Cost of living when relocating to Qatar?

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Posted by

on 25 Aug 2015

Hello everybody. I am a physiotherapist from South Africa, and have been offered a job in Qatar. I have been offered a basic monthly salary of QR12000, plus accommodation, and a small transport allowance of QR1000. I am married and have 2 kids still in primary school. My question is: Will this salary allow me to live a decent life( and I don't live lavishly in South Africa), and my biggest concern is whether I will be able to afford decent schooling for my 2 kids, as I understand good schools are very expensive in Qatar. I am also hoping to get some responses from physiotherapists who have moved to Qatar so I can get a true reflection of what the working environment is really like, as employers never give you the full picture. Lastly, someone told me when you work in Qatar, you have to surrender your passport?? Is there any truth to this? Sorry for posting so many questions at once, but for now these are my major concerns. Thanks in advance for any advice and feedback.

Anonymous (not verified) on 26 Aug 2015 - 15:02

Hi Shalen,

Have a look at our Cost of Living page for Qatar. This can give you a rough idea of how much you'll be spending a month.

Also have a look at our Education and Schools section, and our list of International Schools in Doha that you could choose from.

With regards to the password query, this is incorrect. Your employer can ask for your passport for document-related issues, but you do not have to surender it when you arrive. Have a look at our visa page to understand how the sponsorship works in Qatar.

Good luck with your decision,

Alex

Anonymous (not verified) on 27 Aug 2015 - 07:09

Hi Shalen, we are from Cape Town & have been in Doha for 8 months. Schools are difficult to get into here & can be expensive. Our daughter was in KG1, fees were QR40,000 per year. 3 terms each about 3 months. Then Summer holidays mid June - September (2.5 months). Most kids go to Summer Camps at their school (basically it's activities at school to keep them entertained during the long holidays). Summer camp is extra & not included in school fees. There are cheaper schools QR22,000 per year but waiting lists are about 1 year to get in (if you're lucky). Hope this helps. Sam

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