Qatar stands out as one of the epicenters of residency for various people from diverse ethnicities around the globe. Doha holds itself as the metropolitan city that is a must-visit for many tourists and might soon hold the rank of one of the favorite places to settle in.
Qatar is a place that many people dream of living in, as it's a smooth blend of the modern world and traditional cultures.
Living a luxurious, comfortable life in Qatar is certainly not a piece of cake as it's one of the more expensive regions in the Middle East. The cost of living in Qatar – especially in the capital, Doha – is comparable to other major cities worldwide. As much food is imported, Much more can be expected to be paid than you would normally. Similarly, accommodation is also really expensive in this auent country. That said, salaries are high, and with no personal income tax to pay, you will be keeping everything you make.
However, still, budgeting and planning come as key necessities. However, you will notice a greater disparity in the cost and wealth on the ground. The global 2018 Mercer Cost of Living Index placed Doha at 115 out of 209 cities, which means that although Doha is less expensive than Dubai and Riyadh, it's still more expensive than Kuwait City and Muscat.
In this blog, the living expenses are drawn into several categories, and the details are as mentioned below.
Wages and Salary in Qatar:
Salaries in Qatar are, on average, on par with those in Europe; however, it comes with some good news. Guess what? There's no income tax charged that lets the wage get quite higher, making Qatar a suitable place to work in!
A person working in Qatar typically earns around 15,700 QAR per month. Salaries range from 3,970 QAR (lowest average) to 70,000 QAR (highest average, the actual maximum salary is higher). This is the average monthly salary, including housing, transport, and other benefits.
Accommodation in Qatar:
Rent prices can highly vary in Qatar and can be ridiculously expensive for ex-pats at times. However, the rent varies on the type of property dealt with.
They range from simple studio apartments to luxurious villas. Most ex-pats live in compounds that include swimming pools, gyms, and playgrounds; however, standalone apartment buildings, townhouses, and villas are also available to rent. Most rental properties come unfurnished, so you will have to consider the cost of buying furniture.
Furniture is available, but their costs might be high. Typically, a single-bedroom apartment in the center of Doha ranges between QR3,500 and QR9,000; the average cost is about QR5,500. This can rise to over QR10,000 at luxurious properties in expat-heavy areas, such as the Pearl Qatar development.
The properties for sale in Qatar are limited for Foreigners to highly posh areas, namely the Pearl and the West Bay Lagoon; however, the benefit you would attain by buying property there is full residency duration there until the ownership remains with you!
In Doha, prices begin at about QR10,000/sqm and shoot up to QR30,000/sqm; the average is around QR18,000. At The Pearl, a Riviera-style development on the Doha cost, a resale two-bedroom freehold apartment goes for about QR13,000/sqm.
To figure out further details, you can access real estate at www.saakin.com which will help you find the perfect and ideal property at the desired location in Qatar.
Read More: Interesting Facts about the Pearl Qatar
Cost of Transport in Qatar:
Public transport is still in its infancy in Qatar. , One-way tickets range from QR3 to QR10, depending on the distance of your journey, while the price for monthly tickets varies between QR100 and QR200. So if you are environmentally conscious, buses would sound like the ideal option.
Another option available is cars which are commonly traveling on middle eastern countries' well-furnished roads. You can either own yours or hire a taxi. Taxis are readily available, and the normal starting Tari is QR10; you will be charged an additional QR2 per kilometer, plus waiting time. Many ex-pats invest in cars as overall, it is more cost-effective. A Volkswagen Golf will set you back QR70,000, while a Toyota Corolla comes in a little under that at QR68,000; both are higher than what you would find in other countries. Petrol is priced the same as diesel, and you will pay QR2/liter.
Cost of Education in Qatar
The free Public school system is readily available for the Locals. However, foreigners are supposed to pay for that. Private schools are nice, however, their fees might touch the skies.
The fees depend upon the grade of the children and the school; tuition for primary schools ranges from between QR18,000 and 50,000 per year, which can go up to QR70,000/per year for high school. You will also need to consider other factors such as the costs of transport, uniforms, extracurricular activities, and so on. This is certainly more expensive than public education in Europe and the rest of us; however, private education is on par.
Cost of Food in Qatar
Qatar imports almost all the food so Expats might find a lot of familiar brands. However, you can expect grocery prices to be higher than in places like the UK, Europe, and the USA. On average, the expected salary that has to be spent on groceries lies between 10% and 20% of your salary each month on groceries. For reference, here are a few common grocery item prices:
- 1 Liter of Milk: QR7
- 1 Loaf of Bread: QR5
- 1 Dozen Eggs: QR15
- 1 Kilo of Bananas: QR5
- 1.5 Liters of Water: QR2
Utility Bills Cost in Qatar:
Utilities are quite cheaper than the European states in Qatar as electricity, gas, and water are partially subsidized by the Qatari government. On average, you can expect to spend QR250/month on home utilities in Qatar; this can go as high as over QR400 in the summer, though, when you will be relying on air-conditioning to cool you down.
Healthcare:
Healthcare works in a little different way – and will probably cost more – than whatever you are used to. The state healthcare system, Hamad Medical Corporation, oers free emergency care to all registered users, and you can even get decent public health insurance for around QR200 per year. Those who are insured can expect to pay QR25 for a visit to the doctor.
In conclusion, by summing all the necessities of living approximately, the average living expense, If you are single, living in decent accommodation, and frequently socializing, for example, you are probably looking at spending QR 10,000 to 12,000 each month. On the other hand, a family of four living in a villa will roughly need to spend around QR20,000 - 35,000.
Read Also: Advantages And Disadvantages Of Buying A Penthouse In Qatar