Job Discussion Forums

[SaharaDesert]

Does anyone have experience with what the cost of living is like
in Qatar vs. Oman ?
I am specifically looking at Doha versus Muscat ?

[battleshipb_b]

I don't know about Oman but I can tell you |Qatar is much more expensive than KSA. I come here for weekend breaks from the other side and it is darn expensive. Most of us used to do the causeway to Bahrain which is considerably cheaper for visitors but the current situation there is probematic. The huge salary rise in the article below only applies to nationals. Room rates means the Qatar Tesol Conference was more expensive to go to than TESOLArabia.

[quote]Dearer food pushes up Qatar�s cost of livingBy Santhosh V

Costlier food, home appliances and entertainment pushed Qatar�s cost of living, based on consumer price index (CPI), up 1.2% year-on-year (y-o-y) in March, according to official figures.The CPI for March 2012 was at 109.9 points, which was rather stable when compared to that of the previous month (m-o-m), said the Qatar Statistics Authority (QSA) data.
According to the International Monetary Fund, Qatar�s average inflation is expected to be 4%-5% in the medium term and risks related to it have risen due to an increase in public sector wages. The government had last year announced a 60% increase in the basic salary and social allowance for state civilian employees, a 120% rise for military personnel of officer ranks and a 50% increase for military personnel of other ranks. In addition, the pension of civilian retirees will increase by 60%, while the pension of retired military officers will rise by 120% and of other ranks by 50%.
Food, Beverages and Tobacco, which has a weight of 13.2% in the CPI basket, surged 3.4% y-o-y in March and it was up 0.7% from February.
Furniture, Textiles and Home Appliances, which has a weight of 8.2% in the CPI basket, saw its group index rose 0.2% month-on-month in March and it reported a steep 4.3% rise y-o-y.Entertainment, Recreation and Culture, which carry a weight of 10.9% in the CPI basket, saw its group index shoot up 5.5% y-o-y in March although it fell 0.1% from the previous month.Miscellaneous Goods and Services, which carry 7.2% weight, saw its group become costlier by 7.5% y-o-y in March. Its index had fallen 0.5% from the previous month. Garments and footwear, which carry 5.8% in the CPI basket, saw their price spurt 2.8% y-o-y in March whereas it was down 0.7% from February 2012.Transport and Communication, which has a weight of 20.5% in the CPI basket, witnessed its index gain 2% y-o-y in March while it fell 0.4% from the previous month.Medical Care and Medical Services group, which has 2% weight, reported a 1.1% increase y-o-y in March. Its index was unchanged from the previous month.However, Rent, Fuel and Energy group, which is the most influential and carry the maximum weight of 32.2% in the CPI basket, saw its index stable month-on-month in March. The index tanked 5.7% y-o-y.�After eliminating the effect of rent, the overall index shows a decrease of 0.1% compared to the CPI of February 2012, and an increase of 3.8% when compared to March 2011.�[/quote]

[mesquite]

I heard you need at least 18,000 QR to manage here these days. Can anyone advise? I earned around this amount when I left ABP a couple of years ago and I barely managed. So would 21,000 QR be enough?

[veiledsentiments]

Most all teachers are provided free furnished housing, so I don't see how one can require US$5000 to pay for food, car expenses if one has one, and entertainment. We all know that gas and car insurance are much cheaper in the Gulf.

I suppose if one needs the fastest internet, the most expensive satellite TV system, a flat screen in every room, 3 smart phones, a top of the line new vehicle, eat out in a 5 star hotel every night, and throw lots of booze-filled parties, you might be able to blow through $5000 in a month.

Personally I'd bet that I could still have a comfortable lifestyle and have 80% of it to take that nice summer holiday and invest. It depends on one's priorities.

VS

[sharter]

If you like a few pints after work every day, you will blow fortunes in Qatar.

If you have to pay rent, you will blow fortunes in Qatar.

Car rentals are also high.

Gym membership can be extortionate.

I bought a 4 wheel drive, drank every day and joined the Sheraton....I could have saved a lot more.

How much is a pint these days? $15!

[bulgogiboy]

I think it depends where you buy your pints/shots. I go out to the hotels in Doha once a week on average (was out last night actually). A pint averages about $11-12 US (40-44 QAR) in most of the hotels. It's a rip off, but then 5-star hotels anywhere in the world are never famed for catering to budget drinkers.

Drinking in bars every day here will eat up a gigantic percentage of your salary. You're better off getting a booze licence, buying crates of lager at the QDC, and having a few friends round. Prices at the QDC are inflated, but buying beer in crates sees it average about $1.50-$2 a can, even for more 'exotic' beers like Guinness.

I only ever eat out or get food delivered, drink regularly, go out to the 5-star hotels for dinner/drinks at least 3-4 times a month, and pay a lot for laundry, taxis, etc, but I can still save more than $1500 a month comfortably. It's not a fortune, but it's better to save slowly, over time, and have a life, than save double that in some hellhole like Saudi, then end up blowing half of it during your vacations.

[bulgogiboy]