Qatar is a peninsular Arab nation whose landscape involves parched desert and a long Persian (Arab) Gulf shoreline of sea shores and rises. Qatar is a beautiful country to live in with least at risk of experiencing natural disasters as per the 2019 World Risk Report. Earlier it was one of the poorest states in the region but now Qatar is one of the richest because of its oil exports.
If you have a job proposal from Qatar and you are thinking about relocating to Qatar then you need to evaluate the cost of living in Qatar. Basic reason why should you choose Qatar are:
- Ultimate health care system
- Tax free salary
- Low crime rate
- Exposure to a multicultural community
- World class education system
Also Read: Income Tax System In Qatar
Qatar is the most expensive country in Middle East. Costs for leading a comfortable life in Qatar may vary as it's depends on the way you live your life. The major expenses of leading a middle-class life are housing, Grocery, health care, education, transportation, utilities, Mobile & Internet, maids services, Clothing, and entertainments. The calculation of the budget is based on average cost needed for living in Qatar, it’s an estimated cost.
Estimated monthly cost –
- Family of four: QR 18,567
- Single person: QR 11,045
As per the aggregate data from all cities Cost of living in Qatar is 154.78% higher than in India here we are not taking rent into account.
Rent in Qatar is, on average, 755.81% higher than in India.
Housing
When relocating to Qatar the biggest expense you are going to face will be the housing Cost. Most of the expats prefer to rent an apartment in Qatar while some are provided company accommodation. The cost of housing will vary by size and area you choose to live.
Here we have listed estimated monthly rents for different types of apartments in Qatar:
1 Bedroom Apartment
In City Centre: 5,418.18 QR (Range: 4,000 QR to 9,000 QR)
Outside of Centre: 3,708.93 QR (Range: 2,800 QR to 5,500 QR)
3 Bedroom Apartment
In City Centre: 1 0,675.44 QR (Range: 7,000.00-17,000.00)
Outside of Centre: 7,027.78 QR (Range: 5,000.00-11,000.00)
If you are willing to buy an Apartment then the Apartment Price are as follows:
1.Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre is 16,195.55 QR (Range Between 10,000.00 to 30,000.00)
2.Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre is 11,236.51 QR (Range Between 8,000.00 to 20,000.00)
Also Read:
1.How to Rent an Apartment in Qatar?
2.Where I Can Find Affordable Apartments in Or Near Doha?
Grocery:
Grocery costs is for food and non-alcoholic beverages, cleaning materials etc. Our daily needs materials are bread, grains, eggs, meat, canned foods, cheese, baking items, dairy, fresh fruits, vegetables, oil, fruit juices, pet food, pre-cooked meals, sauces, snacks, seafood, soft drinks, herbs, spices etc. These are all not that much expensive and it all depends on which brands you use.
Also Read: East And Southeast Asian Grocery and Food Stores In Qatar
Transportation Expenses
In Qatar there is a lot of means of transportation is available.
Types of transportations:
1. Privately owned vehicle
2. Public transport.
If you’ll be having your own vehicle then it is very good for you as the petrol price per litre ranges from QR 1.40 to 1.45 (Fuel Price In Qatar For February 2021). For public transport you can take bus, Doha Metro, or taxi. Doha Metro fare according to the revised pricing, standard class travellers should pay QR3 for single journey ticket and QR9 for day pass while the new cost for gold class Single journey ticket is QR15 and QR45 for day pass. Metrolink feeder transports are free of charge. Karwa smartcards are expected to ride a Karwa public bus. It costs from QR 10 (Limited - useful for 2 journeys) to QR 30 (Classic rechargeable). The Standard Doha Metro travel card costs QR 10 without travel credit.
There are two types of taxi services available in Qatar one is private cab services the government-owned metered Karwa taxi. For Karwa taxi the meters start at QR4 and run at QR1.60 per km inside Doha during the day while outside Doha is at QR 1.90 also applicable to night time fare. The minimum taxi charge trip begins at QR 10 (counting the first 5km)
The usual fare for Karwa buses is 3 to 4 Qatari riyals within Doha's city limits, and 4 to 9 Qatari riyal outside Doha.
The minimum ride fare for CareemGO and UberX in Qatar is at QR 8. The final fare will vary depending on the distance, peak hour, and traffic along the way.
Petrol QR 1.40 - 1.45
Karwa Bus starts at QR 2.50
Doha Metro QR 3.00
Karwa Taxi starts at QR 10
Uber/Careem starts at QR 8.00
In another way we can say:
Utilities Monthly Bills
Basic utilities include electricity, water and gas, garbage, mobile tariff, and internet bills. Estimated cost for the above are showing here:
1.Overall cost for Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water and Garbage for a 85 square meter apartment is QR 334.54 (Range 200.00 to 700.00)
2.1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) cost 0.70 QR (Range 0.20 to 1.00)
3.Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) cost 308.75 QR (Range 250.00 to 400.00)
4. A new 6kg SHAFAF gas cylinder with gas costs QR 283 while the 12kg costs QR 365. Without gas, the cylinder costs QR 275 and QR 350 respectively. Refill for the 12kg costs QR 15.
Leisure
This section includes sports, dining, clothing, movies, eating outside and other entertainment expenses.
Which are as follow:
Also Read: Indian And Vegetarian Restaurants In Doha
Health Care:
Health care is little different in Qatar and will cost more. The state healthcare system, Hamad Medical Corporation, offers free emergency care to all registered users also you can get public health insurance for around QR200 per year. Those who are insured can expect to pay QR25 for a visit to the doctor.
As there can be long ques for specialists, most expats go for private health insurance, either through their company or personally. By this you will be using private hospitals and clinics. If you are insured, a doctor’s appointment at a private hospital normally costs between QR100 and QR250; for specialist consultations, this can be QR250-QR600. However, you can also have Hamad Health Card at a cost of QR100/year. This will allow you to visit the Primary Health Care Center for free.
Some useful information:
1. Cold medicine for 6 days (Tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) can cost QR 18.
2. 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) can cost QR 67.
3. Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) will cost QR 214.
Primary Health Care Centers in Qatar
Private Health Centers In Qatar
Maids:
Maid services are optional, it usually depends on personal choice. If you are living single then you don't need this service. Hourly rate for cleaning help in Qatar is QR 35. As per the latest data available, in Doha hourly rate for domestic cleaning help costs QR 100.
Education:
Qatar offers best academic facilities and value for money. Schools in Qatar are governed by Ministry of Education and the Supreme Education Council. Education in Qatar is very diverse, with approximately 338 International curriculum schools operating in Qatar. Primary schooling is obligatory for every child and is free in public schools.
The cost of tuition fees depends on each individual institution. Both locals and international students pay the same fees, with the full price of about 72,100 QR per semester.
At Qatar University for example, undergraduate arts programs cost 800 QR per credit hour, equalling 9,600 QR per semester, while engineering programs cost 1,000 QR per credit hour, totalling 12,000 QR per semester.
Also Read: 25 Best Schools In Qatar And Their Fees Structure
Note - When you're negotiating a work contract, the employer will give you a individual detailed cost of living figures for the country, which will be useful in choosing whether the proposed work is monetarily appealing or not.
If we are missing something here please let us know in the comment box.
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