Job Discussion Forums

Sheika Taylfetha · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 13

Hi I'm new to Dave's although I've been following the posts for months. I have accepted a teaching position and am about to move to Qatar. I would really appreciate some help with the answers to these questions.
1. I can get a GOOD laptop in my own country for about 3500 QR. Could I get a good one cheaper in Qatar?
2. Is there a cheap way of calling home i.e. can you buy international 'phone cards there that allow you to call home cheaply?
3. I lead a fairly quiet life. Would it be possible to save much on a monthly income of 10000 QR (housing and all utilities are provided - the 10000 QR is just for food, entertainment, telephone)?

Thanks Very Happy

millie18 · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 185

Calling home can be done on your mobile - I usually do it on Fridays (lower rates) and it costs between 15 - 25 QAR for about a 10 - 15 minute call to North America. Skype can be hooked up and of course that would be cheaper - a lot of people use it.

Computer, I don't know. I bought one in December (laptop Toshiba Satellite) for QAR4500 but I don't know if that was a "good deal" compared with home or not - I've been here too long.

QAR10,000 per month - if you don't drink, go out to eat at 5* hotels every weekend or feel the need to travel extensively on holidays. On average, you should be able to save 60 - 70% of your monthly salary IF you don't feel the need to buy or rent (about QAR1700 per month) a car.

Transportation in and around Doha will be your biggest concern. Taxis are relatively inexpensive by Western standards, you pay for distance but not time spent (which is good because there's a lot of traffic here) - but they are scarce at times - usually when its 50+C and 100% humidity and you've just come out of the grocery store with butter and ice cream.

Average trip say within 5 kms of your residence 12 - 15 QAR more at night.

Sheika Taylfetha · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 13

Thanks Millie18. You've been a big help

wilberforce · Joined: 27 Dec 2008 Posts: 647

wilberforce · Joined: 27 Dec 2008 Posts: 647

thursday12 · Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Posts: 93

took me a year ta settle in & still settlin

stickleback · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 76

Took me six months, I got confortrable and then things began to go downhill so left. Qatar is a nice quiet place to live but no action.

wilberforce · Joined: 27 Dec 2008 Posts: 647

I've been here since King Malachy's day and I still haven't settled in. Too many changes makes things unnerving. The cost of living puts you off from going out too much. People don't go out for a yakety yak anymore. They just want to get pi***d. That's too bad.

Sheika Taylfetha · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 13

Well, I have no objection to getting pi#@ed in my own country but it seems a bit pointless in a country that is not into that particular activity. Other than a reasonable boss I think all I'll really need to be happy there is a good bookshop, a library, a good hairdresser and cheap fruit and veggies. Is this too much to ask I wonder?

wilberforce · Joined: 27 Dec 2008 Posts: 647

We have all of those here. Cheap veggies means a trip to the veggie souk and it ain't worth the trouble. You'd be gawked at. My gal pals just shop at the local Lulu or Carrefour. One or two good bookshops: Virgin, Jarir and a new one, I Spy. That's about it. Lots of hairdressers, I even know some of them. Nice pretty gals who stay out of trouble unlike some.