Job Discussion Forums

snowsilver · Joined: 23 Jun 2009 Posts: 34

I've looked and looked at compund websites and no one gives a hint on rental costs.

Will 3,000/mo cover the cost of a 1-bedroom apt at a decent compound?

Thanks

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 3:35 pm Post subject:

3000 what...pebbles?

NCTBA

snowsilver · Joined: 23 Jun 2009 Posts: 34

Riyals

And actually upon rechecking the contract I shoud have said 2,500 riyals.

Thank you for any help.

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 4:00 pm Post subject:

Not to be coy or difficult, but what do you consider to be a "decent" compound. Many will be happy with just a wall thrown around it. Others consider a wave pool to be "decent". It's like the ol' "How long is a piece of string" question. Who knows unless definitions are involved?

Is this "your" money or a housing allowance.

BTW, didja ever notice that 2500 divided by 3.75...the most used conversion rate equals 666?

Food for thought...

NCTBA

snowsilver · Joined: 23 Jun 2009 Posts: 34

Well--no I never noticed that. Very interesting and provocative.

As for decent--for instance, could I find anything in the nicer compounds (Kingdom City, Al Homra) for that?

I want security and some amenities. Not housekeeping or anything like that, but some recreational facilities, pleasant apartment with nice furnishings, etc. Not palatial, but decent quality.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Oh--and this is housing allowance.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

It'll more than cover the cost of a decent unfurnished apartment. The problem is the compound thing.

snowsilver · Joined: 23 Jun 2009 Posts: 34

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 4:40 pm Post subject:

Yeah...I sincerely doubt that you'll find something like that for the SAR 2500 in the compounds that you mentioned.

You mentioned the "Al Homra" (Al Hambra) and security nearly in the same breath. Surely, you are unaware that that compound was one of the three bombed on May 19, 2003. This specific one is where the murderers went kicking door to door killing innocent women and children.

It still brings a tear to me eye remembering how "brave" those murderers were.

Hopeully, by drawing out some more specfic information on what you hope for there will be people who can help you further...

BTW, by jes' googlin' "prices of villas on compounds in riyadh", I got dis:

http://riyadhciti.wordpress.com/2009/02/08/the-ultimate-list-of-compounds-in-riyadh/

Good luck...

snowsilver · Joined: 23 Jun 2009 Posts: 34

Yes, that's exactly the website I have been reading. It's wonderful for showing the various apartments available, (and they look lovely, btw), but not one of the ones I clicked gave any information at all on costs.

Just tons of info on amenities, etc.

Yes, I knew about Al Hambra (actually watched "The Kingdom" just the other night), but from what I can find on the internet, it is now one of the most secure compounds possible just because of that. And one has to wonder--would they strike twice in the same place.

I guess what I'm wondering really is about how much it will cost to rent one of the lovely apts shown.

johnslat · Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 6:34 pm Post subject:

Dear snowsilver,
Have you seen this site yet?

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=582073

Question asked Jan 6, 2009

"Just as a rough guide what would a 3-bed / large 2-bed villa cost to rent in the popular compounds please, if you can guesstimate?
Al Hamra
Kingdom
Eid
Cordoba
Arizona

Cheers!
Eid for what you're describing is about the 160k+ mark for a 2x bed and around the 200k for a 3x bed. a basic two bedder (1x month ago) was 130k and they head upwards (very steeply!) from there"

"3-bed in Kingdom about 180K I think. There are two types of 3 bed one larger than the other with a separate dining room. Think 180K is for the latter

Contact number for Kingdom +96612750275, manager is Ed Lans
Contact number for Al Hamra is +96612480440 manager is Dave Smart"

"Eid compound is... +96612483366 and try and speak with Girish
Arizona is +96612484444 (sorry, don't know the manager's name)
Cordoba is +96612483471 (and again, sorry, don't know the manager's name)"

And an older thread - from 2005

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=307276

Here's a list of compounds in Riyadh with contact info, posted Feb, 2009:

http://riyadhciti.wordpress.com/2009/02/08/the-ultimate-list-of-compounds-in-riyadh/

Hope some of this helps,
John

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 6:36 pm Post subject:

Grendal · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 6:59 pm Post subject:

160k+ mark for a 2x bed. That comes to 13333.333+ riyals a month.
ouch + double ouch

That is more than some/most teachers' wages.

Who could possibly live there?

G

johnslat · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 7:14 pm Post subject:

Dear Grendal,

The companies pay, which is why teachers are extremely thin to non-existent on the ground in such compounds. We're not in that ballpark, so to speak.

"The main areas where Westerners work in Saudi Arabia are defense, healthcare, and the oil industry. IT, telecommunications and banking are other areas that employ substantial numbers of Americans and Europeans."

http://www.escapeartist.com/efam/56/Working_in_Saudi_Arabia.html

Regards,
John

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 8:26 pm Post subject:

My hunch for a teacher with little resources is Ranco Villiage....which was know as the O-3 Compound when we lived in this little dump...I say "dump" as, in my estimation, if you can see daylight through the cracks in the door...you can be liberal with adjectives.

TBS, this is probably a very afforrdable compound...especially at the "Motel 6" which is their one-bedroom accoms.

NCTBA

trapezius · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:07 pm Post subject: