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randall020105
Joined: 11 Jun 2012
Posts: 22
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 Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 7:27 am Post subject: How much can be saved in Saudi? |
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Hi all. I'm about to start in The Kingdom. How much realistically can be saved over there and for those who have an Asian/S.Korean background, what are the major differences in being able to put some coin away.
I'd sure appreciate costs of living and travelling costs breakdown as well as what an average grocery spree may come to like the bare essentials.
Thanks in advance for any helpful comments.
R.
Last edited by randall020105 on Fri Mar 08, 2013 1:29 am; edited 1 time in total |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 7:39 am Post subject: |
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| Hard to say without knowing your salary and allowances/benefits. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 11:18 am Post subject: |
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Single, married, children ? Car driver ? Drinker ? Vacation taker ? Miser or big spender ?
And what is your salary ? |
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jaffa
Joined: 25 Oct 2012
Posts: 403
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| Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 1:50 pm Post subject: |
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Anything from $0 to $10,000 if those posts about Aramco can be believed, although I find that hard to.
$3-4000 realistically, unless you land a contractor who shafts you.
$0 is possible if you follow the example of a guy I once worked with who got fired for visiting his 'Chinese girlfriend' in Bahrain midweek, thus missing his classes. Luckily he had a return ticket so the driver took him to the border on the causeway but didn't have a visa so he had to drop the fired guy there. He then had to hitch-hike to the airport, penniless! |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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| You won't be saving US$4000 a month on most jobs. Totally unrealistic. |
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Zara461
Joined: 17 Nov 2012
Posts: 58
Location: 007-Kingdom
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| Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 11:07 pm Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| You won't be saving US$4000 a month on most jobs. Totally unrealistic. |
Unless you are a member of the 500 club! 
BTW, scot, do these members still exist in the Magic Kingdom? |
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randall020105
Joined: 11 Jun 2012
Posts: 22
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| Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 1:27 am Post subject: hi |
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hi all. I'm on 12 000 SAR. single-housing provided as well as travelling allowance.
pretty normal looking contract with some paperwork to be done before i arrive for the iqama to be processed.
drinker(non-social...appreciate a good red wine now and then)
smoker(no)
responsibilities(yes back home)
driver(BIG maybe...otherwise i'm ok commuting)
vaca(non...im comfy in my own skin)
spender(frugal to say the least)
PS: i did mention "I'd sure appreciate costs of living and travelling costs breakdown as well as what an average grocery spree may come to like the bare essentials. " before... average? what am I looking at here?
Thanks.
R. |
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revenger2013
Joined: 01 Mar 2013
Posts: 111
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| Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 2:19 am Post subject: Re: hi |
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| randall020105 wrote: |
hi all. I'm on 12 000 SAR. single-housing provided as well as travelling allowance.
pretty normal looking contract with some paperwork to be done before i arrive for the iqama to be processed.
drinker(non-social...appreciate a good red wine now and then)
smoker(no)
responsibilities(yes back home)
driver(BIG maybe...otherwise i'm ok commuting)
vaca(non...im comfy in my own skin)
spender(frugal to say the least)
PS: i did mention "I'd sure appreciate costs of living and travelling costs breakdown as well as what an average grocery spree may come to like the bare essentials. " before... average? what am I looking at here?
Thanks.
R. |
Seeing as you asked so nicely. 
Food is cheap, eating out is cheap(ish) you could save 8000 riyals of that a month if you are 'frugal' thought sending it back can be a problem if you are on a business visit visa. Taxis are cheapish in Riyadh but you have to barter and the thing is a lot of the taxi drivers have no idea where they are going so if you don't know either - the meter can ring up a big number.
I was in Najran and you could flag down a passing car and they would take you to where they were going as it was one big dual carrigeway that split the town in two. They would take you to the ends of the earth for 2-3 riyals which was jolly good of them. |
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randall020105
Joined: 11 Jun 2012
Posts: 22
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| Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 3:19 am Post subject: Thanks |
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Thank you revenger2013 and others, I appreciate the help.
So cost of living p/m may run up to SAR4000? Goodness. That's alot of
money!! i guess i'll spend SAR1000 a week? Where does it go to??
I guess SAR8000 savings is better than nothing... it would be nice to know
how exactly some folks happen to spend SAR1000 a week though. any
pointers from anyone? |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 3:50 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| drinker(non-social...appreciate a good red wine now and then) |
You do realize that if you want any wine with dinner, you will have to make it yourself... bring yeast... or whatever... 
VS |
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revenger2013
Joined: 01 Mar 2013
Posts: 111
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| Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 4:10 am Post subject: Re: Thanks |
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| randall020105 wrote: |
Thank you revenger2013 and others, I appreciate the help.
So cost of living p/m may run up to SAR4000? Goodness. That's alot of
money!! i guess i'll spend SAR1000 a week? Where does it go to??
I guess SAR8000 savings is better than nothing... it would be nice to know
how exactly some folks happen to spend SAR1000 a week though. any
pointers from anyone? |
I managed to send home 8000-9000 a month and it wasn't too much of a sacrifice. You might be able to send 10000 a month home though. Taxis, gym membership, eating out and socialising, buying this and that - it all adds up. Food is cheap though and eating out is decent value.
A lot of the chaps would go on holiday when they could which ate up their savings but they would insist it kept them sane to complete the contract. I never did but then I nearly went nuts over there so you are going to have to decide if you need that mid contract break to somewhere nice or not. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 8:11 am Post subject: |
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Inflation means that the 500 Club is probably now the 1000 Club.
My observation was that the harder you saved the more likely you were to go really crackers. Of course being crackers is no bar to contiunuing to work there. It merely makes the eventual transition to living back in the real world problematic.
2000 SR is probably a sensible minimum for a rather frugal lifestyle. Filipinos live with their families on not much more than that ! |
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reneebcc
Joined: 26 Jan 2009
Posts: 60
Location: Georgia
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| Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 11:41 pm Post subject: |
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Agree. 2000SAR is enough to live well, even for women. I'm able to visit the salon weekly and occasional shopping. Hopefully, you know how to cook lol. Living on compounds has it's perks too with good transportation and access to stores. People that make over 10,000SAR is able to send that much home and live off the rest.  |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 11:55 pm Post subject: |
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Eating out can be cheap. Depends where you go. Western franchises will cost. Look for good value TCN and average Saudi places.
Having a car can be pricey - but so can the overuse of taxis.
Families are expensive to support.Maintaining your sanity can also have a cost (which some are nor prepared to pay !) |
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currentaffairs
Joined: 22 Aug 2012
Posts: 828
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| Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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Working out in the sticks in Saudi you can live on 1000-1500 riyals a month. Riyadh would be around 1500-2000 riyals if you stay out of fancy restaurants.
For me, lunch is 5 riyals and groceries are 10-20% cheaper than Europe/US. Most companies provide transport, and housing is included (or you will receive an extra allowance). There are no bills to pay with company accommodation.
Overall, most teachers will save 10,000-12,000 riyals a month on the standard contracts. |
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