viable option I have. Besides I always wanted to travel and I've always been interested in Middle Eastern culture.

Tutoring is a good idea and is something I was planning to do when/if I arrive.

£7 for a beer! I wasn't expecting the beer to be cheap, I've paid £9 for a beer in London a few times. Luckily I'm not a huge drinker. Hopefully a few years in Qatar may improved health. I'll just have to find another vice to keep me relaxed on a Friday night.

Stuart, do yourself a huge favour and only apply at Western schools here.

No, I am not joking. One reason is that they pay half way decent salaries.

And Stuart, it is "principal" not "principle".

Don't tell me you teach English, please.

You will also be able to able to do after hrs tutoring here... which if my friends in the teaching profession are anything to go buy, sometimes means you make more than your salary in a month

Ha ha a beer is 7 quid in a bar. No I am not joking. Food is expensive here as well. Stabucks is 17 QR which is about 2.85. Smoking is cheap and so are shwarma.

I would apply to some different schools here, they are always looking for new teachers and pay better than that.

Your both right, a small part of my reasoning to go work in Doha is to get away from a woman. But I do want to educate young people. I just wish my potential employer would offer me a salary I deserve. You all say how expensive Qatar is, well, how expensive is Qatar? How much is a coffee? a beer? How much will my average grocery bill cost? Are there any teachers reading this thread who could guide me through the pro's and con's?

Maybe he just wants to educate the kids, build a better world and a little suffering on his part is a small price to pay

But why would you want to come for the same equivalent salary? Or even less? There is no job security, the housing will be sub-standard, the hassles will be immense, and with such a low position, let me just say that a certain respect for you as a professional will be lacking. What am I missing? There's not that much adventure in Qatar. Oman, yes, Dubai, maybe. But Doha? Or is there a lady involved? Or is it none of my business?

Mandi

If accom and transport are covered, then yes 6k min if you want to have a life

How much should I budget for to live a reasonable lifestyle? 5/6k QAR?

Stuart, it is very expensive here, don't do it!!!!!

Its a secondary school owned by the Taleb group. I'm already looking for another school. But I will attempt to increase the salary on the 5th when I meet the company directors. I'm currently on £35000pa, the school said they will not match my UK salary. Which I had already expected, as long as I earn the same as my UK after tax income (£2030/13000QAR) I'll be happy. However something tells me that won't be happening.

teaching where and what? If it's a kindergarden, then it's a great offer. If it's a Qatar University, then don't accept it.

What they are offering is very poor. We were paying Clerks amounts close to that years ago.

Unless they DO increase the offer and significantly, don't give it any more thought.

End of Service Benefit that is paid in lieu of a pension. I think the minimum amount is 3 weeks per year of service after a number of years service Maybe 3 or 5 years). Not sure as it's some time since I left Qatar. No doubt others will fill in more accurate details.

What's the ESB?

could be the ESB.

How much do you think I should budget for my living expenses? will 5000 QAR be sufficient?

Unless it is double what they are offering, don't do it. Remember unlike the uk schools here are in the business of making money and one way to do that is to screw their teachers on their salaries!!!

Thanks you for everyone who replied to this thread.

The school is clearly taking the p***, if I can't raise the salary, then I won't accept. I better start looking for something better. Thanks guys you've been great.

Stuart

And all but your accommodation are required of employers in Qatar, so they aren't being that generous with the benefits. Let us know, but I'd be surprised if they came up to 13,000. Good luck.

Mandi

An NOC is a "no objection certificate." You cannot change jobs within Qatar without one. Schools don't generally give them. So if you want to leave your first employer in Qatar you must wait 2 years before working in Qatar again.

Mandi

Thank you guys for your help. I have the offer letter in front of me. The school is offering 8500 QAR a month, free accommodation, flights, medical care, plus a company bonus and gratuity after 1 years service. From what I've read from you, the school are taking the p***. I'm not sure what NOC is, can someone explain? I have a meeting on the 5th and would appreciate any advice on how to deal with salary negotiations. I am hoping to raise the salary to 13000 QAR. Which (after UK expenses leaves 8500 QAR of disposable income) Is that a reasonable salary to live on?

8500 QR a month, why would you accept that? I hope you are not a maths teacher or economics. Maybe you teach religious education and are crazy, in that case you should accept.

And if you ask what is an NOC, you aren't ready to talk to the school about salary, either.

Mandi

Oh, and you must know about needing exit permits and that you cannot change jobs. (You probably can't even get a loan with that salary, not that you would want one.) These schools will NOT give you an NOC. Period.

Mandi

The rule of thumb for expat salaries is your salary in the US/UK plus 25% plus housing, transportation, medical, air tickets, etc. Please realize there isn't public transportation per se in Qatar. The Qatar government won't even let anyone bring a spouse unless their base salary is over 10,000. I'd say that's the line for "middle-class." But again, why would you even be tempted? They are offering you peanuts and that's a real sign of how they will treat you later.

Mandi

Hello dear,

I am not sure what to tell you but each one of us is looking for something different and also in a different situation, the short answer is No unless you are here to join a family member or planing on staying here for few month till something else open up, Qatar is relatively expensive compared to many close by destinations but it could be decent and moderate for those who know how to save, wish u best of luck.

Thanks, is 8500 QAR pm not a good salary then?

I am meeting with the school principle and company directors next week, I'm going to try and increase my salary then. Ideally I'm looking for 1200 QAR as that more closely compares to my after tax salary here in the UK.

NO! Why, oh, why would you want to take a pay cut to come here??? This is not a kind place to those who are struggling financially. Let me just say that after skimping on food, you won't be able to go anywhere (no car) and you will have no money with which to do anything. Great life, huh?

Mandi